Sunday, September 30, 2018

Too intense?


This is a photo of BKS Iyengar with Raya, providing support so he can fall back into Urdva Dhanurasana. Raya was at Yoga Centre Toronto in honour of BKS 100th birthday, as well as the official opening of the new Centre. He studied with BKS from the age of 10, and continues to teach at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) located in Pune, Maharashtra. Students come from all over the world to take classes at RIMYI, and Raya also travels the world to share the teachings of his guruji.

This morning I watched Raya demonstrate similar support to teachers and teachers in training at the YCT workshop I was attending. To help them into the pose, and help them understand how to help others into the pose.

The last three days, in fact, I spent in a workshop with Raya. However, if I could have gotten someone to take my place at the beginning of this yoga intensive this weekend I surely would have. I have been in a bit of a fog since my mom died at the end of August. I wasn't sure if I was up to an intensive, but having paid the price of admission last July, I pushed myself to attend.

This was not my first workshop with Raya, I also attended in 2014. This time the workshop was very different, indeed. It seemed as if there were no lesson plan, it was improvised on the spot. Influenced by the students' and teachers' needs and conundrums as they presented themselves.

Friday night was probably the most intense, with Raya admitting it is to the teacher's advantage to tire everyone from the very beginning. I certainly tired. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here. Why am I doing this or trying to do this to my body? O my god I can't believe how much I'm sweating. Is Raya teaching to only the top 2% in the room? What the hell is he doing to us? Someone is going to get hurt! I slept well that night, in fact overslept and was late the next morning.

Raya was honest, saying he could teach us nothing in three days, not really knowing us or our abilities, he could only show and share some of the things he had learned from his teacher. Yoga isn't only theoretical, it must be learned by doing.

Saturday morning was also physically demanding. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning there was a lot more talk, of teaching, of the structure of advanced flow designed and shared by Iyengar in Light on Yoga.

Extend your expansions and expand your extensions.
Find the breathability of the pose.
Balance stability and comfort (Sthira Sukham Asanam).
Don't just focus on opening up the chest - so much more needs to happen in a pose.
There are lessons to be learned when holding the pose past the point of tiring.
Don't rely too much on timers, use them, but judiciously. (Or you will have an alarming practice)

Uttanna = intense. Take it to your limit. Pick a pose and meet it daily and often over a period of months, for true improvement.

As I was watching this man in his prime demonstrate sequences I was in awe. However, his practise is not my practise.

I have never aspired to falling backwards into full wheel, or knotting my body, or practising for three or four hours every day. I don't even aspire to teach. But I do love yoga for the richness and insights it continues to bring to my life.

If I took anything from this weekend intensive it is the importance to continue to practise and learn, as well as remember insights gained previously. Perhaps the biggest insight I am taking away this weekend is that as I grow older I need not necessarily put limits on myself, but I also need to be wise about how I sustain and evolve my practise.

postscript And I am being reminded of these lesson! Somewhere along the way I threw myself out of alignment and a week later I am still aching.



Wednesday, September 26, 2018

September Harvest Moon


Well, the moon was full 2 nights ago, and I missed it! What on earth was I thinking?? I am definitely in a bit of a daze these days.

First time in many years I am celebrating a Harvest Moon while it is on the wane.

The first full moon of autumn in the northern hemisphere. What was I doing on Monday night anyway? I was at a work function, a QCC AGM, and came home when it was dark. Must have been cloudy that night or I would have caught a glimpse, I'm sure.

Ah well, it's still beautiful and high in the sky this evening, and shining so bright it is casting moon shadows.

Which brings to mind the lovely song, Moonshadow, and the lyrics by Cat Stevens.  I found a great uke tutorial for the song here. Should keep me busy for awhile!

Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow---
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow---
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more.
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow---
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow---
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk...
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Home spa

For awhile I'd been stashing a bottle of olive oil on my bathroom shelf,  but it was very bulky. Or I would run down to the kitchen if I wanted a dab of honey.

I was glad to see such pretty refillable bottles available from Muji. They look so pretty on the bathroom shelf. Pump and spray options are available, so the remedies are easily in reach and even easier to apply.

Rosewater - spritz on for natural toner
Olive oil - night time body moisturizer
Honey - for blemishes & cuticle moisturizer
Apple Cider Vinegar  - spray on sunburn or bug bites
Brown sugar - mix with olive oil or honey for lip scrub

Now on the hunt for some essential lavender oil!

Monday, September 17, 2018

Yoga Camp Weekend



Just the balm I needed!

This is the second year I've made it to the Queen Elizabeth Yoga Camp weekend. It sells out quickly so we signed up as soon as the notice came out in April.

I shared a no-frills cabin with Liz and Denise, just a short walk to the outhouse and water station, with just a few more steps to the Big Camp. Chris was there too, bunking in a cabin with Campbell.

Delicious meals appeared without having to think about their preparation or clean-up. What a treat! As was sharing the table with friends.

There were so many different activities offered: yoga, qigong, hikes, meditation, rustic spa, massage, crafts, open waterfront. It was often hard to choose. 

Each morning I enjoyed qigong with the morning sunrise, followed by guided meditation on the rocks. I have been reading Thich Nhat Hanh on the topic of inter-being, so in seated meditation with my eyes softly focused I could wonder at how the rocks gracefully submerged under the water, the reflection of clouds above. A wonderful becoming.

I also relaxed with candlelight yoga, gentle yoga, yin yoga for neck and shoulders. I even fit in a short vigorous practice before a massage.

Even though it was mid-September the days were hot. Breezes were cool. The lake was the perfect temperature for swimming.

Rustic sauna
This is the first time I tried a "rustic spa" sauna. Fun! Slather warm oatmeal all over your body, smear olive oil and brown sugar on your lips and let it all dry. Then you need two buckets: one steel bucket to put rocks hot from a fire and the second for a bucket of water. Gather at least four friends and huddle yourselves underneath a tarp. Add water to the rocks - and presto  - rustic sauna! Sweat until you've had enough and then jump into lake to remove the oatmeal and feed the fish.

 The craft this year was making  holiday ornaments. Everything was supplied and all the wood was sliced and ready to go, just waiting for embellishment. Little momentos of a summer's day, set aside for the winter ahead.