Sunday Night Celebration

Manuela, would you mind posting your address and nearby grocery stores? I'm trying to plan the details of tomorrow night and don't want to show up empty-handed. If you don't feel comfortable posting the address, no problem. I'll see you all soon!

Great job today, and have fun tomorrow!

Puppies

guys, this has nothing to do with yoga, except to maybe provide some pratipaksha bhavanam, but i HAVE to share this...it's a live video stream of 6 shiba inu puppies...they have been my closet obsession for the past week or so now, and as a warning they are a real productivity killer. click at your own risk! (link)

Walking lessons

Hi all -

Here is a link to an interesting article in today's NY Times online:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/health/nutrition/13fitness.html?pagewanted=1&ref=fashion

Urdhva Dhanurasana, In Wire Sculpture

I went to the Whitney Museum before class today and just had to break the no cameras rule (thank you iPhone) so I could share this... 

Calder's exhibit from the Paris Years (1920s & 30s) is really amazing.  My favorite part?  Coming across this one small sculpture of what he called "the arched man."  

Yoga, Inc.

hi Guys,
Since we're missing the screening next week, I thought I'd let y'all know that the movie is available for purchase for 20 bucks, directly from the film company. (link)

Happy Halloween from Bella and I

See you soon! And wish Anna luck on the marathon!

In One Section of Beth Israel Hospital, Some Patients Are Saying ‘Om,’ Not ‘Ah’

Hey, guys. I ran across this article in yesterday's Times and thought i'd pass it along... see you friday! -alyssa

"A foundation run by Donna Karan, creator of the “seven easy pieces” philosophy of women’s wardrobes and founder of the much-imitated DKNY line of clothing, has donated $850,000 for a yearlong experiment combining Eastern and Western healing methods at Beth Israel Medical Center. Instead of just letting a celebrated donor adopt a hospital wing, renovate it and have her name embossed on a plaque, the Karan-Beth Israel project will have a celebrated donor turn a hospital into a testing ground for a trendy, medically controversial notion: that yoga, meditation and aromatherapy can enhance regimens of chemotherapy and radiation."

link to full article:
In One Section of Beth Israel Hospital, Some Patients Are Saying 'Om,' Not 'Ah'

savasana variations with photos....

let's see how this works! over the next saturday and sunday sessions we will practice each of these savasana variations and we can take real-live photos of you in them and post photos so you can use these in your repertoire. ah the wonder! have a good week. see you on halloween! love, sarah

Cat yoga

Hi guys, thought you might appreciate this

photo (from http://icanhascheezburger.com/)

Patty

epiphanies/surrender/the eureka hunt

in lieu of our discussion on what it means to surrender - fascinating article about people who experience "profound" epiphanies in intense moments of surrender (and, in the case of this fireman, save their lives by doing so) - is it from a higher source? or merely something that is always within us that we tap into in moments of intense stress? lots of interesting questions...link is here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/28/080728fa_fact_lehrer

Create your own cereal!!!

hi guys i thought this was a really cool idea--to create your own breakfast cereals! It's about the same price as at a grocery store, but more personalized and kinda like a video game too :) (link)

The time paradox

hi guys,

I listened to a nice podcast from "Science and the City" yesterday in which a renowned psychologist discusses different internal notions of time and how our perceptions of time (which can be discovered in individuals as young as toddlers) can shape our behavior and life decisions...i hope you enjoy it :) (link)

Nina

Yoga Butt

Hi, guys. After our class tonight on injuries (and my current injury) I was searching around for some info on the internet regarding "Yoga Butt" and I found this short little instruction/demonstration on how to try to protect ourselves from it. The instructor doesn't use the more accurate and technical terms we've been taught at Yoga Works (such as firming the outer hips, lowering the buttocks flesh down to the floor and drawing the front hip bones up, etc), but when she refers to engaging "the naval" or "the belly", hopefully we all know by now that is another way to explain some of the simple, counter and complementary actions we've been learning and practicing for the last couple of weeks.

