Yin Yoga as Anusara's Passive Organic Energy

I'm trying to integrate the Yin Yoga with other forms of yoga that I know well.  Anusara is one of them.

In Anusara terms, Yin Yoga seems to harness the power of Passive Organic Energy that "occurs when one relaxes and allows gravity to pull down and spread the body out.  It's like water naturally spreading out over a flat surface without boundaries."

I prefer to begin my classes with a few Yin-style postures because they take the student inside themselves - searching for the deep, subtle sensations.  In the morning it's like watching a flower blossom for the day and in the evening, it calms the fire that a day of action has produced.  Moving too quickly in the morning isn't a welcome encounter, moving quickly in the evening runs the risk of being too aggressive.

I believe that if a student can feel their own innate energy pulsation then there will be a greater sense of self-wonder & self-empowerment, which yields self-assurance and cuts down on imbalanced action.

Over the last few months I've developed a very clear path in energy:

• Begin by Exploring Passive Organic Energy through Yin and Pranayama
• Gather Active Muscle Energy with Dynamic Movement, Strength-Oriented Conditioning, etc.
• Find Balance & Trust with Passive Muscle Energy Combined with a Celebration of Active Organic Energy using Vinyasas, Traditional Standing Postures, Arm Balances, and a Pinnacle Pose

So far feedback is very good.  Students leave very happy.  They say they feel better than the previous way in which I organized things.  There seems to be a greater sense of clam and less need for achievement.

I look forward to seeing how this evolves over time.

Align & Flow Sequence: Wild Thing

9:30am Align & Flow 75 Minute Class at Binghamton Yoga with Focus on Breath & Movement

Centering

Start Seated on Blankets
Find Neutral Pelvis & Loosen Head Neck & Shoulders
Ohm Ohm Ohm

Introspective Aligning

PT Slump Test --> Reverse Table Prep
   Stretch Legs Straight, Interlace Hands behind Head, Tilt Chin to Chest & Roll Toward Knees
   Place Hands Behind Blankets, Fingers Mildly Out & Open, Then Lift Chest Leaving Butt Down

Come to All-Fours w/ Blanket Under Knees
Move Both Knees to One Side then Sit Hips Across Mat Other Way for Yin Side Sit

Long Reach Puppy Dog
Thread Needle & Twist on Both Sides

Stand on Knees for Gate Posture (Parighasana)
Open --> Closed Both Sides

Dynamic Movement

Come to Stand at Front of Mat

Sun-Ups


Over-Easies

   Folding Hands through Center and Bowing Forward
   Emphasis on Ease & Grace

Simple Namaskar Right Side with Anjanayasana and Sphinx
Simple Namaskar Left Side with Anjanayasana and Seal

Main Event

Standing Postures

Trikonasana --> Trikonasana --> Pavritta Trikonasana --> Pavritta Trikonasana
Parsvakonasana -->  Parsvakonasana -->  Pavritta Parsvakonasana -->  Pavritta Parsvakonasana
Prasaritta Padottanasana --> Goddess Hold

Swan Dive --> Anjanayasana --> Vira III --> Eka Pada Down Dog --> Plank Switch --> Other Side

Denouement

Swimming Dolphin Reps

Sit Back on Knees, Interlace Hands Behind, Tilt Back to Open Heart

Pull in Blanket & Blocks
Gate Open --> Closed    ....  Both Sides
Camel


Down Dog --> Eka Pada --> Flip Dog --> Wild Thing --> Vashistasana Variation --> Pigeon w/ Bolster .... Both Sides

Winding Down

Saddle Sit Lean Back on Bolster or Blankets

Shoulderstand --> Plow --> Fish

Half Spinal Twist

Closing

Savasana

60 Minute Flow Sequence: Six Part Class

Tonight I'll be teaching a 60 minute flow class at Binghamton Yoga studio.  It'll be divided into six parts:

1. Open to Grace
2. Muscle Energy
3. Flow
4. Floating
5. Expansion
6. Relaxing

These six parts loses mirror the five Universal Principles of Alignment popularized by John Friend and Anusara yoga.  To this day, I can't get over how well they fit with my practice.

Here's the class:

Open to Grace Chest Opener    2 Blocks & Blanket Side Psoas Stretch    2 Blocks Sphinx --> Seal Child's Posture Dragon Lunge Wrist Stretch	Muscle Energy Push Up Reps Rest Back on Knees Swimming Dolphin Reps Sit Back Clasp Hands Backbend Standing Squat Reps Lay on Ground Ab Roll Up Reps Ab Oblique Twist Reps Fish Roll Forward	Flow Tadasana Swan Dive to Uttanasana Anajanayasana - Right Back Ardha Down Dog - Left Up Plank - Leg Switch Ardha Down Dog - Right Up Anajanayasana - Right Forward Turn Sideways - Wide Leg Down Dog Tadasana Topling Tree to Vira III Variation Step Right Back to Anajanayasana Ardha Down Dog - Left Up Plank - Leg Switch Ardha Down Dog - Right Up Anajanayasana - Right Forward Float Forward to Vira III Variation
Floating Chest Opener w/ Partner Down Dog at Wall Walk Up Wall Handstand w/ Partner Alternative is Long Hold Dolphin	Expansion Slow Ashtanga Standing Sequence: Trikonasana --> Pavritta Trik Parsvakonasana --> Pavritta Parsvak Prassaritta Padottanasana Parsvottanasana w/ 2 Blocks --> Ardha Chandrasana --> Pavritta Ardha Chand	Relaxing Lay Back on Ground Long Hold Supta Padangustasana --> Pavritta Supta Pada Supported Shoulderstand --> Plow    with Block Supported Fish    2 Blocks & 2 Blankets Savasana