a successful class tonight
There is nothing like teaching right after taking life-changing workshops with brilliant teachers. I was on fire tonight! So inspired. I walked into Black Dog and owned the seat of the teacher. Usually I'm pretty mellow and laid back, when I walk in to my 6pm class. I'm often greeting by several different versions of savasana and really tired faces. Not tonight- I walked in and sat down and all 14 people were seating up. Several had told me before that they hadn't practiced in a while, three had rotator cuff's injuries, several where new-ish and still- lo and behold: By the time class was over everyone said it was a a great class and not only did they say but I believed it! I believed it. The people with rotator cuff issues I kept my eye on and made sure they were aligning. The people who were tired were really not tired. They people who were new left with a smile.
I drove home which is my time for reflection and realized how good it feels to teach a great class!
I was completely inspired by Noah and Christina's confidence, brilliant sequencing and their adhikara.
Theme: Fullness
Focus: Organic Energy
Sequence:
Balasana
AMS
Uttanasana
Few Suryas
Prasarita Padottanasana
Sirsasana #1
Lunges,
Anjaneya,
Warrior 1
Malasana
Bakasana
Uttanasana
Handstand
THIS WAS KEY- normally I would say find a partner or do this partner variation. BUT what has been happening is that often the partnering becomes a crutch and we are not really learning how to do a handstand (for instance) by ourselves or in the middle of the room. Nothing against partnering- it has taught me so much. That said, it has become a crutch for me as a teacher. So I told them to take their mats to the wall and kick into a handstand. And then I did something quite revolutionary. I OBSERVED them. Then I realized that half of class couldn't kick up. So I let go of my plan and instead I decided to use a partner to help teach the yogi how to fire their back leg as they press up (you know that spot- where the partner takes the their hand underneath the yogi's ankle and has the yogi hug in and then the partner walks their leg up...) So they did that and got that memory into their back leg. Then I had everyone try again on their own and lo and behold several people started to kick up by themselves! HUGE deal!
Pigeon at the wall
Ustrasana
some ustrasana variations
Agni Stambhasana
Janu Sirsasana
Legs up the wall
Thank you Noah and Christina!
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