Through my teacher training program last year, I had the opportunity to meet some truly amazing and gifted people.  So many varied interests and passions, yet we all came together to learn more about yoga and to deepen our own practice! 

I had the pleasure to talk to Kath before teacher training started in late 2008.  As a fellow knitter, she found me online before we started studying together and we exchanged a few emails before meeting at the studio.  Over the year, we grew closer and I have the joy to call her my dear friend.  We can talk about yoga, we can talk about knitting and yarn ~ it just flows and it is beautiful. 

One of Kath’s many offerings is that she is also fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), and she just started teaching her first yoga class in ASL at a local studio.  When she asked me to help her with a little photography project for her class, I jumped at the chance for this special project.  She wanted to put together a visual set of poses with the proper alignment for her students.  Since she is teaching the class in ASL, she cannot always demonstrate the pose because her hands will be used in the pose.  That is where the photos come in!

We met up at the studio on a quiet Sunday afternoon;  the air was cold and there were flurries of snow, but inside, the sunlight cascaded in the windows, and set a perfect scene for the yoga photos.  Above (clockwise from the top left), Kath does sukhasana “easy pose” with her hands in Anjali mudra “offering gesture”.  This is the way that we begin and end each class.  In the next photo, she demonstrates a full body pose called eka pada svanasana, or “one legged dog pose”.  This pose is a preparatory pose for hip opening and also works on upper body strength and balance.  The next is the recognizable adho mukha svanasana “downward facing dog pose”.  The final pose is utthita parsvakonasana “extended side angle pose” which also opens the hips, as well as the shoulders and chest.

Just a note on the use of Sanskrit terms: the style of yoga that I practice (Anusara) honors the tradition by using these names while also realizing that not everything can translate word for word.  Additionally, Sanskrit can be the universal language of yoga (similar to how Latin is used for biology in Linnean taxonomy) no matter where you are in the world.  It’s a nice fit.  Plus, the language is phonetic, and if you sound it out, it is pronounced exactly as it looks.  I love learning more Sanskrit as I study yoga.

While this photo project was a true joy to do, Kath must have felt that she wanted to give something back~ and while there was absolutely no need to do so, it was a pleasant surprise when she presented this lovely yarn to me this past weekend:

 She says that this bulky yarn is the perfect tonic for my small needle/fingering weight projects of late.  I look forward to casting on for a bulky cowl or hat on size 15 needles once I finally finish my Olympic sweater

Hmm… I really should watch how I transition in my blog posts!  Pictures of a baby and then me saying “surprise” makes you all start thinking about something else entirely…

I was going to tell you about my graduation from my yoga teacher training program last weekend!  Eleven months of classes, apprenticeships, weekend seminars, and lots of self examination.  It was quite a journey.

I was so blessed to make 14 new friends a long the way!

So what this means is that I am now certified to teach yoga – I was already teaching a class at my office, but I am now registered (and *legal* for all intents and purposes) by the Yoga Alliance.  It’s a step on the journey!

The interesting this about this journey is that I don’t really know what the destination is… but I am enjoying the ride.  I have no intention of leaving my archival career and teaching yoga full-time (especially in this economic climate) but I have this passionate side-job that I am happy to keep up.  I will continue to teach at my workplace, and perhaps look in to some opportunities in my community… we’ll see where it goes!

For now, it looks like the next step on the journey will involve an extended study with some senior teachers at my studio.  The program is called “Immersion”, and refers specifically to the style of yoga that I practice, Anusara.  Basically, it is a way to delve deeper and to learn more.   That program starts in January 2010 and is just around the corner!

I am planning to develop a side page on this blog (perhaps lollygirl.com/yoga, although it is not there yet!) to discuss my yoga and my teaching possibilities for the future – maybe some workshops, maybe some private sessions… I think it would just be good to have a dedicated space for such things.  So, if you are interested, stay tuned as I piece that together

As a commemoration to the wonderful women in my Yoga Teacher Training class, I recorded our group last Sunday night (right before our graduation ceremony) doing the chant that we did to open each meeting.  The chant is in Sanskrit, so I provided the translation underneath.

