Sianna and Kenny reminded us that the five UPA's are in spanda, pulsation with one another. That there is a sublime elegance to the krama (sequence) from one principle to the next. 

Sianna also said something that I've never heard before, which I found really inspiring and that was to think of the principles as feelings. To feel them...

For example:

#1. Open to Grace: Sweet surrendering to something bigger.

#2. Muscular Energy: Active engagement, connection.

#3. Inner Spiral: Widening, an expansion.

#4. Outer Spiral: We are hugged back in.

#5. Organic Energy: Anchoring back through the foundation and shining out.

These five Principles help us take flight, physically and through our intention.

There was a brief pranayama and journaling to center our energy.

Then we moved to the 5 principles as they relate to the upper body:

#1. Open to Grace: Inner Body Bright. A radiance from waist all the way to throat.

#2. Muscular Energy: Head of the armbones in line with clavicular notch.

#3. Inner Spiral: Forearms turn in

#4. Outer Spiral: Upper arms externally rotate

#5. Organic Energy: More space through lungs, throat and collarbone.

By knowing what to look for, you can tell what the misalignments will be, when the principles are not there. That is:

side body short; winged scapula; armbones forward; sloped shoulders...

This can lead in turn to:

rotator cuff injury

bursitis

frozen shoulder

upper traps tightness

TMJ

elbow tendonitis

carpal tunnel

ganglian cysts

whiplash

elbow hyperextension

vertigo

dislocation

We then proceeded to do therapeutic exercises like:

-Sleepwalker arms (using a block between the hands and plugging the armbones, then lifting arms up)

-Windmill pose (Karate chopping one arm behind you, against a wall)

-Cactus arms

-Standing shoulder stretch with arms behind you (strap optional)

-Locust with strap

-Bridge pose with strap

-Jatara parivartanasana

There was such a cool moment as we were practicing where they had everyone form LA do a handstand and there were a bunch of us there: Mackie, Nicole, Fancy, Jennifer, Leigh, Danielle, Michelle, Monica, Danny Gray, and others I know I'm forgetting!

We started to wind down, ending with a sweet savasana with Kenny chanting.

Lovely and empowering workshop.

Was there a year ago, was there this year, will be there next year!

Blessings and Good night everyone.

Oh, one more thing- these last two days I've been channelling Sianna in my teaching and I am so happy.

I feel her presence in me and that is a good thing.

I will see her in January when she comes to Mission Street for a workshop.

Lastly, my Restorative yoga teacher, Jillian is doing a two day training this week, THIS week! She is such a calming force of relaxation. Maybe I will see you there: Yoga Works workshop in Pacific Palisades.

Love!

PS. Anusara Poster Project Pose: Dandasana