Moving from the Organs Basics

Moving from the organs will enable the Yoga practitioner to perform familiar Yoga postures in a new and healthy way.  By stabilizing the bones and muscles in an Asana (Yoga posture) the student then can move the body purposefully to open or close (energetically heating or cooling the body) the upper or lower Kunda (the bowl shaped vessels) where the organs reside.

You may have heard the pelvis being described visually as bowl.  You can use this visualization to help you when you are tipping the pelvis forward for a backbend.  The same can be said for tipping the pelvis backwards when bending forward.  So when you are in an anatomical neutral position, the pelvic bowl rim should be level with the floor.  

More specifics about the pelvis can be stated in class, though I would just recommend that you not stand upright in neutral position with the sacrum perpendicular to the floor.  When you are standing upright with the sacrum basically parallel to the wall in front of you, it is called tucking of the pelvis which is not natural and flattens the lumbar spine which can lead to a multitude of problems up and down the spine if you were to keep that as your neutral position of the spine.  There is nothing wrong with the movements of the spine and body (tucking backwards or spilling forwards) but, as you may know, the more natural the positioning of the body the safer and healthier your body stays.

So while many Yoginis and Yogis are aware of the idea of the pelvic bowl, they might be less aware of the inverted bowl that the ribs create that house the lungs and the heart.  That bowl, let us call it the rib bowl, can be manipulated to backbends and forward bends just by tilting the inverted bowl forwards or backwards.

Of course, there is sidebending as well, but I just want the reader to visualize the pelvic bowl and the rib bowls for now with the backwards and forwards motions.

Got it?  So that's it.  Part of what Yoga is about is just paying attention at this particular moment in time.  All you really have is this present moment.  It is a present.....a gift.  Pay attention to the bowls.  Notice when the rib bowl is sticking too much out in the front (slight backbend) or tipping back too much (forward fold).  When you get out of neutral position or the natural, anatomical position of the body (misalignment) then the muscles have to work harder to compensate.  That is where Yoga helps the most.  Stretching and strengthening are great but it is also just nice to know how to hold the body so that no harm (Ahimsa) is caused. 

And then there is that exciting part where you allow the organs to lead the movement in the pose.  Now that is truly amazing.  Strong bones with supple and strong muscles are great, but if the organs aren't healthy neither is the individual.  By considering and gently manipulating the organs in the Kunda, a student can also have a healthy endocrine system.  Bonus!

Please carry the above information with you throughout your day.  Pay attention to the rib and the pelvic bowls.  Notice how much harder it is to sit when the chest is collapsed and the rib bowl is tipped backwards (folding forward).  When you lift your chest but allow the bowl to be level with the floor you may feel space opening so that the lungs have the ability to fill fully.  What a wonderful feeling!

I hope that helps.  

For my Yoga class listing and prices please check out:  catofoz.blogspot.com

Namaste`

Cat

    

Moving from the Organs Workshop & Class Series

Stirham sukham asanam

Abiding in ease is the Asana.

~Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Pada II, V. 46

'Moving from the Organs' is a series of workshops and classes that will approach the Yoga asana from a deeper level; the vital organs of the body.  

Attention to the shape of the asana (Yogic poses) and anatomy will be demonstrated throughout the classes.  Students will learn to look at and perform the postures in a way that is beneficial to the whole body while focusing on the placement of specific organs in each pose.  

While the student knowing muscle and bone alignment within the asana is important, this organ work is the key to health within the whole body system.  If the organs aren't healthy then the body and the individual may suffer.

I will be teaching key poses and techniques I learned from Judith Hanson Lasater's "Moving from the Organs" week long workshop.  Judith is not only a physical therapist but she has been teaching Yoga for over 40 years.  Her Yoga is challenging while educating the student on how to benefit the most within the asana while practicing Ahimsa (non harming).

Judith has defined practicing from the organs as "a means of positioning the body to either increase or decrease energy in the organs in such a way as to bring ease, lightness, and health to the body and create a background in the nervous system which provides the springboard for living easily and fully."

You won't want to miss this informative and dynamic class!

Due to lack of enrollment, this workshop and class series is cancelled.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  I will teach this topic again in the near future.

Namaste`

Questions?  ardhachandrasana@yahoo.com  

Beyond the Asana. History, Myth and Ayurveda.

Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words ayus for life and veda for science.  

Ayurveda is the science and study of life.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to yoke or union.

Ayurvedic Medicine and its sister science, Yoga, are approximately 5,000 years old.  By yoking in the wandering mind the Yogi or Yogini (male and female Yoga practitioners, respectively) started down the pathway of self discovery.  These ancient sciences have given current practitioners the gift of thousands of years of introspection within their personal practice and then passing on those discoveries to a newer generation of seekers.   

