Tartan Yogi

I had a really patchy nights sleep last night what with nerves and everything, and it got worse when I got to the yoga centre this morning and realised I didn't recognise anyone! Most of the people are not from Edinburgh and I had though maybe some of the Edinburgh faces I know would be there.

So I felt a bit unnerved, but David Swenson is such a lovely chap once we started it was fine. We had to introduce ourselves and then talk the whole class (almost 60 people) through suraya namaskara A once each. Man, that was nerve wracking, but I did it. Hell, I even did it in the right order too!

I think one of the worse parts of something like this is having to be around so many people all day. It really does exhaust me, although everyone is very friendly and I think once tomorrow gets underway my nerves on that score will disappear. I even found someone to ask about the 6 month teacher training course so I can ask them all about it to see if I really am up to it.

We mainly worked on sun salutations in the morning, we did lots, which I quite enjoyed and in the afternoon (after a covert trip to Starbucks, bad lady) we started working on the standing postures by looking at the adjustments for the first few poses. We then had to partner up and practice the adjustments on each other. It really is interesting how different people's adjusting can be and I think as a beginner I am maybe being overly cautious, but I would rather do that than injure someone. Obviously you work up to more forceful adjustments where appropriate with practice, so the next few days will be ideal for that. It will be interesting when we get to some of the more challenging postures!

Anyway, must go to bed, am cream crackered. More tomorrow!

Whew, my poor muscles and aching head! What a day, we started off this morning going through most of the standing postures and adjustments for each both practicing and teaching and then I went for a swim at lunchtime. In the afternoon we looked at the final standing postures and started to look at the 'mechanics of flight'! By the time it got to 5 I was really craving some time sitting down ;)

I am so enjoying the course; It is a lot of information to take it but I am really starting to get the hang of talking through postures with people. Once you start to do it, it is a bit like all of the teachers that have ever taught you start to come out in your own instructions. And I keep remembering adjustments I have had done on myself and explaining them to other people. It really is an amazing learning experience.

Not only is it a learning experience in yoga terms, but in just talking to people terms, and in a teaching sense. I suppose people have to find their own personal style when teaching and this is an amazing way to do it.

Bizarre bit of the day was this afternoon when we had been given lots of verbal information and everyone was flagging a bit so we were all made to do a yoga march and sing a marching chant about bhandas. I love David Swenson!

Tomorrow will be interesting as we are going to look at the finishing postures and the dreaded headstand. Although it will be good for me to force myself to really look at the reasons why I hate it so much. The techniques I am learning have been a bit mind blowing so far, so maybe a revelation here will help.

Right, off to watch What Not To Wear (very yogic - although Mr Swenson says that shopping is OK so long as you engage your bhandas so I guess the same applies for watching dreadful TV!) and bed!

I was so tired last night I couldn't bring myself to even switch on the computer! I have more energy tonight though so hoorah!

In answer to a comment I got the other day, we did work on jumpbacks. We started off by sitting cross legged just trying to get the lift, even if the feet remained on the floor. We then learned the 'turbo assist', where the assister grabs hold of the partners thighs while in the same sittin cross leged postition (high up near the ass-ana) and then when the person tries to lift through the arms, you help by lifting them and then giving them the momentum to get the legs back. It worked very well and even tiny little people were giving the assist to some of the larger students.

It is quite hard to explain, but Mr Swenson made the point that jumpbacks and also jump throughs are just something that sometimes people never get. He gave us a few variations where you put your hands in front of you and step back and another where you put your hands to the side. He made great pains to let us know that this is something that won't stop you advancing in your practice and that he knew people doing every series that couldn't jump through or back. Which is reassuring. Apparently in Mysore they just think of it as an embellishment.

There have been some interesting revelations about the practice, such as uttita hasta padangustasana C, which I have never been taught to do and in UHP A I have never been taught to bend down to the leg, which is the correct way to do it. It is good to have some of these things clarified for my mysore practices, but it is a bit confusing. Mr Swenson says (I am turning into a parrot!) that Pattabhi Jois has changed the sequence occassionaly (although he says 'no change, students forgetting!'). Another example was in navasana which apparently you used to do a handstand in between each one, thanks god that has changed...

