India!
Been talking about risks lately in my classes. How important it is to honor our limits and keep expanding them. How through our yoga practice we learn to do things we didn't think we could do; and in doing those things, our idea of who we think we are and what we are capable of expands. The word "risk" comes from the Latin word "risco" which means "cliff." I love that image: of standing right at the edge of a cliff, between the known and the unknown.
So because I always teach what I need to learn I decided to jump off my cliff and take the risk that I've been wanting to take for years now. That of finally going to India! I signed on to do an retreat in Kerala, India, with my good friend and fabulous yogi Arun Deva.
Yes! I'm going to India!
The retreat will be an immersion in Ayurveda which I am fascinated by. We'll be doing yoga, learning Ayurveda and getting daily massages and particular treatments for our dosha. Information for this retreat can be found at www.yogarasayana.wordpress.com
Excitement fills me as the idea of an adventure looming ahead seems more and more possible.
And can I tell you how scary it is for me to do this? Me who lived in Central America for two years? Who went to Africa and worked with cheetahs?! Who went to Egypt by myself! I still get nervous thinking about traveling so far and worry about the usual things I always worry about namely money.
Oh well.
I must do this!
This trip makes my heart sing.
And the thought of going to the birthplace of yoga fills me with so much happiness.
So risks!
What is it that you want to do- as the poet Mary Oliver said- with "your one wild and precious life?"
Theme: Risks!
Finding our limits and expanding them.
Focus: Muscular Energy
Highlights:
Did suryas with a block between the thigh to feel a little bit limited by the prop but at the same time notice how it greatly help to open up our thighbones into the hip socket.
Did handstands in the middle of the room encouraging the students to kick up by themselves without a partner.
Sally was able to balance for the first time!
We did a handstand hanumanasana at the wall and that was scary for some in kicking so far away from the wall.
We also worked on Bakasana to Sirsasana 2 to Bakasana to Chaturanga and Gretchen was so inspiring in that she just kept trying and trying to get it- she would fall and get up again. I will always remember that image of her trying with a smile.
The more we hug and draw our awareness to our center, the more we are able to extend back out and grow.
Lastly we did three different variations on Urdhva with blocks against the wall. People really liked exploring different ways of doing the same pose.
We did a Janu Sirsasana with the block on top of the thighbone in the front leg and as we bowed forward, the belly helps to push the block down and root the femur head deeper into the socket.
Ended with a sweet and long savasana.
Anusara Poster Project Pose: (level 2 syllabi) Pigeon 1 with a twist.
Happy you are going to fulfill a dream. I'll follow your progress to and through this great journey!
Leslie
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Good for you! I think this is so awesome. I hope someday to take such a trip myself.
P.S. I *love* that Mary Oliver quote too!
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