Action, Reflection, Surrender

Listen, O drop, give yourself up without regret,

And in exchange gain the Ocean.

Listen, O drop, bestow upon yourself this honor,

And in the arms of the Sea be secure.

Who indeed should be so fortunate?

An ocean wooing a drop!

In God’s name, in God’s name, sell and buy at once!

Give a drop, and take this Sea full of pearls!

           ~  Rumi

In posts from previous visits, I mused about the experience of being here since Guruji’s passing.  No doubt, those who have visited RIMYI many times over the decades might wonder what is it like here without Geetaji?  Colored by past experience, hopes, concerns and expectations, the tendency is to analyze and evaluate, to compare and contrast.  

Prashant Iyengar, in his inimitable and colorful style, quickly brought us to the task of undoing that tendency and relinquishing those expectations of what our experience will or should be.  He reminded us that, as the earth hurtles around the sun at 67,000 mph, and our solar system at 514,000 mph, how can we ever be in the same place in space and time.   Yes, the building is here.  Yes, the familiar faces and spaces are here.  Yes, the same “reminders” of protocols and safety and etiquette are here.  But we and they and each moment are not ever the same. 

Woven artfully throughout many teachers’ classes this week are similar messages inducing us to see the asana not as something to DO, but as a means to cultivate the skill of being aware on deeper and deeper levels.  

Prashant’s metaphors and stories challenge us to explore and rethink WHAT is yoga.  Be interested, for example, in whether body, mind or breath is the Benefactor or the Beneficiary of an asana; OR to consider "Our condition"  when doing a pose, rather than doing the pose “As Conditioned”.  OR what happens when we do an asana with awareness on the jñanendriyas, the organs of perception.  “Take Dog Pose with upper eyelid awareness”, he called out at one point.  The experience of the pose changes with such sensitivity and discrimination. 

Action and Reflection.

Geetaji’s sister, Sunita, continued the thread in the Saturday women’s class.  Her compassionate and emotional questioning of the WHY of our practices uncovered how fear of pain holds us back from the exploration.  By teaching us examples of how Guruji illuminated the pain of others through his own practice to help those with knee and hip problems, we learned to undo and break through old habits through similar explorations. 

Action and Reflection.

Abhijata’s precise and in-depth exploration of the hip joint as the root of the action further illuminated the HOW of standing poses and greatly enhanced strength and steadiness in balance and stability in inversion variations.  In another class, the effort was in finding out HOW to bring more freedom to the knees to be able sit for meditation in Virasana without a restless mind.

Action and Reflection. 

Ultimately, like Rumi’s little drop, we hope we can learn to let go, to Surrender to the vastness of the ocean of knowledge awaiting us in this practice. 

We indeed are so fortunate!

Final Impressions....and Travel Yoga Photo Entries

Tomorrow I begin the long journey back to Boston, in more ways than one.  Coming full circle back to my first post a month ago, I really do feel "At Home" here.  I love the food.  I get to wear my yoga bloomers with no one laughing.  The temperature (70's during the day) is delightful, and I know I'm in for a rude shock when I step off the plane at home!   But, most of all, I will miss the people  here at the institute, both teachers and other visitors.   

The atmosphere this last week is palpably different from the first three. I would even say it is serene. First, the Institute faculty are more relaxed, realizing that we really are here to deepen our personal practice, not to collect notes for our teaching, as Geeta pointed out the first week.  

Your learning is most important, your freedom in the body is most important...why should you come here and learn the words and go back and teach your students?  That is not the way...Always you have to be a disciple of yoga…then you will learn something.  People sitting in the back writing in the notebook…that doesn’t make sense!  It will only remain in the notebook…but your experience will be quite different, no? 

Second, what defines our learning is not just confined to being a student in class or practice.  There is a lovely feeling of openness and sharing in the practice hall this week.  One morning a very kind senior teacher was helping me to learn a particular adjustment for a Sirsasana variation...but I was struggling a bit with it.  One of the RIMYI teachers saw what we were working on and came over to guide me further.  Later, when I was observing one of his classes, he called me over to assist a student while he continued on teaching.  Today, while we were participating in a class of mostly locals, the teacher pulled me and my flatmate into service to work with one section of the room while she taught at the ropes.  

Third, the visiting students, whether veterans or first-timers, have merged into the collective flow of things here.  In the practice hall I noticed someone practicing similar poses to mine, and asked for her advice on one I was struggling to do.  Next thing I knew we were practicing side by side and giving one another feedback.  

Finally, it is pranayama week!   Each teacher has brought a different approach to that practice, which has really enriched my understanding.  Some times it is a word or phrase that is new to my experience, or perhaps it is an image, or an anatomical explanation or philosophical thought which deepens the experience.  Either way, this final week has been blissful!