Yoga and Ayurveda are not religions, although they have the ability to lead the practitioner towards God-realization within the practitioner's own personal religion or spiritual belief system if the student so chooses.  Yoga can also be just Asana and Pranayama based (Yogic postures and breath manipulation) in which Yoga and Ayurvedic Medicine are tools to keep the practitioner's body healthy.  That's the pure beauty of both sciences is that you choose how deeply you want to learn more about yourself and the cosmos.

The next Yoga workshop I am teaching is titled, "Intro to Yoga:  Beyond the Asana.  History, Myth and Ayurveda."  

Foundations: Saturday Yoga Workshop Series

In the course of the 3 hour workshop we will attempt to fit in:

~OM (or the more advanced AUM); the cleansing power of the chant

~the Invocation to Patanjali; some background on the mythical creature Patanjali and then we will learn the "call and respond" chant

~Asanas (Yogic postures) will be incorporated into the class.  This is not a full 3-hour only Asana class but there will be some stories and imagery within the class to give a historical perspective behind the Asana names.

~Prana means life force.  We will end with some cooling poses so that we can do a little Pranayama at the end of the workshop.  The gentle breath manipulation is powerful stuff when approached gently and with keen observation.  We will go over the basics of this powerful Yogic tool.

I know this won't be your usual Yoga class and that is the beauty of it.  


It is time to learn a little more about those Yogic postures that you have been performing at home and in class.  You will learn to integrate a simple but profound mantra into your daily life.  Infuse a new curiosity and playfulness into your Yoga home practice.  You may even want to start a journal about how Yoga affects you.  Anything is possible if you are receptive......and quiet.

   

Stress can make you sick.

The antidote to stress is relaxation.  To relax is to rest deeply.

Relaxation is a state in which there is no movement, no effort, and the brain is quiet.

~ Judith Hanson Lasater

The effects of stress have reached epidemic proportions resulting in dis-ease.  And because of the plethora of modern diseases that have manifested from chronic stress, stress borne illnesses have become a medical specialty.  "I am stressed out," is a familiar phrase in our daily vernacular.  Stress can affect our mood, cause headaches and tight muscles, as well as digestive issues.  Even being around a stressed out person can affect everyone around them including family, friends, and co-workers.  In the short term, stress prepares the body for the obstacle at hand.  In the long term, chronic stress can make you sick.

One of the first studies on relaxation was performed by Dr. Edmund Jacobson.  He wrote, You Must Relax, about his revolutionary relaxation techniques and their benefits.  His new approach successfully treated high blood pressure, indigestion, colitis, insomnia, and what he called "nervousness."  

Edmund Jacobson relaxation technique     

All of us inherently know not only how to relax but that we need to relax.  Part of the issue at hand is......taking the time to relax.  You can take the time now with Restorative Yoga or even Dr. Jacobson's method or later down the road you can see a doctor about stress related health issues.  It may sound harsh, but you choose.  Everyone that attends my Yoga classes if only once or over the course of a decade can attest to the fact that they feel better and relaxed after class.  I have student's husbands and wives that send their loved ones to class knowing that it helps alleviate stress.  I am not saying that Yoga is a panacea but it can be yet another tool to use to help us decompress and recharge in our daily, hectic lives.

Of course, a good night's sleep helps, too.  :-)

  

What you do affects you.

The magic doesn't happen if you don't do the poses.

~ Judith H. Lasater

My favorite Yoga teacher, Judith Hanson Lasater, said something to the effect that there is a residue felt in the body after each asana (Yogic posture).  She went on to say that the previous posture's residue then affects the mind and body in the next asana.  A well rounded Yoga class will end with some sort of introspective and restorative postures so that the student will feel refreshed as well as relaxed when the class ends.  


I know that after leaving a 4 hour class on restorative poses, my daughter commented on how peaceful I looked.  She also noticed how every Yoga student looked happy and relaxed upon descending the long staircase and onto the streets of San Francisco at the end of each day of the workshop.  It truly felt magical.

Intentions  

My intentions for the restoratives workshop will be to give the student enough information that they will want to practice these amazing postures at home.  They don't have to do all of the asana (postures) taught in the workshop to see immediate results.  One pose for 20 minutes without distraction every day is a wonderful addition to a healthy and relaxed lifestyle.   


Once the student has integrated the one Restorative Yoga pose into their daily routine, they may want to increase to two asana (postures) a day.  And by changing the restorative asana routine after a  week or two (thereby setting the timer to 30 minutes instead of 20) the Yoga practitioner may discover a new residue of relaxation within the mind and body.  It is an experiment worth trying.  


