Lizzie for Free : a yogi's blog
The Free State of LizDay 28, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
For the forth time this week, I’ve been denied engaging actively with my body. The universe is nothing short of blatant in telling me to back off asana practice for now, as much as my preferentially attached mind wants to hit the mat and engage with the physical. Taking from Pema Chōdron’s analogy, I have had an itch (to practice asana), and my mindfulness practice has been becoming aware of that, acknowledging it, and staying with it without scratching. Instead, I’ve surrendered to letting this path unfold.
Today I attended Zhenja’s 4 hour workshop for teachers with the theme of Puja, assuming for there would be an aspect of asana practice as I heard the previous weekends’ workshops with Zhenja were quite asana intensive. Instead, it was a four hour exploration of the concept of puja and the Anusara method for creating puja in a class. It was quite interesting to gain insight into this style of yoga with such a structured framework and language of its own, and valuable as an exercise for creating focus, rationale and sequencing relevant to a class’ esoteric focus.
The best part of the workshop was Zhenja herself. Intelligent, down to earth, authentic and energetic, Zhenja was present throughout the entire workshop as an approachable, passionate, inquisitive yogi, ambassador to the Anusara method and disciple of Jon Friend. There was no posturing, just respect and palpable love. Even towards the end when energy began to drop, Zhenja made her way around to the smaller groups to help regain the focus.
Meanwhile, my experience of Anusara yoga continues to unfold. Watch this space….and tomorrow, the 29the Day of the Yoga Challenge, holds a wild card; let’s see where the practice and the challenge lead me…
Day 27, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
The universe has been sending me signals this week, and I’m receiving them…maybe unable to interpret them fully, but receiving them nonetheless.
First, the two classes earlier in the week that focused heavily on pranayama. Then yesterday at my regular Rolfing appointment when I showed up very eager for deep bodywork, and my rolfer decided it was the time to instead have a somatic experience session that left my body largely untouched. The idea behind somatic experiencing is that trauma that isn’t fully dealt with emotionally gets left behind in the body, building up over time, even being the catalyst for illness and other physical, mental or emotional problems. Through somatic experiencing one becomes more aware of the physical sensations in the body, ultimately aiding in the letting go of the held traumas.
Today when I was late for the class I planned to take at Triyoga, Leila Sadahee’s class was right under my nose at Indaba – lucky me! Leila, fresh from her trip to Peru, spoke about her time with a shaman in the jungle who sees the human form as a series of shapes based on energetic flow and blockage rather than at face value (no pun intended). The class was focused on yoga as a healing medicine, with the theory that when engaging specific areas of the body this can lead to a shape of health rather than disease. Billed as a hip opening class, it was not immensely challenging physically and not obviously hip-opening, but certainly strengthening with great alignment instruction. To add to this, Leila is a passionate and compassionate teacher who is captivating and charismatic. If you love Anusara but haven’t been to Leila’s class, make the time – this is a special and gifted teacher.
Having said this, of my handful of Anusara classes and workshops I’ve attended so far, none has resonated with me on a deep personal level, despite enjoying the practice. I am planning to go to Zhenja De Rosa’s workshop tomorrow and have heard wonderful things about her, so maybe tomorrow my world will get rocked by Anusara. At the very least, I expect another hint from Ms. Universe soon…
Teaching Yoga and Meditation to Doctors
On Wednesday afternoon I found myself at St. Mary’s hospital in the presence of 35 GPs teaching them a class on yoga, meditation and relaxation. Having grown up in a medical family and very often in the role of ‘patient’, it was refreshing to, for once, share some of my knowledge with the physicians. I observed the group without the stethoscopes and dangling name tags; they behaved as any other social group in a position of exposinga new aspect of themselves to their peers. Not unlike a high school class, at first there was nervous laughter, joking around and ambivalence during the warm up. Eventually the whole group relaxed and embraced the movement as well as the breathing exercises, even in the middle of their busy day. The relaxation at the end crescendo’d into an orchestra of snores.
I know there are many critics of the NHS, but I was impressed at the initiative to offer alternative methods for the physicians to stay healthy in mind and body; this was one of a series of ‘lectures’ offering alternate perspectives on ‘medical’ subject matter. I can’t imagine this happening in the US at a free hospital. I would love to be told otherwise!
I so appreciated having the opportunity to take the yoga practice outside the studio and into the world. Om shanti.
Day 26, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
The universe is trying to tell me to breathe. Returning to Richard Agar Ward’s class today as a little treat to myself to help me through the last week of the challenge, we spent a half hour practicing viloma pranayama with an image of a embedded circles to represent the expansion of the breath. To prepare for pranayama, we spent an hour practicing downward dog with and without ropes (while on ropes Richard pulled my arms a foot longer forward); sirsasana, supported sarvangasana and halasana. By the time we came to sit, I felt more open in the back thoracic and alert in my mind.