Om saha na vava tu
Saha nau bhunaktu
Saha vir yam kara va vahai
Tejas vi na va dhitnam astus
Ma vidvi sha va hai
Om shanti shanti shanti

May we, teacher and student, be protected together
May we enjoy the fruits of our actions together
May our knowledge be full of light
May there never be discord between us
Om peace peace peace

~

It’s those pauses in between when “life” happens… the pause between this activity and that one. The pause between the inhale and the exhale. The pause between placing one foot down and picking up the other.

Taking the pauses as they come – realizing them for the true gifts that they are. Not rushing to end the pause. It is in these pauses when calmness and clarity come. In a world where “multitasking” is revered, and countless hours are spent doing too many things at once, it is all the more meaningful to take the time to really explore the stillness.

Even the most menial tasks can be enjoyed when you simply think about what you are doing at the present moment. One of my favorite tasks for “living in the moment” is washing the dishes. The simple act of turning on the faucet, wetting my hands and a cloth, preparing the soap. I think about the science of it and I think about the art of it. I think about how I am grateful for indoor plumbing and for even having a pot to wash. With these thoughts in mind, you can wash a dozen dishes and also invite the stillness into your mind. It’s a lovely exercise – try it!

Mindfulness is so simple, yet so few people in our society do it. I am doing some research right now on mindfulness in yoga practice for my final project for Teacher Training. I hope to have more to share soon – my mindfulness project goes beyond the physical practice of yoga, and into every day life yoga – on and off the mat. My research paper is due next month, so you will probably hear more about it

Walking and hiking is definitely one of the most enjoyable activities, and a very good way to introduce a mindfulness practice into your life.  I especially like to take the hikes during the little pauses in between seasons – those sort of subtle days when there is a fuzzy line between the two… This weekend provided such an opportunity to explore a new trail in one of our favorite areas.  We took the dogs, and we took our time.

Project Spectrum has been a practice of mindfulness from the very beginning – just noticing the things around you.  Even if you feel that you don’t have the time to actually “craft” something in the specific colors this time around, you can still participate in the way of thinking about it.  Thinking about the ripples on the water, thinking about the blue of the sky, thinking about the shifting seasons…  and finally, taking the pause and just relishing in it.

Finding balance – no matter what kind of balance it is:  emotionally, figuratively, financially, physically -  can be a difficult task.   There are complete self-help courses on finding the work/life balance, on balancing your relationships, balancing your finances. 

One of the major draws for people interested in yoga is learning how to balance – both balancing on one foot (or one hand!) but also finding the balance in your own life to avoid stress.  Personally, yoga has helped me greatly in this way:  balancing my emotions (not as quick to anger or  sadness), as well as feeling more stability as I physically walk through the world.

Louise instructs Alecia in natarajasana - "king dancer pose"

The Balance sequences of yoga asanas can be some of the most challenging of any yoga pose.  It is true that some days really are better than others.  One day, it may be quite simple to stand on one foot and raise your arms overhead, but the next day may bring a completely different feeling.  Both internal and external factors play in to your sense of balance:  how much sleep you got the night before, what you eat, your stress level, your hormonal and/or blood sugar levels.   When I was at my lowest point last year with Lyme disease, I struggled very much with balance.  Lyme challenges your balance alone, but when you introduce new medications and chemicals in to the body, there is an even greater chance of imbalance.  It took many months of practice to get back to the point where I felt comfortable doing balance poses.  The real lesson for me was finding an internal balance, and letting that shine through to the outside.  Plus, a good dose of self-understading, and just realizing that it did NOT mean I was doomed to be sick forever if I could not balance on one foot. 

The focus of this month’s Yoga Teacher Training was on balance poses and hip openers – two classes of yoga asanas that are very challenging physically, but that also have emotional and psychological ties.  Like balance poses, hip openers – any pose that internally or externally rotates the hip muscles – can bring up deep seated emotions and feelings.  The hips, being attached to the base of the spine, have a direct connection up to the brain.  Hip openers are some of my favorite poses, personally, because they are the ones that truly make me feel different after finishing them.  

