Karma and Lila Meet

Haven't written for a while but today was pretty special. A couple, that are members of our studio, asked to meet today after the 12:00 class for lunch.

So from here I step back to Aug 07. When I first finished my certification training to teach yoga I thought I need to find a way to bring some of this to the military family I shared most of my child and adult life with. I kept thinking I need to call the V.A. and see how to get the ball rolling. I let life get in the way and never made the call. Must have been a reason.

Back to today. The couple we have lunch with are also yogis. They both have open hearts and open minds. Our discussion and their idea is to put together a program to help our military members both active and out of the service to deal with PTSD. We'd incorporate Anusara Yoga, Rajanakan teachings, possibly Yoga Nidra, and several other modalities to help the troop regain their life. I'm inspired. Maybe this is why I didn't step out, I was waiting for this to happen. Another example of tell the Divine what you want and when you're ready it will happen. Another chance to help my brothers and sister in uniform, this is going to rock!!!!

So now I'm even more motivated to complete my Anusara training and get to "Inspired" and later "Certified". Even though it's just a label it does allow me to use the label and share with my students all the things my teachers like BJ, Martin, Jordan, and John have given to me. I need more time with Douglas Brooks!!!!!! I love the Asana practice of Anusara but when you add in the Rajanakan teachings Douglas shares it all rings so true to the way I feel about life. "Step in and open up to what the Divine presents to you in all the many forms."

Lucky Donna, she is headed to Boulder this weekend to spend another weekend with Douglas. I've used up most of my kitchen passes and need to be nice to the staff and not beg off any more of my classes than I really have to. I am signing up for a course from Douglas teaching the Sivasutra. I tried reading them and they were harder to even start to figure out than Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. He shared a peek at some of the material and it's closer to English so if you get Douglas you can understand and start to comprehend.

So now I'm reenergized. Going to Scottsdale again in Dec for Immersion III and Anatomy with Martin and Jordan, BJ headed this way in Feb, hosting Immersion here in Rapid next summer, a two trips to learn from John (if Anusara accepts my application), and Grand Gathering II. Lot of Shakti in there.

So there it is the playfulness of Lila bringing the unexpected and the result of Karma helping me move into another rewarding possibility.

Be Yourself

Was listening to Douglas Brooks and heard an excellent comment but I can't remember who he was quoting, sorry, might not be exact but you'll get the idea:

Be yourself because everybody else is already taken.

I've been Brain Washed or

I'm changing the structure of my body.

Weird thing last night, I'm on my back on the bed getting set to read another chapter in the Ramayana and without thinking I adjust my thighs back and wide. If you've ever been in an Anusara class you've heard that a whole bunch. Inner spiral! So I catch myself and adjust to my legs so my feet open to the side and I narrow my Ischial Tuberosity (got to get ready for Martin Kirk) aka sits bones. Low and behold it doesn't feel as good.

So either all the Anusara teachers have brain washed me into thinking this is better or my structure is changing very slowly for the good. May be another prime number here, you had to read the earlier post to get it.

Prime Numbers

When I was listening to Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar (audiobook) he wrote something so true. Openings in your yoga practice are like prime numbers. When you first start out 1,3,5,7... they come pretty fast as do opening in your practice. later on 47,79,83... they get farther apart but bigger. So now I'm looking forward to my next prime number.

Frustration and Growth

Today had a challenge I that made me look hard at my teaching. I had a student that was not receptive to any enhancements I offered up to them. I think I came to them individually 3 separate times to assist. Once was to realign the knee from a dangerous position in Pigeon. I tried to be as open and enter into their practice with only good intentions. What a wall of negative energy. “What now?!” was one response I got. When I offered up enhancements to the entire class they disregarded anything I said and was off doing their own thing. Now with some students doing their own thing is a good thing, but here this student needed to listen and open up more, I thought.

After class I was told I attacked and was critical of their practice through the entire class. When I told them my intentions were to help their practice and ensure safety for the body minimizing the chance of injury. I got a lot of “I can’t” and “my body”, and “I’ve been practicing for a long time and I know how.” I again restated that I and the entire staff is here to teach and help each student’s practice grow, never with ill intent.

