autumn equinox
As we experience the autumn equinox in this part of the world (where the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer), I find myself becoming a little more quiet and introspective. Tomorrow Thursday, September 23rd, I was supposed to travel to India. Some things came up and I cancelled the trip. And as tomorrow gets closer and closer, I feel sad knowing that I won't be traveling to India, the mother country.
Interestingly enough, one of the challenges that I have as a yogi is that I tend to rush through my so-called negative emotions, so that I can get to a place of "light." So whenever I find myself feeling sad, I tend to quickly rationalize my way out of that emotion by saying platitudes to myself like, "oh, it's going to be all right; it was probably for the better; it's not that big of a deal..." And unwittingly I am not allowing myself to experience whatever I happen to experience.
I was telling my therapist recently that I was sad because I wasn't going to India but that it "really is not that big of a deal, I mean, some people have cancer, some people in Pakistan have lost their entire families, and so forth..." and she said to me, "yes but you should still sit with your loss." That's it: sit with your loss. And it was so helpful. May we have the courage to experience whatever it is that we experience, knowing that darkness and light are still forms of the divine.
Theme: Fearlessness
Focus: First Principle
Sequence:
Child's Pose, Down Dog, Uttanasana
Ardha Surya Namaskar
Surya A
Surya B
Warrior 2, Reverse Warrior 2, Parsvakonasana, Trikonasana, Half Moon, Sugar Cane Pose, Handstand!
Crane
Repeat second side
Child's Pose
Pause- talk briefly about the Psoas- how it's such a deep muscle, hidden deep within us and if we can access it with our awareness and intention, it will help stabilize our lower back and help us Kick up the handstand fearlessly! Brought a book with a depiction of this muscle.
Did a "Psoas awakening series" that Dr. Ray Long came up with:
Trikonasana, Parsvottanasana, Parvrrta Parsvakonasana and Prasarita Padottanasana
Handstand
Pigeon 1
Thigh stretch
Virasana
Supta Virasana with two blocks
Bridge pose
Urdhva Dhanurasana
Supta Padangusthasana Variations
Savasana
(I taught also a strong class today at Black Dog and the sequence changed a bit, but the gist and the theme was the same. Both classes -the strong in the morning and the intermediate in the afternoon- went amazing. There is a great communal energy that has been forming and it really feels like I was teaching to my friends. Really lovely feeling. Have a happy Autumn Equinox everyone! May we honor our darkness and our light.
What an amazing theme!!! So original and relatable =3 I came to class feeling sore, and I left feeling open and free. Thank you so much for your honesty and awesomeness! <3
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I can't believe I missed a psoas awakening class! Maybe it can be awakened today as well?
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Maria, you and your readers should also be aware that the psoas is a muscle that tends to hold a lot of past trauma in its copious tissues, and thus needs to be treated with great respect. There are trauma releasing exercises (a system created by David Berceli, Ph.D.) that are used throughout the world (especially in countries hit hard by ethnic cleansing and outright war) to induce cyclonic shaking to release past traumatic tension held in the psoas. When this happens in yoga class, some students grow fearful at watching their legs shake seemingly uncontrollably, but they can be comforted when the teacher knows that this is not only natural, but a healthy release.
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How interesting! I'll be sure to check up on that. Thank you for sharing. See you today in your class!
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Thanks for this Shari....do you know these techniques? Or should I just get his book? Keep sharing your brilliance and Love your new blog. And Maria Christina so much gratitude for your fabulous blog as well...I read every post!!
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Thank you dear Andria!
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