Author: Kay T. Ananda

On Maty Ezraty – “The Iyengar system is a rock in her practice and teaching” even though “She was one of a handful of women to complete some of the advanced sequences” (so young in the video:) taught by Pattabhi Jois, father of Ashtanga style. She integrates both styles … masterfully. Is that called a fusion or a blended style? Whatever it’s called, it works to make yoga more accessible to PT yogis (most of us are not dedicating our lives to yoga FT like these yogis in the video) and injury-free. Here’s a scene from a workshop by yet another Iyengar steeped teacher, Richard Rosen – he’s also very detailed and observant… that x-ray beam of a vision, the keen eyes, Judith Lasater also shares. (She would term the observations and body studies to be done with “soft eyes” though:)These masters all seem to “read” people’s body so well…learned a lot.
Anyway, served as an emergency sub this morning – yay – so fun even though I had no idea what kind of yoga – never taken this teacher’s class nor did I know what style but … it didn’t really matter. I am no longer concerned – I am not trying to replicate that regular instructor as she/he’s irreplaceable and I am not even going to attempt to copy. I cannot respect copy-cats… unless it’s a sequence like sun salutation etc. that’s the vinyasa imprint itself. If there’s her signature blue print or sequence, then, I am doing something different – that’s the only approach I have now. We are all different and I am not even going to try to … match her class. Turns out it was an Iyengar class. No problem – so timely as 3 of the yoga teachers I so respect and trained under recently are all Iyengar style teachers – although had I known, I would have prepared something but it came up 9am and the class was 10-something so … no prep. Jump in – not really in my character as I used to OVER prepare… (a shift taking place within…)

Stereo system did not have the needed cable so … no music either. In the past, I probably would have gotten a nervous breakdown just about when ipod cable was nowhere to be found and realization hits that there will be no music … but… no big deal… having been at Iyengar classes where there’s this characteristic sternness with constant verbal cues (probably”music” to ears for anatomy geeks), it’s okay to not have any BGM. So in spite of things not being just “perfect” as in an ideal world, students actually came up to say thank you after class, one of the ladies even saying “this is just what I needed – Thank you!” and gave me a big hug. Never seen her in my life and who knows if I will ever see her again but such a big heartfelt hug – a bit surprised and touched. What a warm and receptive group of lovely souls. Ichigo-ichie feel. Arigato. I have no idea what kind of teacher I was subbing for but I sensed that she must be a very good teacher if reflected by the quality of her students – they were so present, SO flexible psychic-“wise”, willing to go along with the break in their regularity and routine, setting aside their expectations.

Unrelated but scene from the intensive with Maty – that chin – that chin – So happy to have done that session that prepared me for this kind of no-prep sub stint with total confidence. I mean, when you know that you’ve learned from the expert, someone you worship, you can’t help but believe in yourself. You know you know it.(Still cannot levitate…or have the body do what the mind wants it to do all the time – which probably is a blessing in disguise – practice and training needed…always humbled.)

Then tonight, I got to go to my late-night class – another, yay (8:30 is not that late but it’s the only one around – here it’s not urban enough I guess) – thank you thank you thank you – all gratitude to be allowed to indulge in yoga at such time – I loved tonight’s class – Teacher K always introduces 1-3 new pose(s) and they were the ones I found fun exploring (still challenging)… but even more than the class itself, I actually loved the class because the girl next to me was so sweet – after class she offered to take my blankets to the back room for me – so to reciprocate, I offered to return her block to the front of the room – it seems like nothing – truly no big deal and it’s not as though we became BFF as a result … such a little thing but… I don’t know… it was a nice unexpected gesture … nice vibe – that kind of an exchange creates. I am also beginning to recognize the regulars as I too might become a regular at this rate where this is the only late night class I can get to … I don’t know what happened but all the sudden the class size mushroomed from last week and it was even more packed than usual. A treat to have a dedicated time to yoga when the practice does not break up the day… there’s no more to do other than a hot ofuro Japanese style. Haahhh, heaven:) Good night …I am so grateful for today. Arigato. Oyasumi ~
I MAY need this tomorrow though…really was prezely tonight. China Gel – a cream version of Tiger Balm.

(abbrev. translation) On the left is the “straight” neck and on the right is a CT-scan photo of healthy cervical spine with that C-curve intact. Without that natural C-curve, just like for the spine’s S-curve, the function to absorb impact/shocks is compromised. What’s called the “spring” function. When that gently coiling “spring” function is gone, there’s more burden placed on the neck, shoulder muscles as well as to the tendons/bones and the nerves in that area. (tightness, soreness, tension headaches, frozen shoulders…cramps, pain… a big sigh…)
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I mentioned how I love shoulder stands whereby I talked about the benefits of that pose as long as it’s done correctly… There’s a lot going on with our neck in that pose and so it’s actually a nerve wrecking pose to teach in a group setting where I cannot possibly see everyone’s neck – when I was ignorant of what could go wrong, I was fearless but with knowledge comes …fear? Not – no fear still but rather … wisdom. Rather than saying the same thing in a different way, practically plagiarizing her, Dr. Gauci already says it so clearly: “A forward head carriage (colloquially known as a ‘computer head’) has become the standard ubiquitous posture in our western, computer-dominated society. Every 2-3cms that your head is forward of your shoulders doubles the weight of your head on your neck and shoulders! And an adult head weighs about 4.5-5 kg! (est. 10lbs) This causes a huge handicap to the extensor group of muscles on the back of our neck. ” – then she goes on to give us this great advice which I try to incorporate in the day to day:

How to Have a Happy Neck

Adjusting our posture requires gentle, consistent practice in our activities of daily living and when we practice our yoga asana and techniques. Here is a simple and effective correction to get the curve back in your neck. Take note of the ease, spaciousness and grace this brings to your posture and breathing.

Gently tuck your chin and imagine drawing a large smile under your chin where it meets your throat and from ear to ear. You will automatically feel a lengthening of the neck as the SCM (sternocleidomastoid) releases and the deep neck flexors are activated. You can exaggerate the sense of lengthening your neck by elevating the crown of your head toward the ceiling being careful to not lose the softness in the front of the throat and a sense of ease.

To strengthen the deep neck flexor muscles lie on your belly and come up onto your elbows in a sphinx posture. Now adopt the above posture or ‘smiling neck technique’. From here gently lift the back of your head and neck toward the ceiling. Check that you maintain a balanced shoulder position and that you are not elevating or rounding the shoulders in this position.

Neutral Cervical Spine

We often talk about the importance of a neutral low back in order to keep our lumbar spine happy. In the area of our cervical spine the majority of us are way off neutral with our straight modern necks. Neutral implies a place of ease where there is neither dominance, compensation nor inhibition. If you have facilitated SCM muscles it will pull your head forward and harden and straighten the benevolent curve in your neck. When we release the SCM the deep neck flexor muscles can engage. This enables a balanced position of ease with the muscle guywires of the neck in harmony and in the place of least resistance against gravity.

– Dr. Monica Gauci

Sometimes I see that people tend to over-compensate and have a tendency to protrude the chin up or out, hyper arching the neck – thinking that’s somehow “relaxing”…it’s actually stressing your neck more… so shoulder stand and then onto counter pose of fish … really good for you but done carefully…