After they left, I got on my mat to practice and the whole class and conversation kept going through my mind. How weird that I watched Day 3 morning class of the Anusara Yoga Teacher Training DVDs today and John is talking about the 3 types of students and 5 elements of a student. They are on the Mild side, not dedicated to their practice and will come only if something else doesn’t get in the way. But where I really got stuck, was my behavior. At first I was, “Why do I keep putting myself out there to only get bothered by things like this? It would be much easier to just be a student and stop teaching, worrying only about my practice.” A few minutes of meditation got to here. Did I look for what was good in their practice and acknowledge it? I’m still quick to make enhancements and even what I previously called corrections but the percentage of times I compliment an Asana is much less.

Bottom line is just as much as I’m working to learn all the little physical details to teaching a class I need to use well placed positive feedback a lot more. Out of the frustration my teaching grows.

Trip to Feathered Pipe Ranch

Another great extended weekend. Started all the way back at Friday early AM. Got an early start with a quick meditation, short dog walk, and finish loading the truck. Got on the road just after 7 AM and drove the back way through the hills. They are still super green, guess if we have to have the rain at least the hills are healthy. Listened to a bunch of stuff on the drive. Douglas Brooks - Triadic Heart of the Goddess, then Iyengar - Light on Life, and a bit of music. Nine hours of driving by yourself can either be very boring or you can enrich your mind.

Got to Feathered Pipe Ranch right at 5 PM, found my yurt and almost immediately rolled out my mat in the lodge and practiced for a bit before dinner. Something about practicing in that room that lets the Shakti flow pretty freely. Ate with Howard who always has a great story to tell about his travels or staying with is guru. Yummy dinner and Michael Fraser offered to do some energy work on his table after the group intro session. The man in pretty damn good at what he does. If you are ever in Helena Montana or Feathered Pipe make sure to get on his schedule. He pulled some junk out of my psoas that I’ve been working on for a while, he helped in minutes. And, the hot tub is in!!! We were told it would be there for Erich Schiffmann’s workshop but some of the part never made it from Texas to Montana. Good night sleep in a lightning storm and ready for the next day.

Up early and a hike up the loop trail. Found a great rock to meditate on at the top. Was sitting there chanting and in meditation and started hearing flute music. “Wow, I’m really deep in here, never have conjured up flutes before.” Then I realized they were playing flutes on the lawn of the ranch about a half mile below me and the wind was blowing the notes to me. No encounter with Mr. Black Bear like last time during this meditation but did keep the corner of one eye open the entire time.

Saturday’s first class was Iyengar based back bends. Cool use of a folding chair that I have to practice and will help my own backbends and I should learn to teach. Good start but not was I really wanted, needed to practice. The afternoon started with an asana foundation class, pretty soft and slow. Teacher made a great effort to cover details but again not what I wanted, honor the teachings, take what you can and be grateful. Went for a bike ride during the break, short but good to spin the pedals. Got the chance to sit and talk with India about the ranch and where it was going. They struggled this year with the economy where it’s at. The opportunity to teach again at the ranch for a longer period may present itself in the future, would be way cool. I did learn that it was at the ranch the John Friend announced he would no longer teach Iyengar Yoga and was starting Anusara Yoga. Maybe that’s why the places pulls be back there? Indian chow for dinner and it was some of the best. That night Babs lead a Yoga Nidra class that was excellent. I was ready for it since I knew exactly what I was walking into. Hadn’t been in a Nidra class in a long time and forgot how much self-exploration can happen there.