Today we got up to navasana with all the adjustments and tomorrow we have to talk someone through to there along with the finishing postures. This morning we did that but only up to dandasana. And believe it or not I did a full headstand. With someone spotting me, but it was a bit of a revelation. I should have been practicing headstands like this all along. Basically the adjuster helps you come up with straight legs and then holds their arms round your legs standing behind your back so that even if you are a bit wobbly you can lean on them in whichever direction you wobble. It really helped me to understand I need to put my weight into the elbows, rather than just the shoulders. I am definitely getting my teacher to help me with that next week.

On the last two days we are going to go through the whole primary series in pairs. One to adjust, the other to practice. Once with Mr Swenson talking through the postures so we can just adjust (which will be great, it is such a lot to remember with counting the breaths, the Sanscrit names and the adjustments) and once talking through the whole practice.

The way the course is set out is great, we have been working in pairs in the morning going through all of the adjustments we have learned and having postures added and explained in the afternoon. It means you do most of the physical stuff in the morning.

I can't believe tomorrow is Friday, it is all going by so quickly. I think this course has been a bit life changing actually. And I think it has made me decide I do want to do the 6 month teacher training next year. It is amazing the confidence I have got doing this course. Mind you I may still change my mind about the 6 month course next week, but for now I really am up for it.

As my samosas cook I am writing this! We got the rest of the poses in the primary series today this afternoon after practicing and then teaching up to bujipidasana and the finishing poses this morning. I have partnered up with a nice girl for the next two days as we have to go through the entire primary series tomorrow. I am practicing first, thankfully, then teaching. The next day will be the other way round. I am looking forward to Sunday morning as one of the practices is with Mr Swenson talking through the series while the teachers concentrate on adjustments. It is so difficult to try to remember the Sanskrit names, the counting and the adjustment in 5 breaths!

We did a great adjustment for setu bhandasana this afternoon, where you straddle the student facing their head and supporting their sacrum while they come up into the pose, making sure you don't push forwards because of the risk of neck injuries. It works really well even with people who have never done the poses before. It is interesting as lots of people leave this posture out, but with this adjustment pretty much anyone should be able to do it.

Something I have realised is that often people learn the incomplete primary series. For example leaving out uttita hasta padangustasana C (spelling still not my strong point!) or Mari D (though I wouldn't complain if they did leave this one out). Mr Swenson said today this is how the practice becomes diminished, by teachers who don't like or teach certain poses, so that when we are leading a talk through of the primary series we should always include the full series. Interestingly he says you should never miss out a pose, even if you can't do it. Rather you modify as much as you can and then move on.

Someone asked when you should move onto second series today and the answer was once you are able to move through all of primary series in a continuous flow. I suppose this is different to what I have read where you only move on if you can do all of the postures in the full variations. I suppose the point is that you probably only get one or two poses of second if you can't do the full versions in the full primary series rather than getting the full second series. And also I guess it works differently in Mysore than in the west.

All this information is swirling around in my head at the moment, I feel I am sleeping, eating and (ujai) breathing the primary series. It is fantastic! someone today asked how long I had been practicing as I knew the sequence fairly well. It is interesting that although I consider myself very much a beginner, that maybe other people sometimes don't. Mind you they haven't seen me fail to do a headstand!

Mr Swenson said that if you are an ashtanga teacher you will do primary series for 99% of the time you are teaching. And you know what I think that would be great. Really getting to know the poses and being able to help other people find this amazing practice. I like the idea of being a facilitator helping people in the practice and I am more comfortable with that name than 'teacher'.

Oooh, the samosas are cooked. Tomorrow I think some of the yoga possee are off to dinner with Mr Swenson (I feel funny calling him David as he is like a school teacher to me! Or sometimes a drill sergeant, a nice one though ;) which will be good. I hope we go somewhere Indian.

Right, must stop typing and replenish with samosas. Yoga is great, if you do it all day you can eat loads!

