This year’s theme is a bit different. Last year was a lot of anatomy review and all that could go wrong with that body temple. So there’s few ways to look at one’s body – one way is to look at it mechanically – a well oiled machine at the apex of fitness vs one that needs fixing from wear and tear? OR there’s a way to look at it as a more organic holistic integrated miracle of the divine … I don’t want to get all New Agey spiritual but it’s a pretty amazing how our spirit is sheltered. Thanks to Will Meecham, MD, MA’s MindfulBiology‘s anatomy videos (note: not on this website – custom made for the TT purpose) we were provided to see anatomy as not just skeletal-muscular system, internal organs and nervous system and all the wiring but much much more. From the med school training Will had, sometimes anatomy can get a bit … ah, med-school-ish BUT when you see it from the standpoint of biology and mindfulness, a kind of holistic view unfolds. Yoga therapy is about when that temple needs repair and restoration …Oh, yes, and the mind. So that holistic understanding really helps get in touch with what could help in all the took kit provided in yoga therapy.
That was the last year’s training. This year, based on that foundation laid, we proceed with “we do no harm” … Nothing is probably more harmful than someone who professes a cure but actually cause another whole set of problems. While well intentioned, it’s harmful. Our soft-care is different.
As with most normal people, especially most girls and women, I first got into yoga with the desire to look and feel good or look and feel better.
There’s a that feel of BLISS during savasana after 60 minutes or 90 minutes of being with yourself, nursing yourself, discovering yourself. Yet, it
was more about vanity first and stress management, second.
But now that does not matter so much. Those two items to check off on the top of the list have now become more a by-product If we are into fitness, we all know how exercise makes us feel good. It’s the euphoria, the revelry, that endorphin feel of power and high energy when you sweat. It’s normal to want that.
You can get that in power yoga/ashtanga yoga-ish classes but I really enjoy the “yin” aspect of yoga. That intensity, the power – I save for other parts of my life – yoga, I come back to to nourish myself with. I guess Yang yoga to me is like Martial Arts; and Yin yoga to me is … yoga. If you find out that yoga was devised as a warm-up for a meditation practice, it makes more sense. And why is meditation practice so sought after. Is it because it was shown by Harvard Medical to increase the grey matter or is it because it helps us better deal with negative thoughts? Is it because it’s a preventative medicine for mental and cognitive decline? Why do we seek that time to clutter our minds …
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SO if 200 hrs. hours (I have some to recommend !)was about blue print poses and how to sequence them for fitness; last year was about delving deeper in 500 hrs.
More anatomy More philosophy More sequence More the whys the hows. MORE YOGA:) I know much of this is still just in me digesting and through gradual teaching, I will master them … slow, gradual, no rush. In its own time, my body and mind will breath the teachings so I am more authentic.
This year? Special populations where incorporating yoga therapy can really benefit.
It’s fascinating stuff. Gratitude for this opportunity. With 2 months break, I am ready to take up this challenge of homework, presentations. Alternating between the “doing” and the “being”, until it’s one and the same.
Tokyo teacher’s class on the 31st floor overlooking the city. Oldest student being 82 !!! Excellent teacher – Taeko sensei is not only beautiful (a model on Ayurveda Basic Book), her instructions are clear and her voice lovely. Can’t wait to take her class again – it’s amazing – a testament that one does not have to work so HARD to get the same blissful effect. Gentle is good. Simplicity at the core. Tenderness is our longing. There’s peace. There’s harmony. Feel light and GOOD all over. Sometimes we don’t even know what we want, so brainwashed are we. Namaste.