Sunday was the day I really went for, a chance to teach a class at Feathered Pipe Ranch. Woke up real early, no idea how early since I forgot to take a clock. But I, messed around in the yurt, read, studied my class and still was in the bath house at 5 AM. Had the hot tub to myself so I took advantage of the clothing optional policy. Got all cleaned up and went into the lodge to practice before the world awoke. I’d practice for a while and then play with my notes. At one point I looked down and my hand was shaking like I was a kid giving his first speech. Did you know you can pee 6 times before 9:30 in the morning? Once class started I was in to it. Taught a twisting class I called Wring out the Old, In with the New. I was surprised how many new students, as in almost never took an asana class, was there. I taught to the best of my ability trying to honor all the things Nancy, John, BJ, Mary, Kerri and so many others have taught me. I used John’s analogy of the river, the water being the free flow of the asana and the banks being the stability throughout the class, thanks John. I was pretty happy when it was over and all the students must have worked hard because Savasana was without a stir. Lots of positive feedback after class and some saying it was the hardest class they had ever done but really enjoyed it. Light but yummy lunch since I was getting to teach another class in the early afternoon. I must have worked a few too hard or the massage table was calling, class size down by 10 or so. Built this class around Yes and No into folds. Had a few folks into arm balances for the first time ever. More good feedback and I’m feeling pretty good but exhausted. Time for the hot tub round two, sauna, and a nap. Dinner pretty good not my fav but the cobbler and ice cream rocked. Kirtan with Patrick was a good close for the day and I slept pretty sound, though I did spend a bit of time going over the classes and what I could have done better and what I thought I shined at. Still so much to learn and improve at.

Monday started out with a little meditation on my own again and getting packed. The class was, sorry to say, painfully slow. She was putting lots of energy and I could see a lot of preparation into it but it wasn’t moving my Shakti. I made an excuse to go to the bathroom and got lost for a while. Sorry. When I came back we were doing a modification of Salutation C that I hung in with as long as I could. It was interesting to look at some of the other teachers in the room and they were struggling to hang in there too. Lots of meditation in Thunderbolt while the rest of the class moved about. Still tried to honor her teachings and when she asked after class gave positive and honest feedback. I was hoping for a Shakti filled Freeform class after that but some many just wanted to get on the road. I used the next 45 minutes or so to shake out a few bugs in my body with some deep folds and a few inversions and I too was ready to drive. Finish loading the truck, said my goodbyes, and at 12:00 I was rolling an only 650 mile to go to my bed. Turn up Los Lonely Boys and drive on. Did get to listen to the last half of Light on Life again since I was a little fuzzy brained the first time and some Ram Das stuff. Ram Das is pretty damn funny but insightful. He’s either full of crap or all the drugs and meditation has really brought him clear vision into the world.

Got home just after 10 tired but jazzed up from the drive finally getting to sleep at 11 and back up at 4:45 to get ready for a 6 AM class.

Now to just digest what I learned about Asana, about my teachings, and about my reactions to the teachings of others this week and grow from that. Time to get my focus ready for Immersion starting in almost a month. Martin and Jordan Kirk are going to love me or get tired of the 10,000 questions I have.

Fun Day

Had a great day Wed. Worked around the house most the AM. Played with the dogs nothing special. Then went in to teach. Started with Chair Yoga. Really small group but love to keep them active. My Dad just keeps coming. Don't know if he'll ever admit it's doing him good but week in and week out, there he is over in the corner moving his 79 year old body. Guess he figures every time he does yoga increases his chance of staying on his motorcycle one more day.

The Intermediate class was big and full of energy. Worked the Yes and No dance in deep forward folds with the top pose being Hanumanasana (full splits). Made sure everyone knew we were going towards but not disappointed if we didn't make it all the way down. You can always tell how good a class you taught by the depth of Savasana. Ten full minutes and not a movement out of anyone. Guess they dug it.

Third class for the night Gentle. Spent a little extra time on the mat demonstrating. Did a well rounded practice and ended with two restorative asana, a side bend over a bolster followed by supported bridge. Another very still Savasana.

Then on the way home in the big rain storm, found out Donna was done at her Primal Quest checkpoint and headed home. After camping in Wind Cave National Park for four days without a shower or stream to bath in she was in need. We had one of our normal scatter chats as she cleaned up. Checked her Facebook (Donna Savage) and then she crashed deep to sleep.

I love my life.