Thursday, October 11, 2007

Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung

Now on, I stop going back and blaming myself and others for the past, for my shortcomings, for my fears…
What we get is what we give… I have to move with that awareness. I shall take every step, say every word, have every intention, every thought with that awareness. I should approach my practice with that awareness; I also should approach my teaching with that awareness. Then all will heal, grow and flourish… with love, passion and compassion in my life.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Pain, anybody got ideas???

I have been very much under the weather last week. I think it was Tuesday, after a very good practice, I began having this ache on my left chest. Yes, I had a pain in my chest before going to Berlin, which began on my lower left ribs and then moved up and middle of my sternum. While in Berlin, it was there but was not an inhibition to my practice. After coming back, I was all right but then this week, it made an acute come back. Tuesday, I just felt something. Wednesday practice sucked but not because of the chest pain but because I was damn too sleepy at 6am in the morning probably because one morning before (when I had that marvelous practice) I was up at 4am and the next day my body wanted to stay in bed longer… But then after practice, when I checked my mail, I got an email which was response to my earlier email from the owner of the studio which made me almost choke, choke with tears… I feel like I should not elaborate here… but he was absurd, hostile and accusative in the email conversations we had which was few back and forth mails… and when I said “okay I will loose my money [yes it was money issue] do as it is appropriate for you”, then he turned around and told me that he did not mean that I should loose my money but I was wanting to be treated with privilege and not admitting and if I only did, then it would be okey… ohh it is like I will do a favor (which was no favor really) but first I have to make you miserable…. Anyways… but then my pain start getting worse, on Friday I was crawling on my mat instead of practice… it got that bad. Saturday, I did not practice the first thing in the morning but at noon, which was better. Then I decided to go my friends’ studio for a gentle class, which I thought might help me relax. It kind of did but I also had to listen some sort of criticism of ashtanga and that it was the reason for my pain…
Today, pain moved to my shoulder blade. I don’t know what to make out of this anymore. If anyone had similar experience, please let me know, let me know what was it and how you dealt with it….

Monday, October 01, 2007

Some notes on Berlin Workshop..

So, being back is always tough after such a good study… It was lovely to be studying with someone like Nancy who believes in the practice. Of course, me being the queen of highs and lows, I went into lows after being back… After I returned to Istanbul, I took the first three days off (including the moon day) for ladies holiday. Yes, this workshop also has been very healing for me! Practicing in the way Nancy taught, in the way Guruji taught Nancy, actually did the trick for me and got my hormones working after they have been in a halt for a while… On the other hand, Surya was claiming that ashtanga practice can mess up women's hormones… I guess part of it is all in our heads… we get what we project. For me, doing things in the way it was originally taught had been very good, very soothing and so the results are here, but maybe if I did not enjoy, and embraced Nancy’s teaching, I would not get the same results… this is all maya…
During the 9 days of practice with Nancy, she got me through Supta Vajrasana in my practice. When I began, I was doing up till Bhekasana. Yes, she moves one fast and then let you work on the set of asanas she gives. The only scary one among all these new asanas is getting out of Laghu Vajrasana… One is suppose to keeo the hands on the ankles contrary to what they have in asana vinyasa guide here…. It is difficult but I guess it teaches one to really use the legs in back bends…
Here I want to share what Nancy said about Surya Namaskaras, and few other pointers about dristi and vinyasa…
This is a bit from my notes from the first day of the adjustment clinic:
Surya Namaskara-
When inhaling up hands forward a bit, not directly above the head, tail bone is tucked in, no back bend. When we inhale down, palms on the floor, with “inhale look up” only head is up, palms still on the floor. If needed, knees can be bend.
With down dog, shorter stance so tail bone is tucked in and you can use your bandhas.
During down dog, inside of elbows face one another.
Rolling toes during transition from chaturanga to up dog is important, no lifting the feet and taking toes under.
Breath is the most important. Moving with the breath, then corrections on the asanas come. Also breathe with sound and move the ribs as if your life depends on it. This is how breath moves your energy, and try to inhale and exhale the same length.
Surya Namaskaras are like a prayer that is why Jois family do not adjust during Surya Namaskara. We can only adjust during down dog…
During Surya Namaskara B, no touching the floor when getting into Utkatasana, that is John Scott version. No need to bend the knees too much in Utkatasana.
During down dog, might want to try heels in, you might use Mula Bandha better. Sharat has heels in; Guruji has heels in during Invocation…
Dhristi for Surya namaskara at breath 3,5, and 7 is changed to the nose! Why this change? When we look up, the attention goes out, when we look on our nose, the attention is more inwards.
Dristi when down dog is navel, we might not see the navel but we look towards it. During seated forward bends, first forehead to the knee, here the dristi is the nose, after this, if you can move shin to the knee, move it and here the dristi is towards the big toe…
During Vinyasa, we begin with inhale from down dog to jump, then we switch to exhale and in that exhale we get into the posture, and then inhale again.