My advice - heed the warnings because this injury is not so much painful as it is super annoying, although i'm thankful for the lesson it taught (or is in the process of teaching) me. :)

(scroll down the page to the you tube video).
http://www.elkrapidsyogastudio.com/2008/05/avoid-yoga-butt-injury.html

Enjoy your week and see you all on Friday!
Alyssa

YTT 200 Hour Program 4 Week Intensive Format Schedule

Hi Guys here is the schedule for the October Intensive:

regarding beginners--the list of things they dig in a teacher

hello you all! class was great today! i hope you feel like you had a well rounded and challenging weekend. pranayama, urdhva danurasana and then today...a big weekend, really.
here is the list i gathered from the students who acted as guinea pigs at the July weekend about working with beginners in the 300 hour programme. please be sure to blog any questions you have or feel free to email me any any any time: sarahbell1@mac.com
enjoy your Tuesday night anatomy session. introduction to Injury Management, i believe.
By the way, Chrissy and I think you are doing so very well. and we are all so lucky to have Christy and Paula both around to play the important roles of GLUE ( since they are essentially always present, thank you!) and assistant trainers. they have all kinds of experience, so be sure to ask of them! if they have the time, i know they will share whatever they have to share. ( see below: christy's blog about pranayama)

have a good week you all, and to those of you with the day off tomorrow: ENJOY. when you are teaching yoga you are not likely to have such holidays off--that's really when loads of people come to yoga!

take some rest,
yours, sarah

The Qualities Beginner Level Yoga Students
Appreciate Most in a Yoga Teacher
(From the YW Summer 2008, 300 hr. Training: Teaching Beginners Workshop)

When they "fix" me without embarrassing me!
Repeating/rephrasing the way their students are supposed to be standing/in a pose.
Having a calm voice.
Helping their students to visualize the overall feeling they are supposed to be having in a pose.
Reminding the class to breath.
Reminding the class to focus on where the strength of a pose comes from.
Being encouraging.
Being humorous.
Being compassionate and remembering that it can be hard in the beginning for new students. Without encouragement beginners can easily be discouraged before getting to achieve another level of yoga where they may find true pleasures of practicing yoga.
Guiding students into poses slowly.
Telling their students where to focus and what to focus on.
Telling their students what should be happening in their bodies when practicing yoga.
Encouraging their students to try and hold a pose for one more breath longer but also telling them to be happy where they are (whether they can hold the pose or not).
Taking ample time in Svasana!
Introducing themselves before class begins.
Explaining how to come into each pose successfully.
Adjusting their students according to each students individual needs.
Creating a lesson plan that flows easily from one pose to another.
Demonstrating the poses and also moving around the class to watch their students in the poses.
Being complimentary to individual students and the class as a whole.
Having a sense of humor in class.
Developing a theme for each class: hips, twists, shoulders or inversions.
Focusing on breathing/breath.
Reminding students to breath/Instructing where and when to breath in the pose.
It is important for the teachers of beginners to remember that sometimes it is as helpful to do what is wrong as it is to do what is right.
Giving instructions on how to to hold the pose and how/when to make adjustments to it; allowing the students to grow in to the pose.
Giving an explanation of “what is yoga?” in their class.
Discussing the importance of the mind/body connection in yoga.
Correcting the students breathing; teaching when to inhale and when to exhale/what to do with your body as you breath, such as to elongate or to lengthen the body.
Making contact with each individual student and providing hands on adjustments when a student ’s alignment is off.
Giving specific and detailed explanations and demonstrations of the postures in their authentic/correct alignment.
Showing their students modified poses that often utilize the wall, a bolster, a partner or whatever is necessary to help the body get into and out of the poses safely and successfully.
Giving an explanation of Svasana and teaching meditation/breathing techniques to the class.
It is always very encouraging when the teacher gives praise to their students for doing so well at the end of the yoga class.
I appreciate it when the teacher provides a couple of minutes at the end of the class for the students to ask questions.
I typically choose one yoga teacher’s classes over another’s based on their positive attitude, upbeat personality, ability to motivate their students and fun sense of humor.
Having the ability to modify each pose based on the20varying experience levels and physical abilities of the students in the class and suggesting different ways of doing a particular pose.
I really appreciate it when a teacher gives me one on one instruction, especially when they can see that I am struggling in a pose. I like the fact that they take the time to come to my mat to help me.
Giving their students easy to follow instructions.
Communicating instructions to the class with calmness and clarity.
Explaining the “how” and the “why” of a pose (when I learned why I lift my ribs in a pose, it makes more sense to me & I remember to do it next time).
Not being too spiritual in the beginning (when I first started yoga I had a few teachers that were a bit heavy to start off with- I thought it was kind of creepy, like yoga was “cultish”).
Using the English names and nicknames as well20as the Sanskrit names for the poses is very helpful. ( I still can’t remember all of the real names poses!)
Narrating/instructing the breath and how to get safely into and out of the poses.
Discussing the anatomy of the body.
Having a sense of joy.

