Looking for that Uddiyana Bandha stomach scoop- out? Think sow bugs. ššš Hahaha- ew? Maybe.
Hello, Folks. Just riding on the mid- June roller coaster that is 2025. I have no better unsolicited advice than keeping your feet on the ground, your eyes open and focus on the messy middle. So far everything in waking life has been one extreme to another and that is not normal, nor should it ever be the norm.
That said, New Moon is on next Wednesday, 6/25. Iām looking forward to it. I am also hopeful that our Tuesday class time is not too much of anything- too hot, too smoky, too rainy, etc. We can concentrate on the middle, together, and maybe find some peace or contentment. Donāt let me forget to tell a couple of stories, if youāre interested and present- why we do Padmasana right leg first, traditionally, and why lots of Ashtanga practitioners observe the Moon Days. (Hint: it has to do with balancing extremes). ššš.
Hello! I have some things to share, not just the moon phases for each month. I know I havenāt been keeping up on that very well either. Letās just say I have been trying to keep the faith with everything these days. I have been holding my Tuesday classes as usual, getting up to practice and sit early in the morning before work, eat good food, sleep enough and make time for other enjoyable things. I believe my grief about R Sharath Jois is beginning to soften. I am noticing a lot of imposter syndrome around this (so so much that I wonāt get to experience anymore! Ever! And, whatās the next step to take for continuing this lineage/journey?) When will things not feel so sucky and uncertain, everywhere? Iām finally happy to say Iāve got a few ideas to follow up on for the summer, at least.
Annual Birthday practice video screen shot. I may be getting older but so much to keep going with! This is where I stopped with Sharath Ji during the 2024 Mysuru trip. Itās truly a gateway posture. š¦„
Finally:
My Biggest But (as Peewee used to say) of 2025 has been how to foster community, share in a sangha and contribute/practice collectively, going forward. The problem for me has been not being available or ready enough to seek or provide this. Too busy, too tired and confused or angry. What is my circus and who are my monkeys? Do I keep up what I have been doing, or is it time to make changes? Obviously, a lot of change has happened without warning.š Do I resist this, or do I accept?
What I have figured out is that a small change made can have the biggest impact. Baby Steps, people. Donāt quit, just do the baby steps. The links below are provided for some local Ashtanga relative doings that I am excited about. I am not offering these events personally but I sure would like to attend them and I can definitely recommend them as something all yāall might want to join in on!
Check out the Cheryl Oliver classes on the home page for dates and subjects. Iām interested in the Yoga Sutras but all of it sounds great. We donāt get a lot of in person chanting / Yoga philosophy classes or opportunities here though there are some local peeps who are experienced in this.š
And here is where the evolving incarnation of our local Mysore Program is beginning to come together. I donāt have a lot of good info on this just yet but I do know I will be trying out Jamie Bollmanās Thursday evening Primary Series class. Yay! If you check out the schedule, it says 4-5:30 pm. Then again everything is a WIP, so double check. Updates will follow. Hereās Jamieās web infoā¦
From the Sharath Yoga Centre site. Thank you for everything you have shared with us, Sharath Jois.
How was everyoneās full moon on Friday??
This week was supposed to be a time of rest, nourishment and wide open space for the subtle and gross worlds, for me. Instead, it has become a time to grieve, not only for this country, but for one of my accepted teachers. 2025 now holds even more uncertainty to sort and process, and we must do these things together. Nobody is an island, even if weāre not all in the same boat.
As Iāve said many times in the past year, Yoga is not about what youāre doing or getting in class. This is a piece of the bigger picture. Are you practicing the Yamas and Niyamas 24/7? Click to visit an explanation of the 8 Limbs of Yoga by Deborah Adele. Are you being a thoughtful, deliberate and good person? Then youāre getting close.š Atha Yoga Anusasanam- Now, the Yoga begins.
February is coming up fast. The moon days for February this year are Sundays.
FULL MOON: Sunday 2/5/2023
NEW MOON : Sunday 2/19/2023
I am not teaching at the Yoga Center anymore, but this year is the 10 year anniversary of my Yoga Study 500 hours completed there. In 2013 I also began an Ashtanga practice after taking a weeklong Primary Series immersion with David Swenson there. He is returning this spring for a weekend! Check out the workshop offerings at the Yoga Center Https://theyogacenterretreat.com/workshops/retreat site for the weekend of 4/21/2023 to 4/23/2023. I may check out the arm balance/float offering, as I am still figuring a lot of these things out nowadays.
Another thing worth mentioning in the short term is tacos! Yes, tacos. Itās becoming a very new tradition to go get some tacos with John and Hiromi from the Tuesday Ashtanga class afterwards. No pressure! Itās just a nice way to spice up the winter nights after class if youāre so inclined. : ) Do inquire if youāre interested.
A couple of weeks ago I introduced an alternative vinyasa for anyone curious about keeping with their Tristhana when their upper body might be trying too hard to keep up.(shoulder/wrist/etc pains or problems). While itās not a cure-all, once you get the rhythm of it you may find it helpful when attempting to take care of any issues with the upper body for a while. I tried this out during a primary series led class, after a very taxing weekend. I could keep up with the vinyasa count and my shoulders didnāt get sore.ā¤ļø
Hereās the YouTube link that I found and worked with. Enjoy!
MidtownMoonAshtangi 