Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Sweet Vinyasa, Monday 8:30

12 Peeps

It's gotten hot in Ojai. So the practice focused on internal cues to create length and space and concentration culminating in the watery pose of shoulder stand. We were an intimate enough group to get a little geeky about shoulder stand which had come up as a question last week. I almost never teach formal shoulder stand but prefer the more casual version of candlestick.

Impressing the Heart. See Online Yoga Video.
Lengthening the Spine. See online Yoga Video.

Hamstring Stretching with a Strap
Supine Extended Tadasana with Leg Lifting

Roll to a Seat
Easy Cross Legged Foreword Fold and Side Bending

Transition onto All Fours
Easy Side Plank Sequence
Childs Pose

Plank
Dog

2 Rounds of Crescent Moon from Dog

Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing

Sequence 1
Utthita Tadasana
Sun to Lunge
Hammock
Triangle
Side Triangle
Side Angle Pose
Dog

Repeat Sequence 1 (san utthita tadasana) Other Side from Dog

Uttanasna
Roll up to Standing

Sequence 2
Utthita Tadasana
Sun to Lunge
Hammock
Tadasana
Tree Pose (Emphasis on establishing the Standing Leg)
Open Faced Triangle to Half Moon Pose
Standing Splits
Lunge
3 Legged Dog
Dog

Repeat Sequence 2 (san utthita tadasana) other side from Dog

Rest Childs Pose

Set up for Supported Viparrita Karni with 2 bricks and a Blanket.
Play with Supported Bridge Pose

Look at shoulder stand and the potential mischief for the neck.
Set up with Blankets and explore.
Rest

Transition to a Seat
Side Bending
Foreword Folding

Sit

Savasana

Sunday, July 12, 2009

N'est-ce pas? Preparing for Sleepy One Legged Crow Pose

Filmed a 2 part sequence today.

Checking in useful actions for sleepy one legged crow pose.
1. Connecting with the Belly
2. Understanding How to drive with the toes
3. Familiarity with weight in arms
4. Opening in Hips
5. Digging elbow into the guts
6. Rolling the weight to the side

N'est-ce pas? Moving Towards Peacock

Filmed a short sequence of 4 videos showing some preparations for peacock, aka mayurasana.

1. Stretching the Wrists
2. Creating Cleavage and Digging the Elbows into the Guts
3. Rodeo Peacock
4. 'Formal' Peacock

Stiff White Guys Yoga, Sunday 10am

21 Peeps
2 Drop Ins

Similar as yesterday. Attention to detail to create a solid foundation for balance then playing with letting something go.

Opening
Making an impression in the Heart. See online Yoga Video.
Lengthening the Spine. See online Yoga Video.

Hamstring Stretches
Supine Leg Lifting

Transition to All Fours

Easy Side Plank Both Sides
Childs Pose

Dog Lunge Series
Plank
Dog
Childs Pose

Plank
Dog
Lunge to Crescent Moon
Dog
Lunge to Crescent Moon
Dog
Plank
Childs Pose

Plank
Dog
Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing


Wide Leg Stance Forward Fold
Tadasana

Warrior 2 Sequence
Warrior 2 Dance
Warrior 2
Crescent Moon
Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing

Repeat Warrior 2 Sequence Other Side

Uttanasana against Wall

Balance Play against Wall
Balance Play in middle of Room

Uttanasana
Malasana
Transition to Earth

Eye of the Needle Both Sides
Bridge x 2

Knees to Chest
Easy Spinal Twist

Savasana

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Stiff White Guys Yoga Saturday @ 10:45am

10 Peeps
2 Drop Ins

Geeky and technical cuing in the spine and legs to help insure steady balance postures. Worked great. Sarah, who is enrolled in the Teacher Training, observed. This always changes the tone of the class a little.

Impressing the Heart. See online yoga video.
Lengthening the Spine. See online Yoga Video.

Hamstring Stretching with a Strap and playing with Cuing from the Spine Lengthening.

Play with supine extended Leg Lifts. (This is the same shape we approach Standing in 2 different planes)

Transition to All Fours.

Easy Side Plank Pose on Both Sides.
Childs Pose.

Plank
Dog
Childs

Plank
Dog
Lunge to Crescent Moon
Dog
Lunge to Crescent Moon other Side
Dog
Childs

Plank
Dog
Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing

Utthita Tadasana

Transition to Wall

Balance Sequence 1
Uttanasana against Wall
Splat to Right Angle pose with Leg Lift
Uttanasana

Repeat Balance Sequence 1

Balance Sequence 2
Against Wall, Facing Center Of Room
One Leg Lifting, arms extending
Uttanasana

Repeat Balance Sequence 2 Other Side

Balance Assistance
Stepping up on and off of a Block to understand Standing Leg Cues

Balance Sequence 3
Balance Pose into Middle of Room
Simple Leg Lift with Arms Lifting and Strong Focal Point.
Both Sides.

High Success.

Uttanasana
Squat
Transition to Earth

Thigh Stretching with Windshield Wiper
Hip Opening with Eye of the Needle
Knees to Chest

Savasana

Soft Vinyasa Saturday 9am

16 peeps

No real peak pose. Attention to internal alignment cues towards Half Moon. Hop Opening towards Half Lotus. Dharma Talk on Sutra 1.1. Preparing to Relax.

Opening
Supine Heart Opener with Shoulder Opening. See Online Yoga Video.
Lengthening the Spine. See online yoga video.

Easy Forward Folding and Side Bending in Choice of Cross legged Seat

Transition to All Fours

Easy Side Plank Both Sides
Childs

Plank
Dog

Sequence 1
Abdominal Lunge Curling
Twisting Lunge
Hammock
Crescent Moon
Dog

Repeat Sequence 1 Other Side

Plank
Sphinx
Rocket Cat
Plank
Dog

Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing

Sequence 2
Utthita Tadasana
Sun to Lunge
Side Angle Blueprint
Triangle
Side Triangle
Side Angle Pose
Lunge
Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing

Repeat Sequence 2 Other Side

Sequence 3
Utthita Tadasana
Sun to Lunge
Side Angle Blueprint
Triangle
Side Triangle
PP C
Tree Pose
Triangle
Half Moon
Standing Splits
Uttanasana
Roll up to Standing

Repeat Sequence 3

Tadasana
Sun to Dog

Seated Sequence
From Dog
Hip Opener
Pigeon
Revolving Head to Knee
Seated Sequence Towards Half Lotus Forward Fold

Transition Back to Dog

Repeat Seated Sequence Other Side

Baddha Konasana Yin Style

Transition to Supine
(not enuf time to do bridge)

Indulgent Windshield Wiper
Favorite Spinal Twist

Savasana

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Just Sit There, Wednesday 7pm

Thank goodness for this class.   Again, all women.  And everyone was ready to be quiet.  A little talk on Sutra 1.1.  Releasing the burden of Self Love.

Opening
Heart Opener on 2 Bricks
Tailbone Awareness
Shimmy
Easy Eye of the Needle Hip Opening with Tailbone Play

Wide Leg Side Bending

Yin Style Baddha Konasana

We sat for 25 Minutes
Savasana for 7 minutes