Pranayama

Here are the classes I mentioned:
Brooke Meyers Pranayama Wednesdays 530-645
I have been studying with her for a few years- amazing.
IyengarNYC.Org
And I teach Restorative at Gildas Club on Houston Mondays 11-12. I usually teach some pranayama as well. Gildas was founded in honor of Gilda Radner and is a resource center for people affected be cancer. It is open to friends, family, and I can have guests come if you let me know ahead of time. All activities at Gildas are free.
GildasClubNYC.Org

Thanks for letting me learn from all of you. See you tommorow!

why zebras don't get ulcers

hi guys here's a link to the book Sanjay was talking about in class on Tuesday:

Blind Spot

hi guys,
Remember when Kara mentioned that we all have a blind spot? I dug up this blind-spot test which is really fun and kinda freaky, thought you might enjoy it :) (link)

YTT 200 Hour Program 12 Weekend Format Schedule

hi guys, here is the schedule from Mila :)

Puppetji from Wendy

Thanks Wendy!!!

Puppetji versus yoga:


And puppetji versus complaining:

NYTimes Travel Article about a tourist's trip to India for Yoga

hi guys,

I saw this article in the Times today and thought it might be of interest to the group. It's about a Franch tourist's day at an ashram in Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu. This is a wonderful part of India (wish I could say I've been there myself) with tons of different cultural influences, even dating back ~2500 years or so with trade with the Romans.

The author struggles with a headstand, the villagers are still coping with the aftermath of the Tsunami, but yet they all seem to share so much joy amidst the chaos, even if the cows seem to be the only ones "meditating."

(link)

anatomy homeworks

hi you all!
here are the anatomy homework answers from the first two weekends' assignments:

ANATOMY QUESTIONS WEEK 1



1) Describe the difference between Muscle, Ligament, Tendon and Cartilage.

Hyaline Cartilage: A tough elastic fibrous tissue found on articulating surfaces of bones. It contributes to the synovial capsule and also protects the underlying tissue. It can be damages by trauma or excessive wear.

Ligament: fibrous band-like structures composed of connective tissue. They link bone to bone and stabilize joints while allowing movement. They cannot actively contract or stretch.

Tendons: attach muscle to bone. They do not contract. they have a limited blood supply. and hence benefit from a heated room or proper warm up.

Muscle: Skeletal muscle. or voluntary (striated) muscle. is responsible for all movements that result through contraction of muscles that attach to bones (By comparison. smooth muscle contract without voluntary control; stomach. intestine. bladder)

2) What do ligaments and cartilage have in common? Why is it important know this?

Answer: They passively reinforce the joint and prevent undesired movement. They are avascular (little or no blood supply) so they heal very slowly.

3) What is a synovial joint? How is a vigorous daily yoga practice beneficial to these joints?

Answer: Synovial joints are freely moving joints.