This juxtaposed with Mark’s class on Tuesday, also heavy on pranayama, was an entirely different experience. The simplicity and repetition of the Iyengar class enabled me to focus more easily on the sensations in the body and the breath itself because I felt grounded. While after Mark’s class i felt spacey bordering on unwell, after Today’s class I felt grounded and relaxed. So often in a yoga class, less is more.
Day 25, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
I used my second ‘self-practice card’ today as scheduling overtook me, though I wasn’t actually alone. My nearly two year old son was with me, which, as you may imagine, changes things immensely.
He’s old enough now that he wants his own mat and tries to mimic downward dog, shalabhasana, lunges and can teach me a few things about virasana alignment. Mainly though, he vacillates between climbing on, running around, and lying under me, bringing books and assorted cars onto my mat (not his), and repeating his first word, ‘yucky’ whenever possible (and it’s always possible). We do manage to fit in some rock and roll navasanas and acroyoga variations, where – go figure – I’m always the base.
Tomorrow I’m going to lose some challenge points as I’ll return to Richard’s class at Iyengar Institute. It’s the only free time I’ll have tomorrow as it turns out, and after today’s toddler yoga, it’s a little gift to myself.
There’s still 5 days left! I would love to see You next to me on the mat! Any class suggestions?
Day 24, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
I went to class today at the Life Centre, where Mark Hill was covering for Kathy Roberts. A class heavy on pranayama, we practiced samavritti antar kumbhaka and rechaka, agnisara, nadi shodhana and after savasana, 10 minutes of meditation. In between there was trikonasana, Astanga A and B, , virabhadrasana I, janursirsasana and mahamudra, which Mark taught as a version of janursirsasana with inhale and exhale retention. After class, I felt pretty spacey and tired, and ended up cancelling on a private client (which I rarely do) because I felt so trippy.
The class format in itself was a little choppy and felt unbalanced to me – too much pranayama and too little asana; it was billed as a dynamic 2-3 class on the schedule.
Pranayama on an intensive level isn’t to be dabbled with from time to time, or taken too intensively with an unfamiliar group of students. As the Hatha Yoga Pradipika notes, “When the yogi has perfected his asanas he should practice pranayama according to the instructions of his master. With controlled senses he should nourish himself with moderation.” The body needs time and a daily practice to acclimate to these powerful practices, and should ideally be practiced with a teacher whom you know and trust.
The explanation of mahamudra left me perplexed; it was explained as a variation of an asana, specifically, janursirsasana, combined with specific breath techniques. Mark didn’t take the time to explain the word mudra in any depth, and while he did tell us at the beginning of class we would be working up to this posture, mahamudra, he didn’t clarify the difference between the mudra and the asana, or the relationship between the two.
Mark was a kind and encouraging teacher, and the one adjustment I received in downward dog was strong. This said, the pivotal information given to the class, namely, mahamudra and its relationship to the spine (it was mentioned that the cases would focus on the anatomy of the spine) lacked depth, and diluted the importance of these ancient, powerful teachings. I will revisit his class in the spring, as I’ve decided to do with all the classes I’ve taken during the challenge.
Tomorrow’s schedule has changed! I am giving a workshop on yoga and meditation to 35 GPs at St. Mary’s hospital at the time of Sally’s class at Indaba, so another practice wild card. Stay tuned…
Day 23, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
Going into Anoushka’s class today, I knew what to expect as she is one of my regular weekly classes I go to when not doing the challenge. The best Pilates mat teacher I’ve found in London, Anoushka works with progressive sequencing incorporating asana in with classical Pilates and is hands on and exacting. There is no getting away with an unengaged (insert any bodypart here) in her class.
Unapologetic with those who arrive late, leave early or are too novice to be in a level 3 class, it’s refreshing to now where one stands with a teacher and what to expect. Many of the students in the class are Pilates teachers or trainees, and the class does fill up, so get there well in advance as class starts a few minutes early. I always leave feeling several inches taller and with a glimpse of what could be a waistline.
Tomorrow, Mark Hill covering for Kathy Roberts, 3:45-5:15at the Life Centre Notting Hill. I’m looking forward to yet another new-to-me teacher…
Learnings, Week 3, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
I’m always struck with how much there is to learn. Writing these posts are in a sense, the most disposable form of content; they are my experiences as seen through the subjective lense of the mind, given to change and shift in any moment; in fact, experiences are nothing but memory and perception, and it’s almost guaranteed to change. Likewise, on any given day a teacher may be going through personal issues, be late or rushed to class for many reasons out of their control, and a yoga studio or members of its staff are inevitably facing their own life situations as well.
