week 3

For this week's yoga session, I did a Hatha style flow with a woman named Ann Gray. I met her through my Aunt, who is a good friend of hers. She has a studio in her basement, which was clean and spacious, and had a very calm like feel to it. What was most relaxing to me was the class size; there was a total of 6 of us there. 

Before we got started, I was able to speak one on one with the instructor. We talked about what kind of yoga styles she offered, and her answers were nothing less of zen. She told me each style has its own flow, but they are all one. She told me to slap a label on it, the style she offered was Hatha. The most important thing to remember in yoga is to go at your pace, as long as you felt your own strength. 

I think depending on the instructor in which you do your practice with reflects on if yoga is framed as more than just an exercise. I've noticed the difference thus far in instructors and their personalities, and I think that's what reflects the classes mind frame of what yoga is. I know that it is more than just exercise. It has given me more than just better flexibility, but a better sense for calmness. I've even noticed I have a little more patience with things that I never used to ever have patience for. It's a pessimistic trait of mine, but in yoga, there are no judgements. And that, to me is empowering.

Yoga has been suggested in many ways with many instructors that it can empower the practitioner. Even this week with Ann, she told me the importance of yoga is to go at your pace, as long as you felt your own strength. And I did. I remember feeling a sense of empowerment being able to hold certain asanas in class. It's that sense of peace, and oneness of finding your strength is why I would recommend yoga over other activities, like running or zumba. Sure, everyone has their pace to their practice, so maybe more fast paced activities like running or zumba might be more appealing, but I don't think you can get the same feeling of peace and centeredness as you do when stretching out on a yoga mat. 

Week 2

What makes your practice space a "sacred space"? Consider the sounds, decorations, rules, behaviors and other aspects of the practice space that create an opportunity for ritual experience.


     For this week's practice, I tried Hatha style yoga. I found out from my Aunt who does yoga, that in my hometown the local library offers yoga classes, so I decided to check out Cece Brandt's class. The classroom was in a large open room in the basement of the library, decorated with white christmas lights, a singing bowl, and carpeting. When I first talked to the instructor before the start of the class, I explained how I was a student looking to better understand yoga as a whole. She was not only very helpful, but also excited to hear about the college course. She explained to me what I had already learned from this semester: Hatha yoga includes more forced poses, and that she would offer modified versions of poses, or asanas, if needed. She handed me a strap and a block, and I rolled out my mat, bracing for what was to come.

     Ironically enough, I noticed a client of mine (I'm a massage therapist) present in this class; the same client I have been suggesting yoga to for her tight back since I've known her. She had mentioned recently how she found a great yoga class she's been taking, and here I was not knowing where, and ending up in the same class with her! All together, there was maybe 20 of us twisting our spines in synchrony. Needless to say, overall I enjoyed Hatha. Some poses were difficult, but that was the power behind it. I felt awesome being able to hold such crazy asanas.
     
     I was curious how my sacred space would feel, being in a more crowded room. Honestly, the smell of feet was overwhelming. I wasn't sure if I was going to able to focus on anything passed that. As mentioned before, the christmas lights was a nice touch. As a way to cleanse the room, she used a singing bowl, which seemed to help; visualization tactic or not. What also was welcoming about this class was the instructor's more lax way of teaching. She walked around the room, guiding students as needed, but overall, I felt like we had our own say in what pose felt right. It truly felt like our own personal space, even though the class was larger than last week's. 

     I can't say for sure which class I like more thus far. I would like to revisit both classes just to see if I have made improvement. In the meantime, I'm going to look into other types, or modalities, of yoga available for me to try out next!

Starting my practice

As a student new to observing yoga, even if you are experienced at practice, begin your journals by observing the physical environment, the community of people who attend classes and frequent your practice space, and your impressions feelings and observations about what you are doing while "doing yoga". 

For my very first session for this blog, I ventured to Anytime Fitness in my home town and had a Yin class with the instructor, Gail Cassidy. The class was maybe 12 to 15 of us, all of us showing different body types, which reassured me. I haven't done yoga since highschool, so I'm not sure how I'm  going to react. However, I'm assuming I stuck out like a sore thumb, since a few classmates was asking prior to the session if I were new. I felt intimidated, but knew I wasn't there for criticism, but for enlightenment (or at least in hopes of.)

I learned that Yin Yoga means elongated, held out asanas, or poses. The instructor kept an IPad handy for keeping time, which seemed to be increments of 2 minute long asanas. We started doing gentle stretches for our lower backs, which instantly made me nervous. I have back problems, so my flexibility was something to laugh at. 

I drug my boyfriend and my mom along for moral support. My boyfriend has a worse back than myself, and he was trying. My mom can't stay on her knees or fluid builds around them, but yet here she was in her own flow, and I think it was the inspiration of seeing them both truly trying, made me realize no matter how silly I looked, this was for me.

So there I was, stretching out into my banana asana (as the instructor called it) when I realized how much I was enjoying myself. I stopped worrying, started focusing, and could actually see a physical improvement in my flexibility in just one class. We ended the class with citronella aromatherapy and a bow followed with a "Namaste."

I talked with the instructor after class to let her know my story, and why I was in her class. That's when she explained what Yin means, and even suggested other branches for me to try in my practice. I plan on doing just that, trying different instructors, and modalities, but overall Yin Yoga with Gail Cassidy was excellent.