Apr 27 - Shatkarmas, Not Shot Callers

Later that afternoon, we learned about the shatkarmas - which are practices designed to purify the body.  Each practice is called a kriya.  The kriyas include the earliest form of a neti pot - putting thread in one nostril and pulling it out through the other, the earliest form of the enema - using a bamboo tube, and swallowing a wet muslin cloth and pulling it back out to clean the organs.  This was definitely the first time we were able thrilled to learn some things but give them a try!

Kapalabhati - the cleansing breath of fire -  is also one of the kriyas.  This is done by contracting the lower belly to take rapid exhales and inhaling naturally.  Here is a good step by step guide to trying it out: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2452.  Make sure you are drawing your belly in as you exhale.

We also tried out trataka - gazing.  We gazed at the flame of a candle trying not to blink until our eyes teared.  This is supposed to building will-power and ultimately help one be able to see the future!

Most notable moment of the day...our beloved Gracie innocently wondered if basti (the bamboo tube enema) which is to be done in the water, is the reason that the water in India is dirty.

Apr 27 - Give Love Through the Savasana Adjustment

The following Saturday we moved on to the sixth charka - Ajna, or the "third eye."  Often associated with spiritual awareness and the sound of "Om."  This was perhaps our most blissful session yet since we focused on resting poses that are more gentle and passive and can be used as good transitions during class.  These include ananda balasana (happy baby), thread the needle, balasana (child's pose), and malasana (garland) - one of my all-time favorites for obvious reasons.  :)

One of the things I have always wanted to learn was how to properly adjust someone in savasana (corpse pose) during the end of class.  It's such a peaceful time that I have always felt that unless someone does it just right, it can be really disruptive.  When people do it nicely, I have always thought it is such a loving gesture.  There you are all sweaty from class and then someone comes and touches your feet or your shoulders or neck and helps you melt into the ground.  I always felt so grateful for Bija's adjustment.

So we Bija showed the first person and then once we had it done to us, we did it to the next person.   I was last so I adjusted Bija - what pressure!  I started with the feet, then the hips, then the shoulders, and finally the neck and forehead.  When I was done I asked her if it felt good and she said she felt "loved."  Success!

I read that some teachers don't want any touching during savasana.  What's your preference?  Do you like to be adjusted during savasana or prefer to be left in stillness?

Apr 13 - Holding an Unpleasant Eagle Pose

I went to another workshop with Sean Feit at Yoga Tree in Berkeley.  The focus was on Pratyahara - or "withdrawal of the senses" - which is the 5th stage of yoga.

There are 8 limbs of yoga according to Patanjali.  The basic idea is that is one must work towards "pure bliss."  Interestingly, asana practice (the physical practice of yoga) is just one of the 8 stages and is designed to help quiet the mind.  The 8 limbs are:

1. Yama - moral commandments
2. Niyama - self purification by discipline
3. Asana - physical practice, postures
4. Pranayama - rhythmic, controlled breathing
5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the mind from the senses
6. Dharana - concentration
7. Dyhyana - meditation
8. Samadhi - pure bliss, become one with the Universal Spirit

I love that Bija emphasizes that yoga is more than physical and extends beyond the mat.  I had previously learned from Deborah Burkman - an amazing yoga teacher in San Francisco - that yoga was intended to help people be able to sit for hours in meditation.  Understanding the 8 limbs of yoga really helped me put this into a broader context.

One of the ways that Sean had us practice Pratyahara was by doing postures that we typically think we "like" or "dislike" and try to do them without theses habitual reactions.  He urged us to notice if the pose was "pleasant" or "unpleasant" but not to react.  I decided to do garudasana (eagle) pose, which I had decided awhile ago I didn't like.  I recognized that I found it unpleasant but tried not to react to this observation.  In doing this, I realized that since I had decided that I didn't like garudasana, I often rushed through it.  By not reacting I found that I was able to to stay in the pose much longer and hold it steady.  And amazingly, this made it much less unpleasant!  Pretty amazing cycle.  

What's it all about?

Yoga isn't about touching your toes, it's about what you learn on the way down.  --- courtesy of Yoga Inspiration on Facebook

Practicing Our Sanskrit

As we were getting closer to test day, Bija started doing blindfolded practice more often.  She says the asana in Sanskrit only and we have to do them. You only know you're doing wrong when she tells you.  :)  Usually we split into 2 groups, so 1 group is just watching.  It's oddly fun until there are a bunch in a row you don't know.  So for this one, she called out "Virabhadrasana two!"  At least I hope she did...