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Yoga

“Brightening Our Inner Skies”

is a book by Norman Blair that found its way into my hands.  Norman Blair’s yoga practice was primarily Ashtanga which is a style of yoga known for intensity, discipline and progressive advancement and challenges.  So it’s a surprise perhaps that he practices Yin yoga?  That’s the point.  I was talking with my former cohort in yoga training and heard him say emphatically, Yin yoga is not what I need.  Which is the exact opposite of what I thought of – I beg to counter – It’s actually exactly what he needs.  Maybe for some, the protocol is for the sweaty heated hard practice to wring out the stagnation; if so, then, all the more we need to offset that kind of yang with a divergent practice for a well rounded practices that addresses the needs of not just muscle strengthening but then us humans have other body components – bones, joints, fascia, tendons, ligaments … and the internal organs and … THE MIND.

Those who protest too much and emphatic are exactly the ones who will grow the most from a practice that contrasts that Ashtanga yoga practice one might adhere to. If you like challenges; if you like to strive and achieve and win; if you are Type A prototype … then all the more you actually NEED the kind of yoga practice seemingly “soft”.  Ashtanga yoga so it makes sense.  Sarah Powers describes yin yoga as “unhurried postures unstained by striving” – it’s a mindset – in other words, opposite to Ashtanga practice depending on how it’s practice – depending on the intention.

Bernie Clark talks about the Goldilocks middle ground idea .. neither too hard nor too soft: finding the middle way, with support to sustain stillness.

The quality of yang might be defined as intense and fierce, faster, and hot; in contrast the quality of yin could be described as softer, slower, cooling.

According to Norman Blair, in practicing Yin, we let these five qualities guide us: softening, patience, kindness, effort, dedication .. these four points could ground us: pause and soften, connect, allow, listen… I LOVE this practice !

Sometimes I call this practice ‘the middle way’, between comfort and challenge.

from Brightening Our Inner Skies by Norman Blair

It’s exactly what I was referring to ! The effort tampered with … ease, to find that place of stillness and peace.  And that comes for many after a challenge or to prepare for a challenge.

Early morning subbing of 6am Strong Flow class (FUN! revisiting my former practice – no we did not flow through 108 surya namaskar – rather, following the intelligence of the master yogi’s prescription for a truly STRONG practice);  then Yin class (PEACE & CLARITY:) – Nice way to start the morning waking up with well paced YANG then … softening into Yin … to cool down to prepare for the rising heat of summer day to come. Embracing that heat knowing how to cool off, not burn out.

Thank you for this well balanced practice.  Perfect morning practice if you carve out the time. From shortening and contracting and stiffening – Like your body, time too can expand and extend.  We can move with fluidity when we have the strength and flexibility.

Did you know ?  Great read “Yoga Body” by Mark Singleton

 

By Kay T. Ananda

Yoga brings Joy!
Joy to your body, heart, soul and allows your mind to settle all the debris to the bottom of the lake, ripples gently subsides so that like that shining water, your lake in your mind is still and crystal clear. Only then, you can find your truth... when your mind clears and all distractions are gone, leaving you - stillness and clarity. Peace.
Dog is doing yoga all the time and brings you laughs!
Anger is borne out of fear; how do we find that fearless path of inner peace?
Why Bark when you can Wag to express your JOY Joy joy !!!???
無心でしっぽをふる喜びを表すあの子犬のようなJOYを糧に無理ない、各自のコンデイションに寄り添いながらもチャレンジ精神をとりかえす…そんなヨーガを:)
全米ヨガアライアンス公認ヨガ講師養成コース修了、リストラティブヨガ指導者認定登録、アメリカRYT500登録インストラクター、800hrsヨガセラピーIAYT今現在一瞬ThisMoment&NOWをCELEBRATEするカリフォルニア*ライフ!

帰国子女としてニューヨーク、テヘラン、カリフォルニアと転々、いずれ東京に帰る意識で日本語高等部卒大卒後シリコンバレーにとどまる。ヨガはカリフォルニア州立、バークレー大学時代、ストレス解消に効くと教授に教わり試してみるが... 合わずジャズサイズ、ウェイトトレーニング、エアロビックスのクラスに移転の20代、30代、産後、過労で体調を崩し大病も治癒。死ぬかと思った~大病後、久しぶりに足を踏み入れたヨガスタジオのヨガが大学時代のスローでポーズごと器械体操ごとく、つまらなーいヨガとはまったく違い進化していた。流れる踊りの振り付け的なヨガに魅せられる。数々の流派があることを習い、数種類のスタイルを試す。ビクラム、ホット、アイヤンガー、ヴィンヤサ、アシュタンガ・パワー、などなど。数年前サンフランシスコにて、ヨガアライアンス認定インストラクター養成を経て、インストラクター証書習得。同じ年にキッズヨガインストラクター証書ゲット。リストラテイブヨガ、インストラクター認定、陰ヨガのインターン、アシスト後、陰とヴィンヤサ、レギュラーハタクラスを教える。又プライベート、セミプライベートレッスンをクライアントのニーズの合わせ、ヨガセラピストとしてセラピー集中ヨガ提供。その為に2年間のアドバンスコースに挑みc-IAYT証書習得!ヨガ療法士としてIAYT(国際ヨガセラピスト協会)認定のヨガセラピスト、C-IAYT(Certified-IAYT) 10年以上、ベイクラブ、ヨガスタジオ、シリコンバレー社などで子育て中週4-5回レギュラーレッスンの講師を務める。3月2020にあの頃は最後とは知らずの週2教えていたスタジオにてのインパーソンヨガクラスを後に…遠方介護ニーズとコロナ禍を機に当分はパブリッククラスリードからはリタイア。
自分自身が心と体の調和で得た平穏…日常の小ちゃな事に見出す喜びをヨガ愛好者のどなたとでもと共有できたらと願うばかり。ジョイを共有し、ジョイフルライフを。そう、もし犬に例えるのであれば、恐れや威嚇で吠えまくる犬ではなく、シッポふりふり笑顔で愛と喜びに満ちた心持をヨガを通しシャア。恥じる気持ち等恐れず誰でもできる自身ジョイフルヨガを肝に銘じりたい。LOVE LOVE LOVE:)Shanti Shanti Shanti:)