Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Tuesday Morning

Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.1-
atha yoga anusasanam
now we come together to study yoga

Several years ago, I spent a year teaching my classes based on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. So this year I thought I would do the same with my classes in San Marcos- except with the Beginning Series because they have a specific "introduction to Anusara Yoga" curriculum of themes. Anyway, since classes started last night, we started with Sutra 1. How cool is it that the whole treatise begins with NOW? Now implies that we have made ourselves ready, now implies that we engage the practice as we are, now implies that we do not wait to begin, now implies that our field for practice is immediate.
.
And really, no matter what the teacher is saying in any class, the instruction has at its heart an invitation to the now moment. Sometimes alignment instructions seem like an endless barrage of things to do and not to do in some kind of perfectionistic nightmare. But really, they are not that at all- alignment instructions are an invitation to engage the moment skillfully, mindfully and with precise awareness in action.
.
The Level 3 class began the foray towards headstand with some work on pinca mayurasana variations. So that was an exciting way to start the year after a two week break! The Level 1 class worked on taking the arm bones back in a variety of standing poses, chatauranga, and setu bandhasana. We had a few new people join us for classes and lot of returning folks so that was fun. It was nice to see everyone back after the holidays and ready for a new year.
.
And also, Ave visited us. She is the one-month old member of our community down here, although she came to 9 months of classes in utero. She is a very beautiful baby. (Although most of them are when they are sleeping so peacefully after just begin breast fed!)
.
Oh, and Fish made us a homemade cheesecake. And it is just how I like them- not very sweet at all, very cheesy with a most excelllent fat to flavor ratio.
.
Have a great day! Seize the moment!

3 comments:

mandy said...

I love this
"But really, they are not that at all- alignment instructions are an invitation to engage the moment skillfully, mindfully and with precise awareness in action."
I totally used this tonight in class. A situation arose when a girl was having low back pain in cobra. I showed her how to work her legs and keep her shoulder lifted, and well you know the rest of the story. When she was finished she said wow you really have to think about what you are doing. I said Exactly! that's the yoga we are asked to put ourselves so fully in the moment through skillfull action. I'm glad I read your blog before class:)

Christina Sell said...

Hooray! Does it get any better than that???

Dale said...

carpe asana!!

I'm not sure if this is seize the pose or grab you butt. . .