Handstands: Lovin' the Journey

9/6/2017

How to Perfect Your Handstand? Practice...Practice...Practice!

Taking a moment in the early morning, before teaching yin class, to practice handstands.

Since beginning my yoga journey I’ve been in awe of those yogis who press-up, seemingly without any effort, into inversions such as handstand. In my mind, I hear my mentors saying “the key Ann is to practice…practice…practice and then practice some more.” Okay okay. Let me squeeze in some more practice time while it's calm and quiet outside. So as I practice, I reflect on the meaning of practice.

Yoga Sutra I.12
“Abhyasavairagyabhyam tannirodha”
In order to achieve a state of yoga, one must develop both practice and non-attachment.

To me Yoga Sutra I.12 is about nurturing an attitude of persistent and regular effort without being overly fixated on the pose of handstand. Easy to say, sometimes hard to do...okay, really hard.

But, as that old Virgina Slim ad used to claim, "You've come a long way baby!" If I stop and reflect, giving myself time and space to really look back with objectivity. WOW! I have come a long way. Plus, every day I see small improvements. I’m learning to love handstand drills. I’m finding it easier to enter into handstand and to hold it. I’m working on refining the pose—pressing through fingers and hands, extending out, pull ribs and pelvis toward each other while reaching the tailbone toward heels, squeeze legs together, roll thighs in, extend out through pointed toes….Oh yeah and BREATHE! ***sigh*** Okay still not easy, but it's a practice.

So, food for thought…
What are you practicing? How are you practicing? Do you practice daily? Do you practice with love and care, honoring the place you are in your journey not overdoing and harming yourself? Do you practice without greed or obsession (non-attachment). I love how the practice of yoga can apply to all aspects of life—work, rock climbing (or any sport), relationships, etc...

So, as you venture into the world today. Think about what you practicing and how can you practice more diligently, carefully—honoring where you are in your journey and finding the joy and love in being right where you are.
Namaste
Ann

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Wednesday Workout: Get Energized!

6/28/2017

Cakra Yoga? What is it?

Ok. Before you all jump on me for mis-spelling "Chakra" let me just say, my awesome Sanskrit instructor, Cheryl Oliver, explained to me one day why the correct spelling of the word is cakra. I'm not going to bore you with the long sanskrit grammar lesson, but just take my word. The word is spelled cakra.

Cakra yoga uses asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (controlled breath) to cleanse, balance, and open the cakras, or energy centers, of the body. Many of the postures in hatha yoga are often adopted in cakra yoga because the straight alignment of the pose. More specifically, the straight alignment of the spine is the most important since this is where the flow of cakra energy occurs.

Therefore yoga has two benefits:

The overall stretching and strengthening of your muscles and connective tissues benefits your overall physical health.
When used in conjunction with pranayama, yoga helps to bring new life (via oxygen) and balance to the cakras in yoga.

Why a cakra sequence?

A few weeks ago, a bit on a whim, I taught a Cakra Yoga sequence. Then, a few weeks later a student approached me after class and said, "I LOVED your cakra class. I don't know what that was all about, but I left class feeling AMAZING and got the best sleep I've ever had in a long time that night!"

Wow! That's really cool. As a teacher, I can't tell you how thrilled I get when students share with me their yoga experiences. It's especially exciting when I hear something a student particularly liked or benefited from. I leave that class feeling an overwhelming joy in my heart.

So, voila, that's why we did another cakra yoga class this week. The sequence is to the right. Feel free to download the PDF and practice it at home.

Final thoughts...

I'm not a scientist. I can't tell you how or why yoga works or how that ties to our energy centers. However, in my short time as a teacher, I have been amazed at how practicing yoga can radically change a life. PTSD suffers find comfort and peace. Insomniacs find sleep. Athletes recover more quickly. Stressed out workers find rejuvenation. I'm sure there's a ton of research out there and I could try to summarize it here, but I'm not going to. Instead, I'll continue to be amazed at and grateful for the practice of yoga, and I will steadily plug along practicing mine, and maybe, if I'm lucky, helping you with yours..
Namaste.
- Ann