Image of California for many might be … beaches? Then, there are forests lining the coast … forest, creeks and river … all streaming down to … yes, flows into the ocean. The Pacific Ocean – It’s beautiful here.
in the forest…oxygen cocktail for this light headed. Simply Delish …Feel the symbiotic relationship with the … trees… the earth … the air. We are one.
A very determined looking but motherly teacher at a Iyengar studio I’ve gone to in the past – unfortunately too far for me to commute to but … a treat to get to visit occasionally. She says she’s a grandmother but her body seems more lithe and supple than someone far younger… My inspiration. She displays both strength and flexibility throughout her demos. I am far younger but started to suffer a violent headache after a hand-stand; forearm stand and a headstand … boom; boom; boom … snap your fingers …3 inversions within first 15 minutes – did them. No warm-up other than the shoulder rotations using the ropes on the wall – Yes, sure, I do inversions especially shoulder stands – sure, after all, 200 hrs. RYT stands for something? but do I enjoy them? That is yet to be determined:)
Then afterwards use of chair for back-bends + inversion combo… a violent headache hits. It’s rather debilitating at this point flipped upside down on a chair – rather than feel the luscious opening within, ahhh … ouch, is someone hitting my head with a hammer? so I confessed to my headache coming out of the back of the chair. She peered into my eyes with sternness… I know – I must have been holding my breath (it’s fear. Going upside-down is to me … terrifying … Terror? hahaha, would never make it in a circus) somewhere cutting off oxygen to my head while blood rushed into my head in all these inversions which usually makes me feel … light headed. I have always been one to suffer from motion-sickness and sometimes that comes; sometimes a sense of exhilaration …it’s either Hell or Heaven, little in-between:
Breathe … yes, I know.
Overcome fears… Yes, I know.
That’s why we do them … Yes, I know.
Sometimes a sense of panic can hijack my nervous system at such times of vertigo combined with a headache – but not with this motherly instructor …faith and trust in self and the teacher is the key to override weird sensations. 5 minutes of grounding pranayama and back to re-join the progression in this steady practice. Headache-free, felt wonderful afterwards. Hard to believe only 60 minutes ago, I was suffering from a banging headache. Better than Tylenol.
At present, (ideally:) I practice Vinyasa style 2 times a week; Iyengar-ish style 1-2 times a week; whatever nameless style ??? everyday and then … Restorative yoga 1-2 times a week (everyday would be dreamy … if only … whenever I need an escape from the grind? No, whenever I need to spend time with “myself”, purge toxins mental and physical, pre-meditate, clear my mind through pranayama…at times, it’s “spiritual” …it’s what you want it to be) …
What about you?
There’s a misconception that you have to have a flexible body to be “good at” yoga. I’ve come to realize that our body can be stiff as a stick – if fact, those ARE the people who may benefit the most. Besides, it’s not about flexibility in our bodies that matter the most but more about … flexibility in our minds – how can we stretch our “minds” more…while holding a balance which … requires… strength. Humbled all the time:)
Through alternate stretching and contracting, repetition increases circulation to the large superficial skeletal muscles, making them stronger and more flexible. Thus repetition prepares us for holding postures for extended periods of time with minimal resistance. Through conscious movement with attention to our release valves, repetition helps us to identify habitual movement patterns and to develop new ones that are adapted to the structural and functional needs of our body. Thus repetition transforms the way we use our body in normal daily activity. In fact, according to the Viniyoga tradition, the most significant musculoskeletal and neuromuscular transformation occurs through this repetitive movement.
On the other hand, the most significant inner purification and physiological transformation occurs through holding postures for an extended periods of time.Through the application of specific deep breathing techniques while holding a relatively fixed posture, subtle but powerful internal movements are created that activities the deepest layers of the spinal musculature. These movement as as “prana pumps” which increase circulation to specific areas of the body; providing great benefit to the spine, organs and glands.
Unless the body is sufficiently prepared, however, holding certain postures will be either impossible or useless. For example, tight joints, a big belly, or a muscle-bound body may inhibit one’s ability to even get into certain postures or once in them, create too much tension for one to realize the postures’ benefits. On the other hand, hypermobility of the joins may make it easy to get into certain postures, they may still be without benefits.
– Gary Kraftsow from “Yoga for Wellness”
– “Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga”
For the first case – he teaches that repetition is needed; and for the second case – adaptation with use of props to help block the release valves (!) – so counter intuitive – so educational.
A lot of people are confused in thinking that because one is so “flexible”, one does not need props.
Flexibility is not about being hyper-mobile. Figure out what your body (or mind) needs is part of the journey and then … to find the teacher(s)
who resonates with you. It’s not a mere exercise. But it can be just that, i.e., exercise, as well. I love yoga.
Hahhhh heavenly:) Everyone deserves a restorative at least once a week – we work so hard in our lives – yes, even kids. After a pretty comprehensive class of movements, this 12 year old pre-teen was asked which was his most favorite time or pose in the class – his reply? This one – yes, this restorative pose … of course… it’s so yummy:)
Time for recovery, regeneration, rejuvenation – a reboot… or for some,
a gestation period of creativity, imagination and intuition to sprout … outwardly, there’s stillness… inwardly, there’s stillness? At different stages of relaxation, different brain waves are produced, so at each stage, you would have a different experience – naturally …