Sharing my practice with my daughter (Dec 2010)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Like Mother...
Only one day, I hope she will find herself beyond what I can pass on, beyond the predispositions, culture, and character. On that Friday night though, I shared this with the little yogini.
Sharing my practice with my daughter (Dec 2010)
Sharing my practice with my daughter (Dec 2010)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Power Balance and the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse
After missing a couple of days practice, I was ready to come home to my asanas tonight. The hologram on the little band on my wrist shone its vibe-filled, frequency-charged colors. Placebo or not, I wanted to see what effect it would have on my practice. Except that I got reminded of the moon. Ah, moon day. Of course. And tonight was a special night - a full lunar eclipse.
So tonight, I will celebrate the true power balance: respect for natural cycles and energies. One that should not have to come from the little hologram on a wrist band.
So tonight, I will celebrate the true power balance: respect for natural cycles and energies. One that should not have to come from the little hologram on a wrist band.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing Day 3 (Decemeber 7)
Practice nicely. With care, with attention.
And be happy.
I'll be watching you.
There's no rush. (Although next time, Paul says I'm getting Kapotasana).
What can I say, teach, I'd bend over backwards for you.
And be happy.
I'll be watching you.
There's no rush. (Although next time, Paul says I'm getting Kapotasana).
What can I say, teach, I'd bend over backwards for you.
Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing Day 2 (Dec 6)
What a beautiful day. I came in late though and was unable to open the day with the group but caught up just in time for Nauli... my heart for Pranayama grows bigger.
With the inhalation, offer prana to the apana and focus on being rooted.
With the exhalation, offer apana to the prana and shine with your heart.
With proper practice of Pranayama, all diseases are annihilated.
You can see Prana shining through the heart.
In our mysore (and yes, I sore) session, I stayed with Paul's fresh guidance (ground and extend along the 3 planes). I loved the practice. I was also given a new pose - little thunderbolt. Laghu Vajrasana.
In the lecture, we spoke of subtle anatomy. Vayus. We continued to talk about the soft palette cathedral. That aaaahhhh. That wooooow. That hmmmmm....
As my heart continues to open, so do the possibilities. I will pursue pre-natal yoga and that possibility to make a difference even as I keep my corporate skills. I may even be able to teach more classes. Could this be the balance I'm looking for?
Trust in the process.
Have patience, keep up the aaahh...
Oh and you must connect with the right set of balls.
With the inhalation, offer prana to the apana and focus on being rooted.
With the exhalation, offer apana to the prana and shine with your heart.
With proper practice of Pranayama, all diseases are annihilated.
You can see Prana shining through the heart.
In our mysore (and yes, I sore) session, I stayed with Paul's fresh guidance (ground and extend along the 3 planes). I loved the practice. I was also given a new pose - little thunderbolt. Laghu Vajrasana.
In the lecture, we spoke of subtle anatomy. Vayus. We continued to talk about the soft palette cathedral. That aaaahhhh. That wooooow. That hmmmmm....
As my heart continues to open, so do the possibilities. I will pursue pre-natal yoga and that possibility to make a difference even as I keep my corporate skills. I may even be able to teach more classes. Could this be the balance I'm looking for?
Trust in the process.
Have patience, keep up the aaahh...
Oh and you must connect with the right set of balls.
Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing Day 1 (December 5)
Synchronicity, Divine Providence. It truly is amazing how there has always been space in my seemingly impossible schedule for yoga. The past days with Paul and the lovely yogins have been sumptuous. Despite the long and early drive to the South and the laborious traffic going home in my yellow yoga mobile, it's just a truly remarkable time to have my teacher here. I'd drive to Koh Samui if I could...
Just to deepen the appreciation, I am acknowleding that a year ago on this very day, I graduated from Yoga Thailand's Teacher Training and today, we begin the 3-day workshop on Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing at Yoga Manila Alabang.
Here's the workshop write-up -
Breath is subtle, it is elusive — yet it is a cornerstone of any yoga practice. Discover the power of breath and learn how to harness its energy primarily through pranayama, a practice that involves understanding the basic inhalation and exhalation we often take for granted.
With Breath as the backdrop, experience the limitless depths of Ashtanga Vinyasa's primary series during asana practice. Find the feminine in this dynamic practice.
So I drove as fast as Surya (the car) could take me and came in just in time to hear Paul say - Good morning Manilaa! (He really isn't the yoga rockstar type but I like to say he is, just because I still get slightly starstruck around him)
We began opening the day and practiced pranayama. The love of pranayama practice continues to grow in me and has certainly helped in the subtle positive shifts inside. I am now at 8 breaths although I take a minimum of 6. With Paul around, I am able to relish up to 10 breaths, amazingly...
We then did a deep detailed led practice. I continue to share Paul's teaching in my class and I basked in the guidance. Free, Open, Smiling, Loving the dynamics of the breath, the bandhas, the balls of our feet. Drishti too but I don't recall us paying too much attention to the drishti. I loved hearing the guidance I learned a year ago, I continue to apply and now teach. I am contemplating on removing "T your arms" from my classes in place of "Y your arms"...
