Prthvi
Prthvi is the Sanskrit word for "earth" and earth has been on my mind lately. I'm still thinking of the mountains, the cliffs, the meadow lands I saw last weekend at Big Sur. How much calm they brought to me. I bought several balms there and one of them called "dream balm" -made with oils from patchouli, olive, coconut as well as rosewood and mugwort- and it literally smells like the forest on a rainy afternoon. I've been reminiscing on how important it is to go and be with nature. And how yoga is a way to go back to your own nature. As John Friend defines yoga "it is the scientific art of remembering your true nature."
So my restorative class yesterday was on the theme of earth. We did grounding poses and I helped verbally suggest meditations and affirmations related to the first chakra that would help stabilize the students. I also went around massaging the students with this lovely musky balm. It was delicious.
Here's the sequence:
Beginnings:
I started them on the floor finding their breath.
Did a few gentle supine poses like apanasana and some supta padangusthasana variations.
First pose held for 10 minutes:
We did a savasana with a strap gently holding the feet and a rolled blanket under the head.
Second pose held for 10 minutes:
We then moved into a gentle backbend with a long rolled blanket under the spine and the legs in baddha konasana on top of a bolster.
Third pose held for about 8 minutes each side:
Then we did a twist since twists are considered in yoga neutralizing poses; if you are feeling agitated, they ground you, for instance.
Last pose, held for 12 minutes:
Savasana- with a blanket covering completely the feet; a blanket under the torso and a rolled blanket under the cervical spine.
Lastly we finished with Nadi Shodhana to center us even more.
It was a delicious class and I love how playful my restorative classes are getting.
I will lead a five hour restorative workshop in June 5th at Black Dog Yoga. I will give more details later!
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