Archive for February, 2011
Dinosaurs and Yoga: A calming experience
You have to love the internet and all the goodies out there waiting to be found. My husband came across this version of the Jurassic Park theme song that I’ve been playing in my classes this past week. John Williams’ original score has been slowed down 1000 times. The result is an incredible piece of classical music that is soothing and grounding.
Show your love this weekend
Join my husband and I this Saturday for Partner Yoga at Coast Fitness. No previous yoga experience is necessary. Beginners and the inflexible are welcome. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, the class is under the pre-registered classes tab. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one.
Mark your calendar
Coast Fitness is having it’s grand opening tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 5). Come by and sample the classes, enter the draws and have a snack. I’ll be there instructing the TRX/Yoga and Flow Yoga samples. Hope to see you there!
Opening to Grace
Another great workshop this past weekend, Annie Stocker opened our practice to the stability and joyful freedom of Anusara Yoga. Annie is from Seattle and the owner of Two Dog Yoga.
Anusara is a fairly new school of hatha yoga, started in 1997 by John Friend. There are five Universal Principles to Alignment to take with you into your asana practice. I like how this practice really integrates every part of the body, bringing awareness to how the body is interconnected and working as a whole.
The Anusara Invocation
Universal Principles of Alignment
1. Opening to Grace (Air) – Being represented by the nature element of air, grace is all around us. Lead with your heart and grace will be present.
2. Muscular Energy (Earth) – The awareness of the energy and strength in the body through the use of the muscle tissue.
3. Inner Spiral (Water) – Drawing to the centre, to the source, this is an expanding spiral. Pressing out through the ball of the big toe rotates the legs inward, widening the thighs and pelvis.
4. Outer Spiral (Fire) – Coming into play in back bends. Rotating legs outward, thighs and pelvis draw together.
5. Organic Energy (Space) – This element is beyond air, radiating everywhere. This is where expansion, flexibility and freedom come to the pose.
During asana practice we are looking for a balance between the principles. Noticing which elements come to you every easily and others that do not and work with bring the strength to the weaker elements. In the process finding the space or organic energy.
Learn more about Anusara Yoga HERE.
More pictures from the workshop is on RD Yoga’s facebook page.
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