Kate and Dana just came over for our Friday morning session. Often we do restorative poses because one or the other of us has some sort of issue (headache, sore joints, etc.). Today we did a little bit of everything: body rolling to start, then alternating Adho Mukha Svansana (downward-facing dog) and Uttanasana (standing… Continue reading Good practice, good breathing
Author: Mollyavalon
Flowing around
The other day I did something nice in my practice I'd forgotten about. I did a sort of a flow of standing poses. Let's see if I can describe this. I started in Trikonasana (triangle). Then instead of coming up out of it, I brought my torso and arms upright and bent my front knee, resulting… Continue reading Flowing around
Yoga Journal
Yoga Journal has been running an interview on the back page of each issue for a while now. This issue's interview is with Aadil Palkhivala. Here's my favorite part. Italics are mine. Ninety percent of yoga asana is a waste of time. The asana must be done to prepare the body to hold the light… Continue reading Yoga Journal
Stretching is good
I see it's been a while since I posted here. I haven't done any yoga since last Wednesday. I had a cortisone shot in my shoulder, and they told me to rest it for several days. Resting drove me crazy! I hadn't realized how much I rely on stretching - yoga or otherwise - to… Continue reading Stretching is good
Yoga and visitors
We had company this week. This is when I wish I had a dedicated yoga room. My yoga space is part of the family room and part of the hallway leading to the guest room, our son's room (but he's away at college), and the table tennis cum furnace room. Most of the time… Continue reading Yoga and visitors
Yoga Center of Lawrence
I have been taking classes at the Yoga Center of Lawrence since spring of 2000. It's a lovely space. I'm in photo mode lately due to Two Eye Workshop, a new blog a friend and I are doing. The idea is to post a photo every day so that we get in the habit of… Continue reading Yoga Center of Lawrence
Note to self
On a grey day, gentle restorative poses are a good thing.
Upside down
Finally, after a year, the sciatica is in abeyance and my hands and arms are strong enough to haul myself out of the hanging upside down pose. I'd been doing an alternate inversion with feet on the wall pointing down, legs straight, and the sling around the top of my hips - essentially Dandasana (staff)… Continue reading Upside down
Supta Virasana for the flexibly challenged
Deb, who is almost as stiff as I am, asked how to get into Supta Virasana (reclining hero). Before I get into the pose I warm up with a few other poses. Virasana (hero) - Kneel down with knees together and feet just far enough apart for you to sit between. Your heels should be… Continue reading Supta Virasana for the flexibly challenged
Great pose, great name, funniness
On Friday, Priscilla, Kate, Dana and I did, among other things, Trianga Mukhaikapda Paschimottanasana (three-part intense back stretch). I love the name of that pose. Once you get it, it has a wonderful rhythm. Triang=three, mukha=face, eka=one, pada=foot, paschima=west (not 100% sure about that part), uttana=intense, asana=pose. The funny part was that Kate, Priscilla and I… Continue reading Great pose, great name, funniness
Practice Notes 