Pre-Course Assignment # 10 : The Yoga Sutras

The Yoga Sutras has re-enforced my beliefs on giving and surrender to God, has echoed humility and service. In its beautiful threads, I found compassion even as I struggle to be liberated. I love how the advocacies of the sacred scriptures are interwoven, with the promise of freedom, heaven, meeting God, Self, becoming One. This is the true essence of our practice - a prayer in motion, the yoga mala. I am most willing to put this in my own practice. It is not always easy, even with the "handbooks" already written for us, teaching the ways to be truly happy and free, even with the willingness. I guess this is what it means by "1% theory, 99% practice" As in one of the stories in Greek mythology, maybe we need to be hold on to these threads, these Words, these sutras to help us navigate through our own labyrinth. All the while enjoying the playfulness of this journey, full of hope that liberation is indeed a beautiful possibility.

Assignment # 6 - Science of Breath

Write a brief summary on what you gained from reading Science of Breath. It should not be a summary of the book, but rather a personal reflection on your understanding of the subject so far. Please keep it brief and succinct.


Svarodaya. I feel as if I have stumbled upon a great tool that I have not learned to use fully. Of course, when I started yoga, my entry point was breath. I loved the awareness of breathing before I learned to love bandhas or dristis or asanas. Still, I feel I've only used the littlest of what knowledge there is (much like they say we only use a tenth of our brain). There is a whole body of knowledge but this little book took me through human biology and respiratory trivia so important yet so taken for granted. I especially enjoyed the last chapter and I have been practicing some of the breathing techniques. Breath awareness escapes me a little too easily still. I am no where near Yogis who are aware of every breath they take but I am looking forward to exploring Svarodaya and Pranayama more intently and, pun intended, "Breathing" as deeply as I can.

There is so much to learn...

Assignment #1 - The 7 Day Log

This is the month I can finally start my daily practice after my appendectomy. :)

DAY 1 September 5
Time and duration of asana practice: 3 to 4.30 p.m.
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at.
Practiced until Virabhadrasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana
Any time given to breath work and meditation: After my practice
Rising and bed times - 6.30 a.m and 11.30 p.m.
Meal times - 7.45 a.m, 11.30, 7.30

DAY 2 September 6
Time and duration of asana practice: 3 to 4.30 p.m.
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at.:
Practiced until Virabhadrasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana
Any time given to breath work and meditation: After my practice
Rising and bed times: 8.30 and 9.15
Meal times: 8.45, 12.30 and 7.00

DAY 3 September 7
Time and duration of asana practice: 3:30 to 5:00
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at.
Practiced until Triang mukha Ekapada Paschimottanasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana, Ardha Baddha Padmottanhasana (with left knee folded) and need a lot of work to do graceful jump throughs...
Any time given to breath work and meditation: After my practice
Rising and bed times: 6.30
Meal times: 6.45, 12.30,

DAY 4 September 8
Time and duration of asana practice: 5.45 to 6.00 and 9.00 to 10.00
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at.
Practiced until Virabhadrasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana
Any time given to breath work and meditation: after practice
Rising and bed times: 5.45 and 10.45
Meal times: 12.30

DAY 5 September 9
Time and duration of asana practice:7.30 - 8.45
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at: Practiced until Triang mukha Ekapada Paschimottanasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana and still need a lot of work to do graceful jump throughs...
Any time given to breath work and meditation: after practice
Rising and bed times: 5.45 and 9.45
Meal times: 12.00
Note: I used my neti pot before practice today. Better breathwork. :)

DAY 6 September 10
Time and duration of asana practice: 10.45 - 12.00
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at. Practiced until Navasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana.Maricyasana C and D and still need a lot of work to do graceful jump throughs...
Any time given to breath work and meditation: after practice
Rising and bed times: 6.30 and 10.30
Meal times 7.00, 1.00, 8.00

DAY 7 September 11
Time and duration of asana practice: 6.30 - 8.00
What was practiced i.e what poses, poses you are working on or stuck at. Practiced until Navasana. Still struggling with Parivrtta Parsvakonasana and Utthita Hasta Pandagustahasana.Maricyasana C and D and still need a lot of work to do graceful jump throughs...
Any time given to breath work and meditation : after practice
Rising and bed times: 6.30, 9.30
Meal times: 7.00, 12.00, 7.30

Near the Beginning

It is Sunday. The last day of the long weekend. I finally have all my books with me and I have reset my studies of the Sutras. I bought a copy of The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi some months back. Nischala Devi is a student of Swami Satchidananda and she has written this version for women, a gentler interpretation that pulled me from the bookshelf. I thought to get a copy while I was waiting for her master's version to arrive. Now I have both. And I am reading them in parallel. I believe there is meaning in studying this juxtaposition of texts. From the same Sutras, I will find what unifies the understanding between Master and Student, male and female.

Yoga is Union afterall.