Paul took us surprisingly to 2nd series and although I kissed the floor in Mayurasana, I know we will be friends one day. I loved how deeply we went into each pose.
We had a break of delicious vegetarian food for lunch and then spent the whole afternoon of great lecture and pranayama.
The force animating our body, our vehicle, is Prana. Breath is the primary vehicle of Prana. Ayama is the expansion and extension.
In Pranayama, the mind has to be ready but there needs to be readiness in the body too.
Be aware of the dual and opposing currents (Ha-tha). When you do your asana, you are working and playing with the currents (apana and prana).
Inhale: 1 (upper abdomen) + 2 (rib cage) + 3 (heart). Exhale: let go together then continue to get the rest of the air out.
The depth of the breath will determine how much I need to tone the moolah bandha.
Lenghten torso and spine; Widen the line of the pelvis, ribs and shoulders. Work on these planes. Create an environment the Prana can move in. The heart is the seat of Prana.
Asana has to be respected. Connect with all the different functions and possibilities. Connect through the balls of the feet and the knuckles of the hand.
Feel the warrior energy from the psoas.
Just to deepen the appreciation, I am acknowleding that a year ago on this very day, I graduated from Yoga Thailand's Teacher Training and today, we begin the 3-day workshop on Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing at Yoga Manila Alabang.
Here's the workshop write-up -
Breath is subtle, it is elusive — yet it is a cornerstone of any yoga practice. Discover the power of breath and learn how to harness its energy primarily through pranayama, a practice that involves understanding the basic inhalation and exhalation we often take for granted.
With Breath as the backdrop, experience the limitless depths of Ashtanga Vinyasa's primary series during asana practice. Find the feminine in this dynamic practice.
So I drove as fast as Surya (the car) could take me and came in just in time to hear Paul say - Good morning Manilaa! (He really isn't the yoga rockstar type but I like to say he is, just because I still get slightly starstruck around him)
We began opening the day and practiced pranayama. The love of pranayama practice continues to grow in me and has certainly helped in the subtle positive shifts inside. I am now at 8 breaths although I take a minimum of 6. With Paul around, I am able to relish up to 10 breaths, amazingly...
We then did a deep detailed led practice. I continue to share Paul's teaching in my class and I basked in the guidance. Free, Open, Smiling, Loving the dynamics of the breath, the bandhas, the balls of our feet. Drishti too but I don't recall us paying too much attention to the drishti. I loved hearing the guidance I learned a year ago, I continue to apply and now teach. I am contemplating on removing "T your arms" from my classes in place of "Y your arms"...
Paul took us surprisingly to 2nd series and although I kissed the floor in Mayurasana, I know we will be friends one day. I loved how deeply we went into each pose.
We had a break of delicious vegetarian food for lunch and then spent the whole afternoon of great lecture and pranayama.
In Pranayama, the mind has to be ready but there needs to be readiness in the body too.
Be aware of the dual and opposing currents (Ha-tha). When you do your asana, you are working and playing with the currents (apana and prana).
Inhale: 1 (upper abdomen) + 2 (rib cage) + 3 (heart). Exhale: let go together then continue to get the rest of the air out.
The depth of the breath will determine how much I need to tone the moolah bandha.
(Paul being his usual uber animated self, sound effects included)
Lenghten torso and spine; Widen the line of the pelvis, ribs and shoulders. Work on these planes. Create an environment the Prana can move in. The heart is the seat of Prana.
Asana has to be respected. Connect with all the different functions and possibilities. Connect through the balls of the feet and the knuckles of the hand.
Feel the warrior energy from the psoas.
Friday, December 3, 2010
2 months!
I love my Thursday regulars (and Jon's Tuesday regulars too!) We have begun to welcome the joyfulness in the midst of the seemingly serious breathing...Thank goodness!
Last Thursday, I introduced my students to each other and I hope they realize that this personal journey is made more beautiful when they meet the bright lights who share the journey with them. Life is a beautiful, magical black night This practice is the path of pulsating stars and while there is something so romantic about that first lone wishing star, there is nothing like a gazillion bright stars bedazzling us against a clear black sky.
It has been 2 months since I've been officially teaching at Yoga Manila Ortigas and I've relished every moment. The impeccable timing, the synchroncities of my life has brought me this.
Tomorrow, I will be with the senior teachers for a workshop with Paul - Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing. http://yogamanila.com/anatomy-of-breathing.php
More to learn, more to share...
Last Thursday, I introduced my students to each other and I hope they realize that this personal journey is made more beautiful when they meet the bright lights who share the journey with them. Life is a beautiful, magical black night This practice is the path of pulsating stars and while there is something so romantic about that first lone wishing star, there is nothing like a gazillion bright stars bedazzling us against a clear black sky.
It has been 2 months since I've been officially teaching at Yoga Manila Ortigas and I've relished every moment. The impeccable timing, the synchroncities of my life has brought me this.
Tomorrow, I will be with the senior teachers for a workshop with Paul - Yoga and the Anatomy of Breathing. http://yogamanila.com/anatomy-of-breathing.php
More to learn, more to share...