Jason's Binghamton Yoga Blog: June 2014

Sunday, June 15, 2014

June 2014 YTT Questions

The training I'll be going to this June requires us ask three people four basic questions about Yoga. They are:

What is yoga?
Is yoga a religion?
Do you need to be a vegetarian to practice yoga?
What benefits do you receive from practicing yoga?

It's possible that these questions could evoke some interesting conversations with the right people, however, since I've been practicing yoga for over ten years now, most of the people I know already have an informed opinion.

Person 1: Sheila - Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Practices yoga every day. Teaches eight classes a week. Has travelled to India several times. 40's.

Yoga is the union of mind & body.
No.
No.
For me...it integrates all layers of my being.

Person 2: Jill - Waitress & Coworker

Practiced yoga for one semester. Found it very beneficial. 30's.

It's an exercise. It's stretching, breathing, focus, awareness, etc.
No ... some people might think so, but they're probably pretty ignorant.
No ... some new age people might think so but that seems unnecessary.
Since I've started doing yoga I feel I have less stress, more flexibility, and generally feel healthier.

Person 3: Kirstin - Customer Service & Coworker

Does not practice yoga. Cousin is yoga instructor. 20's.

Exercise
No - that's dumb.
No - that's like asking "Do you have to be a hippie to practice yoga?" Of course not! You can be if you want to.
It must be exercise because my cousin used to be a "chunker" and she's really skinny now.

Me:

Union of being & embodiment.
No. Religion asks for blind faith. Yoga does not. Yoga is experiential philosophy. A yogi makes hypotheses about existence and tests them thru direct experience. Often running the same test hundreds or even thousands of times before drawing a conclusion. Yoga is a technology, and art, a science....
No. I know yogis from novice to nationally-known and the vast majority of them eat meat. I understand that some people believe that eating meat is violence, but I find that to be a relatively naïve argument for far more complex question. The fact of the matter is that even the Dali Lama eats meat. IMHO, tying vegetarianism to yoga is totally outdated. The most important thing for a yogi is being free to explore & experiment with any course of action. Accepting vegetarianism without repeated direct experience and experimentation isn't yoga.
Bliss, Self-Awareness, and much more.

June 2014 Teacher Training Goals

I'll be attending a 14 day yoga teacher training at Lotus Life Yoga Center in Syracuse, NY this summer. Prior to going we're supposed to develop a list of 15 goals. The syllabus says the goals should pertain to "yourself during this training and also for your life." That seems a bit too general to be of much use for me, so I'm going to focus on goals for the during the training, yoga practice goals, and goals for our yoga studio.

Immerse Myself in Yoga for Fourteen Days
Enjoy Vacation with my Girlfriend
Be a Student
Commune with a deep, loving Community of similarly-Minded Yogis for a Time
Experiment with New Teaching Ideas
Learn how to Teach Better...

...Yoga Postures
...Yoga Sequences
...Yoga Classes
...Themes

Blog my Yoga Insights & Sequences
Glimpse Jason without Work for Fourteen Days
Develop an Understanding of the LLYC Business and Compare it to my Own
Prepare my Businesses & Studio so Well Before I Leave that there is No Need to Worry
Help my Studio's co-Director Plan her own Teacher Training
Try again to get my Dad to attend our Gentle Yoga Class on Thursdays
More Training...

...AcroYoga
...Yin
...with John Friend

Continue Visiting Physical Therapist for Insights from Western Medicine
Understand why people think the kind of Yoga we Practice is Ancient
Continue exploring the difference between Training and Straining for myself & others
Achieve Yoga Magic
Obtain Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Certification

Monday, June 2, 2014

60 Minute Flow Sequence: Ground-Up

This evening's 60 minute Flow at Binghamton Yoga will start with inspiration from this quote:

Everyone you know is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always.
Yoga gives us the power to discover yourself and end the war for yourself and others.

Start with Yin to build solid foundation and inner-awareness - Kindness & Awareness.

Chest Opener - Interlace hands on top of head or under block.

Cat Tail - Not feeling it? Add two blocks under elbows for combination of side sphinx & cat tail.

Snail - Start on block with leg variations to open hamstrings. Then roll up & over. Use sandbag.

Traction --> Sphinx --> Seal - Find all the back muscles from the feet to the legs and the back.

Move into Yang's dynamic energy to build core strength - Resolve.

Clams Shell Variation with Sweeping Top Leg

Spinal Roll-Ups using Sandbag - Hug Tight - Then Experiment with Wide Legs Toes Pointed

Side Crunches

Push-Ups with Knees Bent and Emphasis on Quality and Consistency

Use Yang power to become expansive - Exploration.

Balasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Flow:

Eka Pada Down Dog --> Anjanayasana --> Step Back to Eka Pada Down Dog
Float Forward to Plank with Leg Up --> Switch Sides --> Repeat Other Side

Prasaritta Padottanasana

Goddess Roll-Up and Goddess Isolation --> Goddess

Balance grounded Yin with reaching Yang to find Vinyasa Flow - Treatment & Process.

First Flow

   Tadasana

   Single Leg Lifted Tree Vrkasana variation

   Toppling Tree SLOW into Virabadhrasana III variation

   Step Back into Anjanayasana

   Virabadhrasana II --> Parsvakonasana --> Trikonasana

   Transtion Weight forward and float into Ardha Chandrasana

   Uttanasana --> Rise

   Repeat Other Side

Second Flow

   Tadasana --> Utkatasana Chair

   Lift Leg in Chair --> Float back into Vira III

   Fold into Eka Pada Uttanasana

   Step Back to Vira I

   Turn Sideways for Vira II

   Curl back arm behind back for Reverse Warrior

   Keep arm bound for Side Angle --> Triangle --> 1/2 Moon

   Transition into Bound Hand to Foot 1/2 Moon Hold

   Uttanasana --> Rise

   Repeat Other Side

Pinnacle Posture Prep

Dolphin --> Swimming Dolphin Reps

Reverse Table Top Hold

Butterfly Forward Fold Hold

Down Dog Hold

All-4's Stretching Cow Back Bend Hold

Pinnacle Posture - Resolution.

Come to Wall

Adho Mukha Vrkasana Handstand

Relax

Salamba Sirsasana Headstand

Balasana

Palms Under Chin Cute Pose for Neck

Double Leg Saddle or Single Leg Reclining Hero

Ending - Love.

Savasana

Om...shanti, shanti, shanti

Be kind always.