07-21-04, 12:55 AM | ||
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alberta
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One thing that really struck me, though, and I think I mentioned it to Loretta and Katie at one point, is that Felicity really emphasizes mastering depth in basic foundational poses "don't worry about that fancy stuff! Get your basics down, and the fancy stuff can wait" or wtte, while John and Anusara teachers in general like to encourage playing. He spoke for a while on WHY it's good to dare to do something you think you can do...Loretta can probably remember the details better than I can, but it was to the effect of learning what your body is capable of, even if you think it's beyond you. And after that, your perception of the basic poses changes and improves. I've been thinking about that on and off, even before the workshop. I can certainly see an argument for being safer and more conservative about your practice, rather than risking injury through misalignment, or simply just not being ready for certain poses. Yet there is something awfully empowering about being led and assisted into a pose that seems un-doable. You really do find the edges of your body in more ways than one. Can you do this without hurting yourself? That's the big question for me. After this weekend, I feel great. But I will allow that the potential is there. As for going all anusara - well, this is the way I felt after Desiree's workshop last summer. I was surprised, going into this workshop, that I'd actually retained quite a bit of her information, and realized how much I had started to integrate into my personal practice. If only there was actually an anusara teacher in my town
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Sophie be as relaxed as you can be, as you do what you gotta do. ~erich schiffman |
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07-21-04, 01:18 AM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
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I uploaded more pictures to shutterfly for viewing the Anusara fun. They are not in time order.
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAMWjFqxaNmzgQ Sophie, while I do agree that the basics are really important, it is fun to play with variations. I do love a yoga workshop where you laugh your head off. I wish there were an Anusara studio in my town too.
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Loretta "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing, would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."- Gandhi |
07-21-04, 01:30 AM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: WA and AZ
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Playing the edge
"I can certainly see an argument for being safer and more conservative about your practice, rather than risking injury through misalignment, or simply just not being ready for certain poses."
Sophie, I was really questioning that myself. Maybe its to do with the kind of risk-taker one is. I've never had a desire to bungee-jump or parachute. Am I intuitively aware of my body's limitations...or am I just a fraidy-cat? With Felicity's workshop, I completely trusted that she wouldn't ask me to do anything unsafe for me, because she had asked what our physical issues were, before the class. In John's, he never asked, so didn't know what my limitations were, so I felt I had to set my own limits. While I was thrilled to do assisted backbends, I didn't want to do it on my own, because I felt I wasn't strong enough yet, nor was I prepared to risk injury which might set me back in my healing process. I really admired how you and Loretta "went for it" and it was fun to watch, but I was quite happy to just watch, for now. John did say he's fallen out of more poses, than anyone in the room, and injured almost every part of his body. |
07-21-04, 05:49 AM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Brooklyn, New York
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Quote:
We do laugh a lot in my anusara classes -- after the 40 min. or so of tortuous standing poses and minding the spirals we just have to cut loose! .
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Sharon (You can get to my sketchblog through my profile page.) __________________________ I'm what I am, and what I am, Is back on Boogie Street. Leonard Cohen/Sharon Robinson "Boogie Street" 10 New Songs. (I have a professional/personal relationship with an instructor who produces video and book material relevant to this site.) |
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07-21-04, 08:06 AM | ||
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Quote:
About basics etc. I hear what Katie's saying about erring on the side of caution and agree that's totally the best way to start. Later would be the time to play with variations. Whenever "later" is will vary, and could be months, years, decades, or even never. There are 3 or 4 Anusara studios in my town and a gazillion (OK, maybe 50 or 60) teachers and it's pathetic that I cannot find a class I want to attend regularly. The problem might be that I compare the ones I try with 1) Desiree's workshop or 2) John Schumacher's Iyengar class or 3) home practice! with Ana Forrest's 5-day CD set, and none of them are in the same league. Or maybe I haven't looked hard enough. |
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07-21-04, 12:07 PM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Yes, I totally agree with Aline. The only reason that I'm willing to "go for it" on the variations now is because I've spent years working up to feeling strong enough to do that. I think you must have a strong base in the basics first, before finding out the hard way that you didn't spend enough time in the basics. Having a good idea of what you body can do really helps when you want to push the limits.
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Loretta "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing, would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."- Gandhi |
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07-21-04, 12:09 PM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Quote:
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Loretta "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing, would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."- Gandhi |
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07-21-04, 12:27 PM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northern Calif
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Quote:
One of the reasons that I enjoy my home practice (and video workouts in general) is that I know I'm a competitive person who has always felt inferior in my physical capabilities so in group situations I tend to push myself harder to match what the others in the room are doing, whether I'm ready for it or not. At home by myself I am more aware of where my body is on a particular day and willing to let it be. That's not to say that occasional classes aren't great for alignment and feedback and fellowship, but in general I think I'm better off with a home practice, at least for now! |
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stacey milner-collins, yoga workshop reporter |
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