Yesterday was interesting. In the morning I practiced first while Mr Swenson tallked through the enitre primary series while my partner adjusted on every pose. It is going to be so weird to go back to my usual mysore classes and not be adjusted for each pose! I think that is why I am aching a bit as I have been pushed right to my physical limit, it is a great feeling in a perverse sort of way. In the second practice (10 minutes after the first!)I talked my partner through the whole series and I didn't forget any of the poses, thankfully. Although I think I may have made up some new asana names by accident though, whatever-comes-next-asana-now-looks-a-bit-like-this please.....The funny thing about talking through the entire series is that you get sick of the sound of yourself counting. It is amazing how quickly an hour and a half can go when you are concentrating hard though.

Then yesterday afternoon we had a conference where we got to ask questions. So we heard all about Mr Swenson's yoga story, which was amazing. About him practicing with his brother and the police being called on them once when practicing in Texas in a park as someone thought they were worshipping satan! And then being taught by David Williams and meeting Phattabi Jois. We then heard all about him meeting his wife. It was so interesting we ran over by half an hour. He really is a nice man and an inspirational teacher.

However, this morning when it was my turn to adjust while Mr Swenson tallked through the whole series, I kept taking too long to explain to my partner the poses she wasn't very familiar with. Mari D went a bit wrong, but these things happen when you only have 5 counts to talk it though! When it was my turn to practice It really was difficult as I think my body suddenly realised how hard I had been working it and it felt like a bag of cement. I managed to get through though and even managed a headstand, with a little help from Mr Swenson!

After we had finished our last savasana Mr Swenson thanked us all for participating and said he hoped we managed to put all we had learnt into practice so I have roped the husband in to being my guinea pig. He also said we should practice safely and it is something I am really conscious of now even more so as there were a few injuries during the week, fortunately none of my own or caused by me. It is so easy in such a physical practice to be a bit gung ho about adjustments, but until you really know someone you have to be really cautious about adjustments.

It was a bit like the end of school actually. It has been the most intense week of my life in a way. And although I have learnt so much it seems to have gone by in a flash. I can't quite believe I have to go to work tomorrow. I feel strangely emotional actually. I really have found something I want to do for the rest of my life. All I have to do is make it happen.

It is also going to be weird not to be able to turn round and talk to someone about yoga, someone who really understands how challenging it can be. People really did bond on our course and it is going to be weird to talk to 'normal' people again ;)

Anyway, I just watched 'It's A Wonderful Life' and put up the Christmas tree so maybe that is why I am over emotional too! That film gets me every time.

I had a comment about moving to second series in the traditional method (where you get second series poses added on to primary one by one once you are adept at primary) versus the way David Swenson advocates moving on to second once you are able to flow through the whole practice without necessarily being able to do the full poses.

I personally practice in the traditional way, i.e. only practicing the poses I have been given (i.e. the entire primary series, where I have been stuck for an age ;) plus dropbacks) and I do think that unless you do have the full primary series you shouldn't start second, but I guess this is one of these things that differ between teachers. When I do my more Iyengar style practice on rest/moon days I will do poses from the second series, but as it isn't very traditional (in an ashtanga way) to practice Iyengar style too I probably shouldn't mention it as I will prove I am a big yoga criminal. Anyway, I just wanted to say a bit about it as it is an interesting issue.

I am itching to practice today, but things may conspire against me. I hate being rushed and always end up running round like a headless chicken at this time of the year. I wish I could do yoga training courses all the time rather than having to work I really do!

I was up at 6 this morning, sadly not to practice but for a meeting with someone in Melbourne. It was my work lunch yesterday so was quite impressed as I had a glass of wine and stuck to soda water for the rest of the day while everyone else got progressively more drunk. I really have lost the will to drink, maybe I will give up alltogether.

I had a very short practice last night, just the sun sals, standing and finishing poses, but as I didn't get home till 10pm at least I practiced. Am looking forward to tonight's full practice at home before I delve into Christmas present wrapping and card writing.

I really can't wait to be off for the Christmas holidays. My daily plan will be to practice early and then relax for the rest of the day and catch up on my reading. And open some presents too. I am hoping for some new yoga clothes as mine are beginning to give up the ghost and showing your underpants off in a class is so not a good look.

