For the past few weeks, we have been considering the various elements in yoga. In the most recent class, our theme was balance–the joining of the various elements in our practice. This led to more balance poses than usual (and I am still not very good at those) but also integrating the various elements into… Continue reading Balance
We have been working on the various elements in yoga recently. The final element was Space. As I understood it, that has to do with connections and relationships. Well! That was apparently all I needed to send my mind in a million directions. And lately I have been doing much better at focusing on yoga… Continue reading Space
This was our word of the day. We put it into play as we entered some poses twice, pausing after the first time to consider what we might change. I did come to realize that you never enter the exact same pose twice. It is also true that I focused on my yoga more than… Continue reading Reflect
Our most recent yoga class centered on the word Adapt. This was to help us think of ways to get into certain poses. I used it, and our conversation before class, to figure out a way to almost do downward dog(!). I have a lingering injury which does not enjoy the way of the dog.… Continue reading Adapt
Yesterday’s word for my yoga class was slow. The idea was that we would be deliberate (and slow) in our practice. We slowed our breathing as well as our movements. It is good to be reflective, although this also means some incredible core work. As I was moving slowly, I looked often at my bracelet.… Continue reading Slow
My yoga instructor is reading The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. This week’s yoga practice was based on one of the pillars in that book, forgiveness. On the yoga mat, this involved a lot of twisting and softening. In my reflections, this led me to consider the bitchy e-mail I received… Continue reading Forgiveness
Yoga was directed by the word allow. My instructor said this had to do with allowing one’s body to move into new positions and to allow for possibility. My immediate response was that my week had much to do with resistance. As I spent time on my mat, I thought about this disconnect. I participated… Continue reading Allow?
This was our yoga word of the day. Our instructor used it to think about entering a position, perhaps starting the movement slowly, pausing, and then trying to go further. I found it to have multiple meanings for my yoga practice. Someone in class is a noisy breather. I needed to have patience with that.… Continue reading Patience
My yoga instructor told us this had been the word guiding her practice this past week. She then spoke about changing our various yoga postures in a way meant to challenge not demand our bodies. This is all well and good. However it made me think of other areas involving adjustments. Last week I realized… Continue reading Adjust
While my yoga instructor was inviting us to breathe into our hips, which sounds really weird to me, a friend’s name popped into my head. I have not seen her for some time, this led to feeling guilty about having fallen out of contact. While I am not at all sure how this related… Continue reading Guilty
