Memorial Day Weekend classes:
Thursday May 24, 6-7:30pm Led Primary Series at AYC
Friday May 25, 11:30-1:30 Mysore at AYC
Saturday May 26, 9-11am Mysore at AYC
Monday May 28, 6-7:15 Ashtanga level 1/2 CANCELLED
Tuesday May 29, 6:30-9:30am Mysore at AYC
June 3rd Moon on the Pond - 6:30-8pm at AYC
June 3rd Moon on the Pond - 6:30-8pm at AYC
Contact me directly to let me know if you plan on coming to classes at AYC (my home studio) so I can reserve a space for you. inghamsk@gmail.com 919-880-9409 (call or txt)
All classes at AYC will be cancelled from June 20-27, and also over 4th of July Weekend. Look for details and reminders as those dates approach.
Recently a student of mine has had some trouble with her knee, and went to see a body worker, who gave her some advise and things to work on to help re-activate some muscles that have been "lazy"- presumably from years of various habits ranging from how she walks to the way she practices her yoga poses. In talking with her we realized that many of the actions and poses her bodyworker recommended are present in Matthew Sweeney's Vinyasa Krama sequences - Moon and Lion Sequence.
Matthew's sequences, designed to complement the Ashtanga sequences, are uncanny at shining a light on and bringing to the student's attention what may be missing or being avoided. It's easy, especially with a set-sequence practice like Ashtanga, to develop practice habits that avoid those actions and poses we are uncomfortable with by rushing through those poses we don't like or "can't do", relying on our strengths to compensate for our weaknesses, but Matthew's sequences cleverly show how useful those things are. For example, in Moon Sequence, the deep hip openers like Pigeon and Firelogs pose are often used as "prep" poses for Lotus and Eka Pada poses in Ashtanga. In the Vinyasa Krama sequences, backbending is approached from different angles, like Half Camel pose in the Moon Sequence and the belly backbending in Lion Sequence. While the Ashtanga Primary Series has plenty of backbends in it (every Upward Facing Dog in every Vinyasa), many people rush through those movements and miss the benefits of backbending to complement the forward folds in the sequence. There are more examples, and maybe I'll share those another time...
The point of all these examples is not necessarily to be an advertisement for Matthew's books or workshops (though I really do love his sequences and teaching methods!!), or to speak out against the Ashtanga method (obviously I am a big fan or I wouldn't practice every day!)...But rather to point out that Yoga is about self exploration and awareness. That means exploring and being aware of ALL of it...even the stuff that's messy or uncomfortable or hard...stepping up and facing our fears, pushing through our blockages and letting go of emotions we've been holding onto. If we are avoiding that stuff on a physical level on our mats, what are we likely doing off the mat on an emotional and spiritual level? I'm not saying we should all just jump off the proverbial cliff and dive into the gunk all at once...It's a process, and it requires diligence and discipline and devotion, as well as patience, acceptance and kindness - all things that are part of the eight-fold path of yoga. Start with the physical...explore those limits and boundaries...take a peek over the edge and then come back another day ready to go a little further. That element of exploration and curiosity is what sets yoga apart from many other forms of exercise...otherwise, it's just a bunch of jumping around on a mat!
Namaste
Stacy