And now, the moment you all have been waiting for...well, at least the four brave students who sent me photos of themselves doing yoga while traveling! I love your enthusiasm, folks, and as promised, a special "something" from The Institute is already packed in my bag for you!

Liz in Vrksasana - Tree Pose at the airport

Margaret in Virabhadrasana III - Warrior III...in the aisle!

Margaret and Sonya in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana in the hallway

Jeff in Virabhadrasana II - Warrior II in the Galley...in a suit!

Thanks for joining me for this installment of Adventures In India! 

And, please join me at Down Under Yoga for classes and future workshops in the "Across Women's Lives" series coming up in 2018.  
Namaste, 

Rosie

Patañjali and Practice

How challenging it is to stay in the moment!

 -- So many obstacles to seeing clearly what is in front of us.

 -- So many obstacles to just staying here, now, on this page, on this word, now the next...right here, whoa, the street dogs in the field outside sure are raucous tonight ...oops, right here....are you still with me?

You see, our nature is such that we are always thinking, thinking, thinking.  Even when we are not thinking thoughts, our mind is still in "thinking" mode.  Staying with one feeling, one thought, one action, one visual in our brain, really seeing it and understanding it, puts us on the path to understanding our true nature.  The poses, the breathing, the meditation...those are tools to help us train the consciousness not to fluctuate so we can see and understand more clearly.  And it's hard!

Geeta, Prashant and Abhi have been masterfully weaving this philosophy of Patañjali's Yoga Sutras through out their classes.  Each in their own way has focused on the notion of being in the moment.  

Let me share some examples. 

In both the first "swift" class and the second "jumping" class, Geeta Iyengar, emphasized being in the moment even in movement.  Paraphrasing her discourse:  

Every moment you have to watch because when your consciousness will fluctuate is unknown.  The citta doesn’t remain stable.   Every moment has to be noticed when the consciousness is moving.  Every moment has to be observed when the consciousness is silent.   

Making her point about staying in the moment even in movement was woven throughout the asana classes that first week.  Whether we were moving swiftly into or out of a pose, or whether we were preparing to be in a pose, she would catch us with our citta, our consciousness, not in the moment.  One fine example was in Sirsasana (Headstand).  

The pose was called out and while some folks folded their mat, arranged their hands, their forearms, and waited...others dove right in and went up.   Still others went to offer their explanations about why they couldn't do the pose for too long.  And that's when Geeta saw another opportunity to explain: 

"You lose the moments when you go up fast…what movements you need there...watching the movement in the moments you can stop the tricks of the mind and be honest to yourself.  Those who are already thinking of the pain in Sirsasana, and those who are with their ego and are already up in Sirsasana…both have already lost the moment.

Every moment you have to watch, one after the other.  You have to practice in that manner."

My homework for the next personal practice that week was to watch the moments at each part of each pose, but especially Sirsasana, and not rush ahead...exploring the body mind and breath at each moment.   Patañjali (and Geeta) encouraged abhyasa and vairagya,  practice and detachment with an eye toward "heyam duhkham anagatam"..."The pains which are yet to come can be and are to be avoided."  

Prashant Iyengar continues to impress with his storytelling approach to philosophy.  And while one does poses in his class, one isn't being taught the poses in the traditional way of instruction through the asana.  The idea is to do the pose he calls out, but work with whatever idea he is developing in the class, and then come round and sit for more story gems that help illustrate the philosophy.  He often makes himself, and us, laugh with his analogies.

One common theme over the course of my visits here is to distinguish the difference between "doing" yoga and yog.  One class this month was also about recognizing the value of each moment... not to be in a hurry to get to the final pose (doing) but to USE the asana for breath-mind-body connections.   He told of a friend of his, a business owner, who went by train weekly to Mumbai to develop new business.  The friend would ride the train the many hours there, and many hours back, but wasn't able to do much in the way of deals once there.  One trip it occurred to him that he might make some connections ON the train, and by the time he arrived in Mumbai, had created more connections, more business deals than he had ever done Mumbai.  The train trip was the asana, the business deals the connections

Abhijata's classes are infused with her youthful personality and sense of humor.  One day she noted that smrti (memory)  can be both a good and a not-so-good fluctuation of the mind.  Memory allows us to remember how to drive the car, when to arrive for class, how to turn off the gas stove when we are done cooking.  It can also be an obstacle to seeing clearly if we think our memory of something is the only way or that we "know" already, then we are not open to new awareness and learning.

Another class she continued on with this idea, saying, "When you know you are ignorant, then the learning begins."  We were doing back bending poses, and because one can't see the back, understanding and learning have to come through direct perception.  But that too can be illusive...we can think we are working “correctly” but not be integrated in our actions and therefore not experiencing “pramana” (correct knowledge)  but “viparyaya” (wrong knowledge).  She gracefully gave us clues for how to integrate our actions through many poses until we reached the final pose, dropping back from Sirsasana to Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana. 