By the way, Vanessa, thanks for your comment about second series. I didn't mean to sound annoyed! You really do lose things with text only! It is probably just my ego being upset because I may never get to do second series ;)

As Noddy Holder once so wisely said. Shame we will have to listen to that song until the end of eternity though, mind you I quite like it and as Noddy is on of the husband's idols I won't get away with not hearing it.

I had a great primary series practice last night, some fantastic adjustments. Weirdly my hips seem to have opened hugely in the last week (which is odd because I only managed three practices last week!) so that when I did the resistance adjustment in baddha konasana (when the teacher pushes down on your legs and you have to push up for five counts) my knees went straight to the floor. And then in upavista konasana I got my chest to the floor. I bet it will mean I am as stiff as a board in today's practice.

I think I am also starting to get why I can't bind my hands in supta konasana. It is because I don't get my arms under my legs far enough. I managed to almost touch my hands doing this properly so maybe in my home practice I will cheat and use a strap to see if I can get the bind. Ooooh, I am such a yoga crim!

I can't wait to finish work for Christmas on Thursday. The yoga centre shuts down then too, but I think it will be my last class tonight as I have to do the office festivities thing tomorrow and am off for a massage on Thursday. I will have to practice at home which will be nice. The husband is away at the moment, visiting his mother for a few days before we go to my folks for Christmas. It has been quite tranquil at home. Mainly because it means I can listen to my weird yoga CDs withough being looked at with a hard stare! Although one of the 'Tibetan Sounds' CDs has running water all the way through it and just makes me want to go to the loo!

I went straight home after work last night, shunning the yoga centre because I decided I really should pack for the holidays as am leaving tomorrow for Mum and Dad's. Managed to pack my entire wardrobe into about three enormous bags. Then decided I really didn't need every item of clothing I own so repacked into 2 bags. Then I kept finding things that I needed to take like yoga mats, videos and books filling up the third bag again! So will end up taking far more than I need as per usual. I try to be efficient and organised, but it just goes against my true personality I suppose!

I then did a home practice, but kept being distracted by the cats who kept running all over my mat, and then the washing up kept looking at me and then I kept wondering whether I needed to take skirt A or skirt B on my holiday - my mind was not focused at all. So I only managed up to navasana, but I guess a little is better than none. I am going to try really hard to practice daily while I am at the folks, which should be fairly easy. I usually practice in this great room they have with a view over the sea and it really is conducive to practice. I am also going to try and teach some yoga to my sister and her husband so I can practice my adjustments on them. That will be interesting! My sister is not into yoga at all, so I will see if I can convert her ;)

I am going to take some extra yoga mats with me for our New Year holiday on Skye too. We are going with a bunch of people and a couple want me to teach them some yoga. It will be good to get some practice in at verbally going through the sun sals and the standing sequence to keep all the David Swenson info in my head.

Right, must struggle to the end of the working day, the time is really dragging. I want to be on holiday now *pouts*.

I am sitting at work desperately trying to pass the time until 4.45 so I can leave for my massage appointment. I just went onto Princes Street to get my final present and almost got killed by lots of malicious shoppers who had obviously had enough of this Christmas lark and decided to take it out on people passing by. Maybe someone should set up a yoga class in every shopping centre around the country to calm people down!

After my massage tongiht I have to get home and then pack up the car and drive to my parents with the husband and two cats in tow. I hope the little blighters don't squeal all the way as they are want to do. I also hope I am not too spaced out after my massage to drive, although I am quite stressed with the end of the year and everything so it will probably make me just normal rather than firing on all cylinders as I am at the moment.

I do have a tendence to get myself overexcited at this time of year (most undignified for a 28 year old!) and I couldn't get to sleep last night. I did my practice and then faffed about the flat till 1am. I do so love Christmas though and it will properly start when we get to Mum and Dad's.

Mum has said I can practice some adjustments on her, which will be interesting. She practices Iyengar yoga once a week and is pretty flexible for a 50 something. It will be good to get some experience of teaching older people especially since most of the people on the teacher training course were in their late 20s/early 30s.

Well, I suppose I should do some work, rather than whiling away the rest of the afternoon, or I could just sit and surf.....

Anyway, merry Christmas to one and all just in case I don't get a chance to blog again for a while ;)