Articulating bones of a joint are held together by ligaments and sheathed in a joint capsule filled with synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is viscous (thick) at rest. Movement stimulates the production of synovial fluid and makes it more liquid. This enables more freedom of movement. Use it or lose it.

4) Name the two calf muscles that meet under the sole of the foot to create its arch:

Answer: Peroneus longus and tibialis posterior

5) What kind of contraction are we referring to when we say "hug the muscle to the bone"? For example; in Utthita Hastasana in Tadasana (arms overhead), when we contract the muscles on both sides of the humerus - draw the biceps and triceps into the bone at the same time? Why is this action important?

Answer: Static. (isometric). It stabilizes the joints above and below.

6) Name the anatomical joint position in Virabhadrasana 1 of the joints listed below

Ankle (front leg) :dorsiflexion or neutral
Knee (front leg) :flexion
Knee (back leg) extension
Hip (front leg): flexion
Hip (back leg) :extension
Shoulder: flexion
Cervical spine: extension

7) In what plane of movement does Virabhadrasana 1 primarily move?

Answer: Sagittal






ANATOMY QUESTIONS WEEK 2

1) What type of joint is the hip joint? What actions can be done in the hip joint?

Answer: Ball and socket. Full range: flexion. extension. abduction, adduction. Internal and external rotation, circumduction

2) What is the name of the nerve that lies underneath the piriformiS muscle?

Answer: sciatic

3) What muscles are the major hip flexors?

Answer: psoas. rectus femoris (minor flexor: Sartorius).

4) Name two poses that stretch these muscles and two poses that strengthen them

Stretch: Virabhadrasana 1 (back leg), high lunge (back leg), Dhanurasana. Ustrasana. Bridge pose. Ardha Bhekasana. Supta Virasana ..

Strengthen: Uttihita Hasta Padahasana. Navasana, Urdhva Prasarita Padottanasana,

Virabhadrasana 2 (front leg). Trikonasana (front leg).

5) In backbends: What is the position of the pelviS? Why is this important to the lumbar spine?

Generally in backbends, the student should work to keep the pelvis in a posterior tilt. in order to keep length and prevent compression in the lumbar spine and lumbo-sacral connection.

6) What type of rotation do we emphasize in the back leg in Virabhadrasana I? What muscles do this action?

Answer: Internal rotation. Gluteus medius, gluteus minim us, tensor fascia latae.

7) In Vrksasana, the pelvis should be neutral in all three planes. (Refer to pp 90-93 in Yoga Mind, Body, Spirit) In Virabhadrasana 2 the pelvis is:

•

NEUTRAL in the sagittal plane NEUTRAL in the coronal plane

ROTATED in the horizontal (transverse) plane, towards the front knee.

Friday night, Sept 26

Hi everyone! tonight is going to be a little philosophy regarding surya namaskar, and an asana practice. please come with the asana section of your student manual and a yoga mat and be prepared to practice and practice teach and learn hands-on adjustments ( in other words, dont eat too much too late!)
see you tonight!
namaste, sarah bell

inappropiate yoga guy

observing 1/2 class

hey there

just wondering if there was room for me to sign up for monday 7:30-9pm class on the westside??

hey everybody,

planning on observing the YogaWorks 1 class this Sat. at 12pm at the downtown studio...anybody else going to this one?

Class Observations

hi guys,
would you mind please putting in the comments which class you're going to be observing this week? Thanks!
Nina

Warrior poses: inspired by the legend of Shiva, Sati and Daksha

After Sarah's suggestion, I decided to spend a coffee break refreshing my memory of the stories of the warrior poses, and to share with you what i dug up on the legend of Shiva and Sati :)

Ahem, ahem, so....according to wikipedia, (link) this story "appears in detail in Tantra literature, in the Puranas and in Kālidāsa's lyrical Kumārasambhavam, an epic that deals primarily with the birth of Subrahmanya."

