In This Issue
"Look Ma, No Hands!"
Class Info for Week of August 29
Yoga at the Armory

Yoga Bits

Morsels of yogic wisdom and information

August 29 - September 4, 2011

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Classes for the Week of August 29

Yoga at the Armory: Sunday, September 25     

Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, 10 a.m.  Community Class     

Details below

 

Look Ma, No Hands!

Feeling proud as a peacock 

 

The greatest progress in life is when you know your limitations,

and then you have the courage to drop them.

-- Yogi Bhajan  

 

Is something in front of you that you think you cannot do?

Several weekends ago, with the guidance of my totally awesome teacher Tanya Greve of Yoga Garage, I found myself in an asana (posture) I had never done before called pincha mayurasana, or Feathered Peacock Pose. I really, truly did not expect to be able to do it. It's an inversion pose, which means your heart is above your head, like a handstand or headstand but it's done on the forearms (see photo below taken from Yoga Journal online).

Feathered Peacock PoseI watched Tanya effortlessly pop into the pose and listened to her explain each step along the way and I thought to myself, "No way." I even said out loud, "My arms are too short for this. I don't have enough space from my elbow to my shoulder to make it happen." When the class stared at me as if I was not making any sense, I realized I had a perception of myself that may not be accurate. But what do they know? Maybe I was absolutely correct. I mean, after all, I've been living with these arms my whole life, right? Either way, I felt scared to try it.

Then I practiced what I preach to you guys all the time and I decided to just try each step as Tanya described it until I came to the place where I couldn't do anymore. And that would be enough. That would be great, actually. Another student and Tanya both spotted me so that I wouldn't crash through the wall or break a rib (by the way, thanks for that).

Tanya's background in Anusara yoga makes her a little bit of an alignment wizard so a good portion of the effort was spent getting my heart center and pelvis in the right spots while on hands and knees, as well as my elbow, shoulder and hip points where they needed to be. I came into Downward Facing Dog on the elbows, sometimes adorably referred to as Down Puppy, before attempting to "kick up" into the inversion with the support of my spotters.

As I properly aligned each necessary part, I kept finding myself moving on to the next step, and the next one, and the next. Until, there I was with my head above my heart, standing on my forearms with my heels against the wall.

I don't remember how long I stayed up but it really doesn't matter. When I came out of the pose (also carefully guided by Tanya), I stood up to witness the excitement of the class. I think I was a little stunned so it took me a beat or two to enjoy what I had just done. Then I blinked my eyes and thought, "I'm 44 years old. I just stood on my forearms. This is unbelievable! And really, really cool!"

For me this was an ambitious yoga pose. The point is not that I actually ended up in the inversion -- although that was a blast and a great story to tell my friends -- but that I broke my effort down into manageable pieces, gave myself permission to "fail" and moved ahead with proper support.

If that's not a metaphor for navigating life, I really don't know what is.

I'm sure we can all agree that life itself can feel as daunting as an upside-down yoga pose. Whatever you are facing that appears intimidating, apply the same technique and see if it helps you walk through it: take things one moment at a time, embrace your limitations and don't forget your "spotters". 
Sat Nam,

 

Mary

 

Classes for the Wweeklyinfoeek of August 29          

North Hollywood 

  Wed 7:30 p.m.  Thu 7:30 p.m. Sat 11 a.m.  Sat 3 p.m. 

 

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fourthsunday

 

Yoga at the Armory: September 25

 

Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena    

10 a.m. Community Class 

All Levels

 

$15 suggested fee*

 

Armory Center for the Arts

Community Room 

145 N. Raymond Ave.

Pasadena CA 91103

 Parking & Directions 

 

*Why "suggest" a fee? Aren't you sure the class is worth $15?  

Well, in my humble opinion, it's certainly worth it. However, not everyone who wants or needs yoga is in a position to pay the full class fee. In those cases, a "suggested" fee or donation leaves room for students to pay what they can afford, if the standard $15 is not possible.  

 

Please bring your own mat and yoga blanket. None are provided. 

 

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