Enhance & Advance: Recap
Thanks to all who came out today for the Enhance and Advance workshop. You brought a lot of experience and inquiry to our space and made it very successful.
And for those who could not be there, here is a recap of the workshop.
After a brief welcome and overview, we took some time to introduce ourselves and share what we hoped to gain from the day. Meditation and breathing techniques were high on the list. So we spent the first 45 minute segment talking about and practicing particular techniques. Moreover we investigated practical ways to include contemplative endeavors – meditation and half-meditation – into our daily (and very busy) lives.
We then transitioned into a gentle warm-up of asanas, breath and use of mantra. Just a slow sequence to get us going and bring balance.
Thereafter delved into balances poses and some more challenging standing sequences: From Gail’s request for 2 pointed downward dog to soaring into Warrior III and half moon.
More than that, the poses & our session became a platform for talking and sharing about our practice and what our poses are for. We discussed how it was not about looking a particular way – as every body is different – and how a single person is not meant to do ALL the poses, just those with suit them. And so much more came up: personal queries and philosophical review.
In spontaneous fashion, we entered into small exploration groups to go over particular poses. Michelle (shown here), Frannie & others tackled chaturaunga dandasana, and we discussed how chatur means four, aunga means limb, dand means staff or spine, and asana means posture. Then we practiced how the alignment fits together.
Meanwhile Sharon, Annie and Co. broke down the nuances of pigeon, making it look all too easy, and still others were working on back bends. All in all it was a time for sharing, learning and experimenting.
We summed up day by reviewing how the conception of an idea leads to its verbal expression and ultimately its physical manifestation. With that some shared goals that they had and how they were making and taking steps to achieve them.
All in all a wonderful year-end seminar and I wholeheartedly thank all for coming out!!
I LOVED the workshop today! I loved the gentle, inclusive feel of it, the emphasis on meditation in daily life, the idea of ‘checkpoints’, the sharing of goals…it was a wonderful oasis in a hectic season…
THANK you!
Annie
Hi Satyam,
Just wanted to let you know how helpful the seminar was this afternoon. I felt like you covered a lot of information in a relaxed format so we all could feel comfortable. It was especially helpful to me when you corrected my nemesis, downward dog. I could feel the difference in the correction. Now if I can remember it for classes, that would be great!
Thanks so much for being willing to continue to facilitate these types of learning opportunities.
Coni
Thank you Satyam! I’m sore but happy.
I loved the seminar yesterday and the challenging yoga.
One of the biggest concepts I took away from yesterday is that a yoga and meditation practice does not need to be so involved or time consuming.
I think we become too hard on ourselves by judging our practice against yogis who have chosen to dedicate their entire lives to practice.
We think if we are not sitting in meditation for at least an hour a day or doing a hour or more of intensive yoga, we aren’t doing enough.
I loved the discussion about the small ways to incorporate both into daily life and your encouragement that by doing so there is a big payoff.
And I loved your talk about doing a few poses but making sure to include all of the basics.
It would be nice if you could outline the basics again. I think you said we need a twist, a balance, a rounding, an arching, an inversion and a couple others.
That helps me a lot as sometimes I tend to do the same poses that feel good.
Thanks again for sharing your talents and wisdom. I always find both to be so empowering to my own practice.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Thanks Annie, Coni, Michelle & Susan!! Great hearing your thoughts and reflections…
Susan, yes we did indeed briefly talk about the basics of a home practice and in that light discussed how the theory of opposites applies.
Hence what would be needed is a forward bend followed by a back bend; then a twist to one side and a twist to the other; and then some type inversion that gets the legs or torso elevated, either at the same time or independently.
That would give a basic foundation or essential building block to any home practice.
Feel free to write if you have questions…
Satyam
Hi Satyam,
I too felt encouraged within my nemesis, all of the warrior poses…if I could just remember their names….
I felt very encouraged and have started my day off with a little “sitting with it all”. I’ve been a little more mindful this morning with myself and others. Thanks for guiding us so well and with so much compassion.
Satyam,
Thanks so much for yesterday’s workshop. I came away feeling very inspired and encouraged with the progress I have made this past year in all aspects of my yoga practice. I really liked the format of the workshop. The quick and easy breathing and meditaion techniques to help us maintain calm throughout the day were great. Thanks for taking time for questions and discussion about ideas. I really like hearing about and learning from other peoples experiences. The whole afternoon was such a great reminder how fortunate I feel to be a part of such a wonderful and close knit community.
Thank you for bringing us together and thanks for another great year.
Satyam,
I really enjoyed last Sunday’s yoga workshop. I especially appreciate your modification of Chaturaunga dandasana for me. Following months of struggling with that pose I now feel like I have a modification that will help me adapt the pose. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on modifying that most challenging pose.
Gail