Humans are experts on how to manipulate the body to stay awake longer but we desperately need to relearn how to relax fully and completely.  Come discover the real you that is relaxed and renewed on January 21st at Align and Stretch Studio.


More information about workshops at:  catofoz.blotspot.com


Questions:  ardhachandrasana@yahoo.com

  

Restorative Yoga Workshop Saturday, January 21st

As I prepare for my Restorative Yoga Workshop I will be teaching this upcoming Saturday, January 21st, I am pouring over my notes and photos from various Yoga workshops I have attended.  I also started reading a book that focuses on dealing with anxiety and fears called, The Chemistry of Calm, by Henry Emmons, M.D.  This was recommended reading from the Advanced Relax and Renew Training in San Francisco taught by Judith Hanson Lasater.  


As we all inherently know, stress is intertwined in our daily lives.  This point is felt more so during the holiday season while rushing around to attend parties and buying too many gifts.  What might not be as obvious is that stress isn't a problem until it becomes chronic.  Dr. Emmons goes on to say:


"The adrenal/stress response is the key to whether or not fear makes us sick.  It is not that stress itself is bad.  Studies show that short-term stress can even be good for us.  But as the military has discovered, if the amount of stress is great enough, anyone can be broken down by it.  Most of us, of course, don't experience severe stress in our day-to-day lives.  but if your daily life is filled with constant, unremitting stress - if stress is ever present, like background noise - it can be destructive.  Still, what determines how well you survive chronic stress is how you react to it and whether you are able to shut it down."


As a Yoga teacher and someone who studies Ayurvedic Medicine, I know that Yoga isn't a cure-all.  Yoga can be a tool, like eating a healthy diet, to aid the student to unravel the tension that most of us carry literally in our bodies on a daily basis.    


When a student leaves relaxed and invigorated from a Yoga class, I am reminded on how powerful this medicine is for the teacher and the student.  If you give your brain just 20 minutes of relaxation (not sleeping, but quiet observation) while in a supported reclining restorative Yoga position, students report being more alert and focused throughout the rest of the day or better able to sleep at night.  


I will be teaching a Restorative Yoga class on Saturday, January 21st, from 12 noon - 3 pm.  


Restorative Yoga Workshop Link


B.K.S. Iyengar even said something to the effect that you cannot learn Yoga through just reading books.  Yoga must be experienced.  Come to a Yoga class or workshop to experience what true relaxation feels like.  I know you won't be disappointed!


Namaste`

The Art of Asana

I had a newer student ask a very good question the other day in the Yoga class I was teaching.  Basically, she wanted to know if I “made up” the postures (or more specifically, the sequencing) as the class progressed or did I have a list of poses that we worked from.  I smiled.  As we were folding forward in Parsvottanasana, I attempted to convey that there is a method to the sequencing of the Asana (postures) but I also observe what my students need for that class and then adapt accordingly.  If my students were fatigued, I would not choose to put them through Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) which is a rigorous series of postures used to greet the morning and to wake up the body.  If I made the mistake of overworking my already tired students then most of those students would not come back to next week’s class.  How could you blame them?

Sequencing was something that I studied in the books of the Iyengars.  B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga, and Geeta Iyengar, Yoga:  A Gem for Women, were the two books I studied before and after the classes I taught in the early days twelve years ago.  Father and daughter, respectively, who are masters of a discipline that has allowed me to become a better person as well as teacher.  If you want to know something about how to sequence your asanas then I suggest not only studying those books but also practicing their sequences.  It is through performing the postures, or asana, that you become aware of the profound influence of the masters of Yoga and sequencing.

Without divulging names, I have attended a workshop where the Senior Iyengar teacher had us perform a long backbending series.  His method getting the body prepared for backbending wasn’t the problem.  His teaching has always been fun and informative.  But because of the lack of time at the end of the class, we didn’t do any counter poses to either soften the arch that we created in the back nor did we even cool down the nervous system.  What that meant for me was probably the worst Savasana (Corpse Pose) I have ever experienced.  I was lying on my back with my eyes closed and even though I just did a very strenuous Yoga class, my eyes were darting back and forth behind closed lids.  I was not relaxed!

Please note that the backbending class was early on my Yoga path so I also did not have the tools and the knowledge available to me now.  If I were to attend such a class now, I definitely would do something like Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall) with either a block or bolster after such a strong series of postures.  I would expect that my mind would be very Vata-like, so I would keep my eyes open and my breath cooling.  I would also choose not to teach such a class to my students.   

So sequencing does matter but so does listening to your body.  If that is the lesson that you receive from Yoga, then you are truly blessed!

~Namaste`