The legend is briefly as follows...Shiva had been living on Mt. Kailas with his wife the goddess Sati, but Sati's father Daksha was not happy about the marriage. Not long after, Daksha threw a party and invited all the gods and goddesses in the universe except Shiva and Sati. Sati convinced herself that they weren't intentionally not invited, but just that such formailty among family would be absurd, and she went to the party. Nonetheless, she was received coldly by her father, and not only this, but that her father had loathed Shiva because of the dishonor he believed the god endured by marrying his own daughter. Not surprisingly, Sati was enraged and humiliated by her father's disdain, and she was so angry that she burst into flame after invoking her yogic powers.

Shiva, hearing of this catastrophe, was himself so enraged that he tore off one of his dreadlocks, and then out of the earth exploded the "Virabhadra" a great warrior. This warrior decapitated Dhaksha and placed his head on a stake. After all this destruction, Shiva was so sad that he gave Dhaksha new life by placing his decapitated head onto a goat, but he could not bring back his beloved (she was later reborn as Parvati, but that is another story!!!)

The warrior poses are a re-enactment of Virabhadra's rise from the earth and slaying of Dhaksha. Vira I is the Virabhadra rising from the earth, exploding upwards--Vira II as he chops off the head of Dhaksha, and Vira III as he places the decapitated head on a stake.

These actions may sound violent, but may be taken as a metaphor, expecially if we think of the head as a metaphor for the ego...what is important enough to make us want to explode through the barriers above us? What injustices do we fight against? and how do we feel when we've won?

A nice telling of the story can be heard as told by Alana Kaivalya, jivamukti instructor here in New York City (link). Enjoy (and back to work)!

"High-heel asana"

There was an interesting article in the Daily Mail the other day about the risks of high-heeled shoes that reverberate all the way up the spine by concentrating more weight in the front of the foot unnaturally, leading to higher risks of bunions, hammertoes, sciatica, falling, and injuries to the Achilles tendon, to name just a few. Who knew high heels could be so expensive! (Link)

Friday

I think my computer ate my earlier post - but does anyone know what we're to wear tomorrow? Are we going to be moving around or just straight lecture? Also, are we going to need any books/manual?

Thanks!
jesy

Bow Pose - Pinky Toes Rotated In?

Hello. Based on the reading and classes, I recall instruction for pinky toes being rotated in for Bow Pose. Does anyone know if this is correct? And if the "objective" of the asanas are for neutrality, how is this consistent with such objective? Also shy wouldn't this put undue pressure on the knees? Thanks!

Dress for this evening

Hi.

Although it's a night dedicated to Anatomy, does anyone know if we need to be dressed for practice?

Thanks,
Steve

am I over judging?!?

As we said in class, after the TT we'll have more of a spirit of observation of the postures of people, especially on the street. Well, I guess I am already starting to experience something like that, since yesterday I found myself criticizing the Utthita Hastasana of Iyengar... shouldn't he be more relaxed in the shoulder?? Well, then I thought I should have seen him also from the back before writing him an e-mail... ; )

See you tonight!

"core strength"

Yesterday in class we were talking for a while about muscles in the core and "sucking the belly in and up" and how a complimentary action might be to tilt the pelvis towards the lower ribs and how this might be a more specific action, especially since it seems that in this culture we tend to overemphasize flat abs and core strength.

I couldn't help but think back to my indian art history book in which there was a picture of a beautiful Harappan (Indus Valley) torso from Mohenjodaro (circa 2500-1500 BCE), with no legs, no arms, and no head, but such a nice, soft belly...because it was so realistic some scholars initially thought it might have been from Greece or Rome, especially because it wasn't very far underground, and so realistic (so it couldn't possibly be from India, right?!!?). But at the same time, this belly, so soft, so unlike those muscular torsos from Greek and Roman traditions, might be an artistic expression of yogic prana.

Although this argument is somewhat controversial, and I can't pretend to have been following it, I really like the sculpture because it makes me think a little more highly of a "one pack" in a culture obsessed with "six-packs." anyhow, see for yourself!

(images from http://www.stolaf.edu/courses/2002sem2/Art_and_Art_History/265/images1.html )