One learning from the week is to be more sensitive to the human experience we are all going through, and when feeling let down by a studio or by a teacher (or anyone, for that matter) for what presumably is a legitimate reason, a sensible thing to do is to let the them know in a kind way so they can rectify it if they care. In short, not assuming people know what your expectations are, and being gracious when giving feedback. The optimal time to give feedback, or course, is when asked. Triyoga does a discreet job requesting feedback by leaving forms in the changing rooms, where people may feel more at ease to give honest feedback.
It could be that the biggest learning of the week is that a key to giving a good class as a teacher is to be honest without being too heavy handed; to find the humour whatever the situation, to let go, and to trust that the knowledge and compassion for others is there.
The best classes I’ve taken so far have been with teachers who have exposed themselves, who have been authentic and generous with their personality. This seems to come with the comfort of the confidence in knowing what one is doing – esse quam videri – to be and not to seem (my high school’s motto).
This is especially poignant for me given that as a teacher I’ve been getting that very feedback – to have more fun, to not be so serious while teaching. For me that’s a challenge as I don’t consider myself to be a funny person, especially not in a group. I was born into a family of subjective thinkers. When we hear the word ‘black’, we think the word ‘charcoal’ instead of ‘white’, the answer most people would give…but I digress.
The other learning for the week is to listen to my body and not expect to have boundless energy like I did in my 20′s. Whether its because I’m getting on 40, a relatively new mum or because I’m blessed with an imperfect body that (I like to think) keeps me humble, practicing yoga is all about being content with what is going on in the present, not with what we could do 10 years ago or what we might do in the future or under a different set of circumstances, but being here now, having some faith that everything is as it should be.
I’m looking forward to these last days of the challenge and seeing what else comes up, and how I can actively continue to learn with each practice…and maybe even learn how to lighten up along the way (without having to resort to poopy jokes which works pretty well at home)…
Day 22, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge
After an afternoon on Hampstead Heath with family, by 4:45pm I found myself back at Indaba Yoga Studio where Bryony Bird was teaching on behalf of Amanda Denton (who normally teaches the 5-6:30 Sunday class).
Given my depleted energy levels and based on the renowned rigorous style of Yogasana classes, I was a little intimidated of what to expect from the class. Nevertheless, I vowed to listen to my body, and by 5pm with the energy of 15 or so other students in the room and Bryony’s calm voice, I settled in to the breath and it felt good. Surprisingly, the pace of the class was very accessible, and while a challenging vinyasa class, Bryony suggested options and reminded the students to listen to their own rhythm and not to feel obligated to push oneself into the full variation of every posture. I really appreciated hearing that given my energy, and especially valued it given other Yogasana classes I have taken where the teacher has had the tendency to come off aggressive, pushing students into poses verbally and/or through adjustments for perhaps the wrong reasons.
There was music throughout the class primarily to maintain the rhythm of the breath, and Bryony presented a nice combination of vinyasa, balancing and seated postures. Amoung the postures, we took parivrtti utkatasana to on legged parivrtti utkatasana to parivrtti parsvakonasana (sidenote: why do some teachers start twist sequences on the left? I was taught twists always are initiated from right to left due to digestive movements – ascending to descending colon, but half of the classes I’ve gone to haven’t followed this general rule…any thoughts?). Other asanas included uttitha hasta padangusthasana to virabhadrasana 3, plenty of crescent moon-variation namaskar, ustrasana, 2 urhdva dhanurasana, janursirsasana, ardha matsyendrasaa, tarasana, paschimottanasana…and a truly lovely savasana complete with neck rub.
Bryony was even-keeled throughout and gave good basic instruction into the postures, even if she seemed slightly reserved (it was her third class of the day after all). She gave me a couple of nice adjustments and, even though I’m still definitely not firing with all cylinders, I felt a whole lot better after the class than before. I will be back for more Bryony in February.
Tomorrow, my long awaited return to Anoushka’s class, at the Life Centre, 12:30-2pm. Yoga inspired Pilates….
Schedule for Week 4, Lizzie’s 30 Day Yoga challenge
Below is my unofficial schedule for the last full week of my yoga challenge! Please let me know if you can join me, its always more fun to practice together.
MONDAY Anoushka Boone, 12:30-2pm, the Life Centre Notting Hill
TUESDAY Mark Hill, 15:45-5:15pm, the Life Centre Notting Hill
WEDNESDAY Sally Parkes, 12:30-1:30, Indaba Yoga Studio
THURSDAY Huma Jalil, 4:00-5:30, Jivamukti Yoga Studio
FRIDAY Helen Shepherd, 12:45-2:15, Triyoga Chelsea
SATURDAY Amanda Denton, 5-6:30, Indaba Yoga Studio
