Archive for the ‘asanas’ Category

OM yoga Laboratory in Tokyo

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

So much going on all at once.  Some groups were still practicing for teaching their final class and some were working on their sutra presentations and some did teach.  It’s all happening all at once in this room — it is the OM yoga laboratory!

 

Arts and crafts and yoga and sutras...

Arts and crafts and yoga and sutras...the Bodhisattvas are busy at work.

 

Kumi says to Yukari -- Let's keep moving!

Kumi says to Yukari -- Let's keep moving!

 

Smile team is rehearsing.

Smile team is rehearsing.

Socrates practices their teaching and hands-on work.

Nadeshko team practices their teaching and hands-on work.

 

Kumi is an accupunturist and she is helping out Chama's toe.

Kumi is an accupunturist and she is helping out Chama's toe.

 

Now it is time for yoga.  Kyoko begins Socrates team's class wearing her OM yoga t-shirt since she is a little bit nervous.

Now it is time for yoga. Kyoko begins Socrates team's class wearing her OM yoga t-shirt since she is a little bit nervous.

 

Here is Yo in her OM yoga t-shirt, teaching us how to use blocks in Urdhva Danurasana.

Here is Yo in her OM yoga t-shirt, teaching us how to use blocks in Danurasana.

 

This is a very interesting and effective way to use blocks and belts for partner work in Danurasana.

This is it -- a very interesting and effective way to use blocks and belts for partner work in Danurasana.

 

At the end of a long but very good day of OM yoga TT, I asked Chama and Kazumi if they would join me for dinner the next night to celebrate the graduation.  They saluted and said, Yes, Teacher!

At the end of a long but very good day of OM yoga TT, I asked Chama and Kazumi if they would join me for dinner the next night to celebrate the graduation. They saluted and said, Yes, Teacher!

Coming up to the finish line….

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Today is graduation day!  But here are some pictures of the last two days.  The 5 study groups, or teams as the Japanese students like to call them, all have to teach a class.  We’ve had four classes from the teams of:  Smile, Socrates, Nadeshko and Honeymoon.  They’ve done such a good job!  I am thrilled to see how much they have learned, how hard they have worked and how much strength and clarity has arisen in their practices.

 

This is Kanae, one of my trusty translators.  She had to translate the students' classes to me as they were teaching and, of course, it is much more difficult to go from Japanese to English. Thank you, Kanae, Anu and Yuko for smoothing commnications.

This is Kanae, one of my trusty translators. She had to translate the students' classes to me as they were teaching and, of course, it is much more difficult to go from Japanese to English. Thank you, Kanae, Anu and Yuko for smoothing commnications.

 

Tamao, doing a sirsasana variation due to her surfing neck injury.  She looks like an angel here.

Tamao, doing a sirsasana variation due to her surfing neck injury. She looks like an angel here.Everybody else working on going from Sirsasana A to B to C to B to A.

 

SMILE team:  Rei, Tamao, Chigusa, Maya and Fumiko.  They are so happy that they went first and now they are f

SMILE team: Rei, Tamao, Chigusa, Maya and Fumiko. They are so happy that they went first and now they are finished

 

Nadeshko team practicing teaching Sirsasana prep.

Nadeshko team practicing teaching Sirsasana prep.

Kazumi doing her own version of Sirsasana prep -- she is such a character!

Kazumi doing her own version of Sirsasana prep -- she is such a character!

 

Chama practicing teaching Surya Namaskar with his team, Honeymoon.

Chama practicing teaching Surya Namaskar with his team, Honeymoon.

Adjusting Seated Forward Bends

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

First, morning asana class with some fun backbending!

 

Ardha Dhanurasana has a baby with Ardha Bhekasana.

Ardha Dhanurasana has a baby with Ardha Bhekasana.

 

Hideyo is helping Maya to ground her sitting bones by drawing her outer hip creases down and back.  This is a good adjustment for people like Maya who are very flexible in forward bending.

Hideyo is helping Maya to ground her sitting bones by drawing her outer hip creases down and back. This is a good adjustment for people like Maya who are very flexible in forward bending.

 

Rei adjusting Fumiko in Janu Sirsasana.  And they are both wearing their very kowie -- cute -- OM yoga t-shirts!

Rei adjusting Fumiko in Janu Sirsasana. And they are both wearing their very kowie -- cute -- OM yoga t-shirts!

 

Chizuka gives a nice adjustment to the birthday girl, Yuki.

