We're going to read The Breathing Book, by Donna Farhi. The Lawrence Public Library has one copy. I've read this book a couple of times, but not for a long time, and not since I got more serious about pranayama. I will try to document how this goes for anyone who is interested but can't… Continue reading The book for Pranayama Book Club
Getting established
It's the nub of the whole project. We love yoga, love it, love it, love it. And yet we can't get a practice going. A friend of mine works at a trauma center where (among other things) they are doing research on yoga and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The value of yoga to people with… Continue reading Getting established
Pranayama book club
Ummmmm, ok, I'm taking the plunge. I've been thinking lately about starting a pranayama book club. If I put this up here, that means I'm doing it. (Not that I don't already have plenty to do.) I own four pranayama books and have read 2 1/2 of them. I have a pranayama practice that I've… Continue reading Pranayama book club
Various things
My friend Jill noted that I've had this blog going for three years. And yeah, that's great except that I haven't posted anything in 6 months. So let's see. Many things have happened. I taught a home practice class, and then taught Practice for Study and restorative. I haven't had many students, but at this… Continue reading Various things
I’m still here
Gosh, it's been ages since I posted here. I HAVE been practicing, some days more than others, but pretty much every day. In our Friday yoga we've been doing practice for study with various poses. Jill and I have done elbow work - would you ever have thought you could focus on something so specific?… Continue reading I’m still here
Brain yoga
Yesterday only Dana came over for our Friday practice. We had done practice for study last week, where we were both trying to figure out why we can't get our sitting bones to our heels in Adho Mukha Virasana (downward facing hero). We still weren't able to do so after the practice, but it was… Continue reading Brain yoga
Step away from the mirror
The only time I see my reflection when I'm doing yoga is if I happen to be doing standing poses near the TV and see, oh, maybe part of my hips, but my face is not generally pointed to it on purpose. I'm traveling at the moment, and the only place in the hotel room… Continue reading Step away from the mirror
Pranayama patience
Mary O. gave me suggestions for my pranayama practice that I have started implementing. I usually do five minutes of Savasana, two five minute segments of reclining pranayama (ujjayi or viloma or both) and then five more minutes of Savasana. Mary suggested that I start practicing seated pranayama. That's what I'm doing for the second… Continue reading Pranayama patience
Great workshop with Mary Obendorfer
OK, next year when Mary O. comes to the Yoga Center (April 8-10, 2011), I am going to lobby more heavily for everyone I know to come. She was here last weekend, and it was an outstanding workshop. I signed up for the whole thing, including the teacher training. Mary was very encouraging to me… Continue reading Great workshop with Mary Obendorfer
Keeping track on your fingers
All righty, this is a very geeky post. I have read in a couple of places that one way to count while you're practicing, e.g., six ujjayi breaths followed by normal breaths, is to use your finger joints. Open your hand and look at the finger joints. Your fingers have three each, for a total… Continue reading Keeping track on your fingers