My close of 2008 Sadhana

My friend Maddy Avena used the term "wring out the old and ring in the new," which I think is delightful. On this snow storm day in my little New England home, I used the found free time to program and follow a 140 minute practice using Shiva Rea's media. Shiva is my favorite yogini, I find her practices to have a range from healing to challenging, her fluid approach is a salve to stiff joints and clogged emotions, and her DVD media is

visually beautiful. All of her A/V media is backed up with glorious soundtracks.

My close of 2008 practice consisted of:

Yoga Shakti:

• Surya Meditation


• Classical Suraya Namaskar

Radiant Heart:

• Bonus Twisting Krya


• Bonus Jala Namaskar


• Full Radiant Heart practice

Yoga Shakti:

• Forward bends and twists


• Inversions


• Pranayama


• Meditation


• Savasana

Namaste

Reflections as 2008 closes

Reflections on my Yogic Journey in 2008, among other things. On 12/31/07 I was beginning the exploration into my first Svadyaya (self discovery) through a 40 Sadhana (practice - path toward goal). An online mentor loaned me a book that had been in her family for years - it was her parents' volume, in fact. Iyengar: His Life and Works was an eye opener for me not only on BKS Iyengar but on yoga in general, and the connections between yoga and Ayurveda through the book's little primer written by BKS' sister, Geeta. This kind mentor also turned me on to John Friend and Anusara yoga which has been a big help.

One of the portions of the book discussed Iyengar working with people with arthritis, including a case study of a man who used daily practices to literally break through his "calcifications." Hey - it can work. I embarked on this first Svadyaya/Sadhana with great hope and confidence. At midnight on 12/31/07 - 01/01/08, I went outside and walked through the neighborhood, thinking of all kinds of new possibilities in store. I'd joined a yoga studio and the owner was telling us that the numbers were lined up for a year of sweeping global change. I didn't stop to think that the global change could maybe not be for the better. Or maybe, it is the end of old ways going down kicking and screaming? New Year's Day 2008 found me at an intention setting ceremony in that yoga studio, which was enjoyable and seeded me with high hopes and a long list of goals. I walked out on a bliss cloud, visualizing good health and fortune, and ended up getting almost immediately sick. That rebounded and rebounded until it ended up as pneumonia and lingering chest pain; I whacked out my hip hiking; my chronic condition came out of remission; husband lost his job; now mine could go any day. But amazingly through it all I kept up a steady yoga practice and I don't know if it's the yoga, but usually these types of situations would have me a hysterical wreck. I seem to be handling it better.

2008 wasn't all doom and gloom, I'd reached a point of having great success with asana and freeing up a lot of stuck and stiff spots - after this flare calms down, I'm looking forward to getting back to that place. Breaking down those calcifications again. I'm going back to the studio's intention ceremony tomorrow but leaving my rose tinted spectacles home. I won't view the practices with cynicism; rather through a humbled viewpoint. My simple intention is to keep practicing yoga and expanding on what I learn, and hope that each little lesson can carry me through another day making the best of it that I can.

Happy New Year! I know a lot of us have experienced setbacks in 2008 - illnesses, financial woes, loss of loved ones, careers, life upheavals. It seems there was more than the usual bad fortune going around. I hope all of you have a good year ahead. We can hope! Namaste - may peace shine down upon us.

Virasana, Svaroopa Style

Just some notes to capture a most delicious Svaroopa pose I learned tonight. Virasana, or Hero's Pose, done Svaroopa style. This should be performed after some preliminary poses, particularly a tailbone opener and a lunge set. We did it tonight after chin tuck (hands clasped behind head, elbows toward ceiling (hugging in), slowly and gently lifting the head with the strength of the arms alone, holding and breathing a few times, then slowly lowering and extending vertebrae by vertebrae. Next we did Tortoise for tailbone on the seated stack (remember narrow block between thighs to press hands into), Baddha Konasana on the stack, and a Lunge (right leg first).

To perform the pose:

• Get situated back on the stack, so that the narrow edge faces you; have a blanket roll near and blocks on either side
• Feet on floor, knees up
• Crawl toes out a couple of lengths
• Reach left hand under bent knees, clasp right ankle and draw foot under and to left until right heel hooks under blanket edge
• Be sure right knee pointing away from belly button
• Draw left leg over, in a Gomukasana-like position (but much more relaxed)
• Draw narrow edge of blanket roll under bent right knee
• Should look like Gomukasana legs with blanket roll directly sticking out from the median of the knees
• Relax for a few breaths with right hand on knee, left hand over it - be sure head upright with ears over shoulders
• Right hand to block, make L-shaped left hand, straight left arm up (no ballerina arms) stretch toward right, pressing into block - turn block position if desired so knuckles face forward
• Slowly come out, repeat other side

Donna said you can also perform a twist in this pose for a deep SI joint release - she would not divulge any information but I can experiment and see what feels right. After that we did another lunge (left first), revisited the chin tuck, and closed with Rotated Stomach, Savasana and of course, Yoga Mudra to seal. Nice practice!