Ganda Bherundasana
Last Friday during the Practice with John Friend at Encinitas, he had the certified teachers in the room demo three really challenging poses. One of them was "Formidable Face" pose AKA Ganda Bherundasana. For those who don't know, this is the pose where you are on your chin, your hands are beside your chest and your legs are above you, bent like a scorpion. When John told us to do it, I literally tried but couldn't. In all these years of yoga practice I have never been able to do it. It is one of those poses that is rarely taught in a regular yoga class, and when it is, it goes by in a flash and if you can't do it, you don't even try.
After the demo with John I went home and realized that I needed to practice this pose. So this week we have been doing it in my Practice classes at Still. This morning my 9AM class was- and I mean it- amazing. Truly amazing. My theme was "Kula." Sanskrit for "Community of the heart." People coming together not because they should, but because they want to. I have been thinking of how many wonderful friends I have in this community. Two of my dearest friends, Jenny and Michelle, had a birthday yesterday. Monica had one last week. Marc is having one soon. Tara J is in town and I adore her. I just went to Encinitas with Mackie. I am doing a TT with Keric and soon an Immersion with my beloved Hagar and Tara. All in all, I was thinking about how blessed we are to be part of this community with so many amazing people! In all honesty, the most important benefit I've ever gotten from yoga is the people I have met along the way, who have become like family.
So my theme today was Kula and in walks Felix -dear Hanuman Felix- with red envelopes filled with a dollar bill, gifts for everyone for the Chinese New Year. Plus, I had also brought fortune cookies for the class! So it was just one of those days where everything gels. Today at 9AM I had such a great group of people. The students were practicing with such care, awareness and fire! And at one moment I told them the story of the demo of Ganda Bherundasana. Lia Aprile, a beautiful, intelligent and radiant yoga teacher and writer, gave me a tip. She told me how she likes to get into the pose (from One-legged Down Dog) and I tried it right then and there and voila! I could do it! Lia and I hugged. Everyone clapped. I might have shed a few tears. Several students were able to get into that pose in class and later during the Practice. It was amazing. It got me thinking how often I decide for myself that I cannot do something; and I am okay with it. And then one day, something shifts and there it is. Huge moral victory and inspiration whenever we do something we didn't think we could do! It makes us wonder what else is possible?
May we stay open to possibilities on this New Year.
May we keep listening and learning from each other.
Thank you Lia!
Thank you John for the elegant Universal Principles of Alignment.
Thank you beautiful community.
And Thank you Ganda Bherundasana, for your patience with me all these years and for the revelation today!
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