Chizuka gives a nice adjustment to the birthday girl, Yuki.

OM yoga students becoming Teachers in Japan

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

 

Chisato is studying her notes.  All the students write down EVERYTHING after they take class from me.  Sequencing, instructions, etc.

Chisato is studying her notes. All the students write down EVERYTHING after they take class from me. Sequencing, instructions, etc.

 

Chigusa and Yuki help Yo do a drop back.

Chigusa and Yuki help Yo do a drop back.

Chisato and Miyo help Miho do a drop back.

Chisato and Miyo help Miho do a drop back.

 

Chika represents her study group in teaching while Yuki and others do hands-on adjustments.

Chika represents her study group in teaching while Yuki and others do hands-on adjustments.

 

Here I am with two of my translators, Yuko and Anu, in Starbucks!  It is almost exactly like the Starbucks in the US except the wraps are root vegetables w/ chicken and only half as big.

Here I am with two of my translators, Yuko and Anu, in Starbucks! It is almost exactly like the Starbucks in the US except the wraps are root vegetables w/ chicken and only half as big.

It’s a secret!

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Yesterday we worked on Supta Virasana — how to do it, how to teach it and especially how to make it workable for the many people who find it next to impossible.  Yukiko told me — via Kanae, my translator — that her husband could not do that pose at all.  I said, “Sure, he can.  Let me show you how.  Let’s pretend that you are your husband and I will set you up in the pose.”  I asked her, “what is your husband’s name?”  She said, “It’s a secret.”   Whoa — first of all, she spoke in English and that was a surprise!  But, then, it’s a secret?  We all laughed so hard, including Yukiko.  Why is it a secret?  Is he famous?  Does he have a weird name?  She wouldn’t say; would only laugh and laugh.  So I decided her husband’s name would be Mickey Mouse and she liked that.  

 

How does that feel, Yukiko?  Ahhh....it feels great.

How does that feel, Yukiko? Ahhh....it feels great.

 

To paraphrase Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoche, Even Supta Virasana is workable -- with lots of blocks!

To paraphrase Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoche, Even Supta Virasana is workable -- with lots of blocks!

OM yoga TT Tokyo - Day 3

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Joe taught asana class again this morning.  I feel sore in a way that is not normal for me.  Lots of sensation in my joints.  It must be jet lag.  Yoga is good, for sure.  

 

Kazumi saved the tt study group pictures from last September and put them back up on the wall again along with the daily schedule.

Kazumi saved the tt study group pictures from last September and put them back up on the wall again along with the daily schedule.

The schedule is asana 9:30-11:15, break, 11:30-13:00 training, 13:00-14:30 lunch, 14:30-16:00 training, break, 16:15-18:00 training.  I think.  That way of writing time gets me so mixed up.  

 

Working on the full version of parvritta parsvakonasana.

Working on the full version of parvritta parsvakonasana.

 

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana!

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana!

 

Joe demonstrates Parsva Bakasana and then we all did.  Some people remembered how I taught them to use a block and that was helpful.

Joe demonstrates Parsva Bakasana and then we all did. Some people remembered how I taught them to use a block and that was helpful.

 

Joe demonstrates a shoulder opening exercise to prepare for pinca mayurasana.

Joe demonstrates a shoulder opening exercise to prepare for pinca mayurasana.

 

How convenient that this dance studio we are using has a ballet barre for us to rest our arms on and help us open our shoulders.

How convenient that this dance studio we are using has a ballet barre for us to rest our arms on and help us open our shoulders.

 

No problem if the ballet barre is too high -- we can stand on our trusty blocks!

No problem if the ballet barre is too high -- we can stand on our trusty blocks!

 

After the class I had a meeting in this room with Kazumi and Yuko, who will be my translator tomorrow.

After the class I had a meeting in this room with Kazumi and Yuko, who will be my translator tomorrow.

Then I went for a walk in Roppongi and saw this sign which I like a lot.

Then I went for a walk in Roppongi and saw this sign which I like a lot.

OM yoga TT - Tokyo, Part 2

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

This morning Kazumi took Joe and me to the dance studio where the second half of the OM yoga 200 hour teacher training course is being held.  Joe is teaching the first three days of this ten day session with asana class from 9:30-11:15 followed by anatomy until 6pm.  

 

Here is Chama, owner of Tokyo-yoga.

Here is Chama, owner of Tokyo-yoga.

This is Joe with Anu, his translator for the day.

This is Joe with Anu, his translator for the day.