Hannah and I doing a partner variation on Eka Pada Rajakapotasana - "One Legged King Pigeon Pose"

• Standing on one leg while washing dishes, or brushing your teeth.  Make sure to also switch to the other leg so that you do both sides!
  

  Using a drishti - a point of focus and concentration - is key in balance poses

• Finding a drishti, or a point of intense focus, is one of the keys to finding freedom and expansion in balance poses.  In standing balances, your drishti point is often looking out over the horizon at a fixed point.  Do not choose something that moves (like your reflection in a mirror) as this will cause imbalance.
• A high lunge is both a hip opener AND a balance pose.  You can start out with your legs closer and slowly widen your stance.  For more stability, you can also place your back heel on a wall and still get the benefit of the pose. 
• Vrksasana, or tree pose, is probably one of the most recognizable yoga poses.  It also serves as both a balance pose and a small hip opener.  You can also place your foot at your calf, and you can perform this standing next to a wall, in case you feel the least bit wobbly. 

It’s hard for me to believe that I am half way through the yoga teacher training program – since we started in January and it goes through November, we are actually a little more than half now…

Yay! Pens win!

The certification program I am in requires at elast 200 hours to become a certified yoga teacher.  We start our program on Friday nights – usually the Friday night practice is a bit low-key since it is the end of the week and later in the evening.  This week, we did a sort of round-robin asana practice, each one of us teaching our peers a pose, and then passing it off to the next student.  It was fun and challenging.  We finished that up and moved into our regular Friday night fare of philosophy and discussion.  We are making our way through the Bhagavad Gita* as part of the training, and there are always interesting insights and interpretations to gather. 

Saturdays are usually “asana intensives” and many of the weekends have themes.  Last month, we did a whole series of backbending postures – performing them ourselves, and then practicing the languaging in order to teach them.  We often turn to our neighbors and practice teaching with them.  It is a rich experience.  This month’s theme was twists and forward bends.  We did a number of amazing twists; twists are like a deep massage for the internal organs, they detoxify the body in many ways, and also give your spine and abs a nice workout.  Plus, they just feel really nice

Going along with the theme of twists and detoxifying the body, we also studied some Ayurveda this weekend.  Ayurveda is the ancient Indian science of health.  There are three primary doshas – or elements – that people fall in to, and once you learn what dosha you are, you can do certain things to bring yourself more in to balance, i.e. exercise, diet, etc.  It is quite fascinating and really opens up a whole new research interest for me.  (If you are interested, you can find out more about your Ayurvedic dosha with this free online test).

Sunday’s class often starts with a meditation circle and some more philosophy discussion- yamas and niyamas, which I will most likely write about again soon – and then moves in to more asana practice.  Sunday focused more on forward bending postures – the primary benefits of these postures may be obvious – they stretch and lengthen your back body, from your spine down to your heels.  They also quiet the mind and the central nervous system.   We ended the day with a little bit of partner yoga – Cindy and I are demonstrating the “double dog” pose – I am in a full downward facing dog, while she is balanced in a half-handstand on my hips.  Many thanks to Hannah for snapping the photo!

In two weekends, I will be doing another intensive workshop at another local yoga studio (in Silver Spring for the locals).  It is not part of my teacher training, per se, but the hours that I go can be counted towards another certification, if I decide to go that route.  In July, I will begin working with a wonderful teacher (who also happens to be a first-rate knitter!) and apprenticing in two of her classes.  She teaches a Therapeutics classes – ideal for people coming back after surgery or illness, or who experience chronic pain issues.  I have observed the class a handful of times, and I greatly look forward to working with this group of students and learning more about their unique needs.  It is a great opportunity for education and for enriching my own practice. 

I look back at all that I have learned in the past few months – and I can’t help but think about all of the wonderful things I will learn in the future!

–

*We are doing a readalong of the Gita in the Namaste Knitters Group on Ravelry, if you are interested in joining us!   we just started so there is plenty of time to catch up!