To read a little on the idea of the moment, see BKS Iyengar's commentary on sutra III.53:  

ksana tatkramayoh smyamat vivekajam jnanam   

"By samyama on the moment and the continuous flow of moments, the yogi gains exalted knowledge, free from the limits of time and space."

Yoga for the Traveler, Part 2

Before I pass along the promised Jet Lag Sequence, let me encourage you to participate in the photo contest from Part 1.  I have only a few photos so far, so perhaps your Thanksgiving travels will give you the opportunity to find a spot on the plane or in the airport and a willing traveling partner or flight attendant to take the photo.  You can send them to me at rosie.richardson726@gmail.com.  

Here's the link to that post:  

Yoga for the Traveler, Part 1

The Jet Lag Sequence

My sources tell me that this sequence was given by BKS Iyengar at RIMYI, July 29, 1988 to help his students traveling from afar on their first few days.  Guruji revised this sequence on October 8, 2005.   On my first night here when I was awake at 1 am, I did the full sequence with the timings.   I felt very refreshed afterward.  I repeated it the next day as well but in the practice hall.

In parentheses, I’ve added the translations and in italics, alternatives for those who might not yet know the pose or need something different for their body.  Obviously, when your travel you may not have more than your mat and a belt with your, so improvise with what’s available to your in your home or hotel.

Virasana (Hero’s pose) 2 minutes

Supta Virasana (Reclined Hero’s Pose) – on bolster – 5 minutes  - Supta Baddha Konasana or Supta Swastikasana

Adho Mukha Virasana (downward facing hero’s pose) – blankets or bolster under abdomen. Rest head, arms, etc. Notice effects…how groins soften, ribcage relaxes.  2 minutes

Padmasana  (Lotus Pose)  – Swastikasana (simple cross legs) 1 minute per side

Supta Padmasana (Reclined Lotus Pose) -  strap around legs, or Ardha Padmasana, strap thigh to shin. 3 min/side.   Supta Swastikasana (reclined crossed legs pose)

Baddha Konasana  (Bound Angle Pose) – take height as needed.  1 minute

Supta Baddha Konasana  (Reclined Bound Angle Pose) – over bolster, support head. 5 min.

Uttanasana (Standing forward bend) – 3 min.  Do with head supported, so if hamstrings tight, place head on a table or chair)

Adho Mukha Svanasana  (Downward Facing Dog)  – Head supported 3 min.  

Sirsasana (Head Stand) – to your capacity up to 5 minutes, then variations  -- alternative: Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide- legged forward bend)  2 minutes with head supported)

Parsva Sirsasana (with a twist)

Baddhakonasana (Bound angle pose)

Upavistha Konasana (legs wide, knees and feet facing forward)

Adho Mukha Virasana – to recover from Sirsasana

Rope 1 – 8 times slowly to open shoulders, release neck.   If ropes aren’t available, do Downward Dog and Upward dog 8 times with hands on the seat of a chair or a countertop.

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana (Two footed inverted staff pose) – on chair, crown of head on bolster, legs parallel to floor, feet on wall, arms rest overhead or hold back chair legs. Place hands on abdomen if nauseated or flushed. 5 min. (do this if it is in your practice, otherwise skip ahead)

Malasana (Garland Pose) – on chair – modify to your capacity and available furniture

·      Straddle/sit on chair, facing back of chair. Press buttocks back press chest to chair back/bar.

·      Sit on chair, facing forward. Support the head. Hold back chair legs. Rest frontal ribcage on seat of chair.

Niralamba Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand without support) – this is a more advanced variation of the pose, so if this isn’t in your practice skip ahead.

Salamba Sarvangasana (supported shoulder stand) – up to 10 minutes, may do other arm positions if in your practice.  Alternative: Viparita Karani  (Legs Up the Wall) for 10 minutes and skip ahead to Seated Forward Bends

Halasana (Plow pose) – 5 min. hands overhead

Salamba Sarvangasana – variations:

Virasana

Setubandha – one leg to touch floor then go back up. Repeat/other leg. Then both legs.

Eka Pada Setu Bandha Sarvangasana – from the previous if in your practice.

Viparita Karani

Seated forward bends with eyes wrapped and head supported (one could use a bandana in a pinch):  Do those in your regular practice  – 1-2 minutes per side 

Janu Sirsasana - Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana - Ardha (Baddha) Padma Paschimottanasana 

Paschimottanasana – 5 min. with legs apart and head supported (go for a soft poseat your capacity.

Savasana – keep eyes wrapped. Back of the chest on one pillow and bolster on the head (like a weight for the forehead).

Happy Travels!