 

This is Kazumi -- manager of Tokyo-Yoga. She works so hard to make everything happen just right.

This is Kazumi -- manager of Tokyo-Yoga. She works so hard to make everything happen just right.

 

Chama in Cat Pose.  Do you know how to say this pose in Sanskrit?

Chama in Cat Pose. Do you know how to say this pose in Sanskrit?

 

Virabbhadrasana 2.

Virabbhadrasana 2.

Joe demonstrates Sirsasana.

Joe demonstrates Sirsasana.

 

The Japanese teacher training students are very good at paying attention.

The Japanese teacher training students are very good at paying attention.

 

I asked Joe to teach a Sirsana variation for Tamao who has a neck injury from surfing.

I asked Joe to teach this Sirsasana variation for Tamao who has a neck injury from surfing.

 

Joe demonstrates how to use a blanket in Salamba Sarvangasana.

Joe demonstrates how to use a blanket in Salamba Sarvangasana.

 

Here is the "Shyndi mark" -- many of the students asked me to sign their mats and make my drawing there, too.

Here is the "Shyndi mark" -- many of the students asked me to sign their mats and make my drawing there, too.

 

Outside the studio is a bench next to this sign which says, "You may smoke here."

Outside the studio is a bench next to this sign which says, "You may smoke here."

This shrine was on the corner.  Kazumi said this deity will help your cough go away.

This shrine was on the corner. Kazumi said this deity will help your cough go away.

OM yoga at Lululemon

Monday, March 1st, 2010

OM yoga was the studio of the month at NYC’s Union Square Lululemon and it was fun!  

l1030170Here is Sarah, me and Margi.  They were so nice to come to the class I taught to support me and OM.  I had just returned to NYC from Costa Rica and I was in a daze of coldness but somehow there I was.  They asked me if I would teach a class for them on the Presidents Day holiday at 8am!  Of course, I said yes — if it could be at 11.  We settled on 10am and they even opened the store late to accommodate the class.   So that was super nice and I tried my best to do a good job.

 

Here were the wonderful yogis and yoginis at the class!

Here were the wonderful yogis and yoginis at the class!

 

This was one of the yoginis in attendance and I asked her if I could take her picture because I thought her curled bangs were so cute.

This was one of the yoginis in attendance and I asked her if I could take her picture because I thought her curled bangs were so cute.

 

This is the glamorous Sarah Trelease, OM yoga ambassador to Lululemon. Wearing sunglasses as all ambassadresses should!

This is the glamorous Sarah Trelease, OM yoga ambassador to Lululemon. Wearing sunglasses as all ambassadresses should!

OM yoga in Costa Rica — last day

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Here are some pictures from our last day of the retreat.  Don’t be jealous — it was such a great success that we will definitely have an OM yoga at Blue Spirit retreat again in winter 2011.

 

After a stretch class with Edward from 7-7:30 and another totally delicious breakfast, Dave gave a dharma talk from 9-10:30.

After a stretch class with Edward from 7-7:30 and another totally delicious breakfast, Dave gave a dharma talk from 9-10:30.

 

Enraptured yogis/dharma students.

Enraptured yogis/dharma students.

 

MIndfully meditating Edward.

MIndfully meditating Edward.

 

Then right into yoga from 10:30-12ish.  Palms were up today, in the position of both giving and receiving.

Then right into yoga from 10:30-12ish. Palms were up today, in the position of both giving and receiving.

 

I taught a warm-up vinyasa that included side bending on both sides, and twists -- both open and closed.  Do you know the difference and what they prepare you for?

I taught a warm-up vinyasa that included side bending on both sides, and twists -- both open and closed. Do you know the difference and what they prepare you for?

 

There's always something to work on in Downward Dog, isn't there?

There's always something to work on in Downward Dog, isn't there?

 

Baby cobra and lion had a baby.

Baby cobra and lion had a baby.

 

The reminder of a light touch.

The reminder of a light touch.

More coming but now I have to go to Lululemon and teach a free class 10-11.  Come on down!

Morning OM yoga

Friday, February 12th, 2010

My class played a joke on me yesterday.

 

They set up their mats at all angles!  Messing with my head - whoa...

They set up their mats at all angles! Messing with my head - whoa...

 

With the mats nicely organized, we had our class.

With the mats nicely organized, we had our class.

 

Distributing weight and effort, like a tea bag in hot water.

Distributing weight and effort, like a tea bag in hot water.