In the previous post, we touched on Why we use props in yoga. The props are essential for helping us approach the poses with safety. But we also use the props to help facilitate a more profound effect through the awareness of the breath. When we are doing active poses, and not holding still very […]
B.K.S. Iyengar invented ways to use props to support the body in yoga poses. He saw that many people had difficultly achieving the poses and therefore could not reap the benefits of a practice. His props help when there is a limitation like stiffness or injury. An example of props sometimes used in an Iyengar […]
I am always so grateful when a holiday arrives. I am glad to have a break from the usual schedule and spend time with my family. To “sleep in” (there’s no sleeping in at my house), to not rush to a meeting, to take a slower pace. My body and brain need a break from […]
Last week I was practicing at home and settling in for Savasana (usually the last pose where you lay down and just try to be still and quiet). My two year old, who had been mostly playing quietly in the room with me, comes over and begins stroking my eye lids and lips with her […]
Yoga has helped me to: become more calm sleep better have regular digestion less pain less stiff make better decisions be less greedy keep perspective have deeper connections less worry / anxiety and on and on … But if a prospective new student asks me “what are the benefits of yoga?” I am hesitant to […]
Yesterday we had a great group discussion on the topic of self study. Self study (Svadhyaya) is one part of Kryia Yoga or yoga of action. In the yoga sutras instructs the eager student to take action in three ways: cultivate excitement for yoga (Tapas)self study (Svadhyaya) surrender to God (Ishvara Pranidhana) Practicing these three […]
Students are still sending me feedback about their struggles / obstacles for getting going in their home practice. I want to share their feedback with you. I think it will helpful for you to hear. Last week three separate students told me they have a hard time practicing at home because they miss hearing my […]
Last week I published the Beginners and practitioners post. In that article I stated that in order to help beginner students become practitioners I need to first understand why people are not practicing on their own. What is standing in the way. Students practicing together in class. I heard back from many of you. People […]
At the national Iyengar Yoga convention in Dallas this past April the teacher, Abhitjata Iyengar, the grand daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar, differentiated between beginners and practitioners. She instructed the beginners to concentrate on gross actions. The practitioners were asked to work more subtly. I wondered, who were the beginners? And who the practitioners? The criteria […]
There has been a stomach bug being passed around my house for the past two weeks. When you live with small children there always seems to be something being passed around! By last Friday evening I was on the couch with a stomach ache and a fever. And I didn’t feel good at all. B.K.S. […]