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December 30, 2005
More pics
Here are some more pics from Prussia cove...
Gang of four.
This is where we practised then ate in the evening.
Some fancy foot work..
Prussia cove at sunset.
John and S. practising smileasana.
Posted by graeme at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2005
You found me......
Looks like you found me.....
Gx
Posted by graeme at 3:48 PM | Comments (0)
Prussia Cove Pics
Mr Scott about to take morning class..
Outside the studio with some of the other students..
Reach for the moon.... hey that would be me...
The house that John and Lucy built...
Posted by graeme at 2:53 PM | Comments (2)
December 22, 2005
No more berries...
At the winter solstice yoga class last night She gave everyone mistletoe. Apparently it's bright red berries and green leaves symbolise the continuation of life even during the coldest and shortest of days.
She took a long time picking the bunch She had apart to find me a piece, like She was searching for something. I know it's all in my head, its always been all in my head.
The class was very calming, very slow, well thought out and very apt for the solstice. Nothing too strenuous but enough of an effort required so you could feel the blood in your veins, the heart in your chest, the breath in your throat... enough to know you were alive. That's an awful lot to be thankful for right there.
She didn't do many adjustments the class. It's been a while since She's touched me and when She did last night I could feel it spiral all the way down. Not on the physical level, though I could certainly feel the warmth of Her hand on my back, but more like how a spiritual "hello, remember me?", kind of a thing might feel like.
It's funny how the smallest things have the biggest impact. I used to wonder what it would feel like just to hold Her hand.
Kissing Under Mistletoe - The roots of this habit are unknown, but is likely tied with the fertility aspects of mistletoe and that it was viewed as a bringer of peace by the Druids. Mistletoe was also a powerful healing herb. Mistletoe and kissing are also seen in one of the Norse myths: Frigga is the Norse Goddess of love, marriage and fertility. Her son, Balder was slain by Loki with an arrow made from mistletoe. When Balder was restored to life, Frigga blessed the mistletoe and gave a kiss to anyone who passed under it. Some later versions of this tradition say to remove one berry with each kiss. When there are no more berries on the sprig of mistletoe, no more kisses. (From this site)
Posted by graeme at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
Xmas blues
I guess everybody's got that thing that they look for that signifies that Xmas is here (well, I do!). This morning on the radio I finally heard Joana Louis' "Stop the Cavalry" (altogether now: bad badda bum bum badda badda bum). Takes me back to xmas disco's at the school, mistletoe, kissing loads and loads of girls till your jaw hurt, snow ball fights that would go on for days, ice cold noses and soft necks to warm them on (girls seemed to be much more forgiving at that age).
So my flatmate's off to France to see her parents for Xmas so there's no Xmas tree in the flat :<. The New flatmate's going off to New York to visit her cousin so she doesn't have one up either :< Bah Humbug, people ! So looks like I might be indulging in a bit of last minute tree bargain hunting followed by a quick decoration session. I always thought this was a nice thing for a couple to do Xmas eve, decorate a tree and all. Anyways, looks like I might be heading towards a Ceileidh or atleast as far as the West End bars to mingle with those full of Xmas cheer, and a fair portion of alcohol.
Me? I'd rather be tucked up in bed with my cold nose tucked up against a warm neck. Anyone got one going spare?
Posted by graeme at 8:40 AM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2005
Things not to do in an Iyengar class ...
- slump in hero posture (and get adjusted before the class even begins.... i kid you not :>)
- plank a la ashtanga (relax your neck, head down, lift out of your wrists)
- bend your knees (open up the backs of your knees!)
- down dog with your feet flat (I can see wrinkles in your ankles... no wrinkles!!!)
- who's that doing Darth Vader breathing???? (nuff said)
- breath heavily on your 15th sun salutation (just 5 more)
- breath heavily during the 8th increment into a posture (just another couple)
- tell the teacher you do ashtanga - oh what a shame... is your back bothering you ? (it was ;>)
- look at the clock to see how long the torture is to last
- smile
- enjoy the class, the attention to alignment, the extra chance to stay in each posture for longer than the standard 2 breaths (it takes you 3 to get into the posture in ashtanga in the first place), and the variety of postures on offer.
All the same I'm gonna miss these classes as much as the Ashtanga over the Xmas break...... well, it is all yoga to me anyway.
(Joey - yes, I know, I know).
Posted by graeme at 10:53 AM | Comments (1)
December 19, 2005
Morning Papers...
First day back at the J.O.B. following my 2 week 'Summer' vacation. hahaha....
Got to say that I didn't realise how much I was missing the other blogs that I read in the morning. Sometimes I see them as a way of getting myself in to work in the morning as a treat to find out what's going on across the globe. I can't say I'm a great newspaper reader, never really got into the tabloids or the broad sheets much, not that I care who Posh Spice is fighting with these days.... I can live without knowing that thnak you very much.
Here's what I've been following recently. If you're looking yourself for a blog entry to while a way the Xmas hours with, you'll not go far wrong with any of these....
Road to Mysore
Facing Inward
Tartan Yogi
DonutZenMom
Yogini's Quest
But I Was Alive
Mind Bending
There's a severe drought on with yoga classes this week which I thinks actually a good thing for me as I've turned into a Yoga Junkie the last couple of weeks. Eeeek. Still. Looking forward to the Winter Solstice yoga that She's running on Wednesday. Can't think of a nicer way to finish the year.
Posted by graeme at 2:24 PM | Comments (2)
December 17, 2005
John Scott - Prussia Cove
So I've finally managed to upload my notes from John's workshop (see below) though I've just discovered I've gone and thrown out the USB cable that connects my Kodak camera to the PC to upload pictures so it might take me a while to get that sorted out :<
I can't tell you enough how fantastic a time everyone had with John, his adorable wife Lucy and their wonderful kids. Put that together with the fact that their cook Cathy was making Vegetarian food for us from scratch twice a day (I put on 1/2 stone!); there was 6 of us where normally there are 2 lots of 20 students; the lovely Denise was there to help us sort out our questions in the evening; and Prussia cove itself sits right on the English Channel and has wonderful views out over the bay; it all added up to a fantastic one-off experience. Our wee group could all practice together, sit round one table together, and relax in one room together. Everyone bonded really well.
It was really something for John and Lucy to invite people basically into their family's life for the week, and they really embraced us all with open arms - we've got Henna tattoo's to prove it - even John! Here's a wee snippet of the sort of things that went on...
Lucy came into the living room the first evening and asked if anyone had any diatary requirements. She was asking after each of us to make sure we'd all settled ok, so much so that I blurted out that she reminded me of my mum! I think she took a we bit offense to this and said to John that I'd just called her "mummsy". One of the girls started to laugh. "John is soooo going to break your back tomorrow for saying that", she said. Lucy got her own back in the adjustments for Utthitta Hasta, in a playful sort of a way, though I must stress. She's a wonderful, wonderful person and a devoted mother and wife.
John has a real nice sense of humour. One day he stuck his head into the living room and asked if I knew Om mani padme hum, and could I sing it! So I did a wee rendition then John said thanks and left. I thought 'what the heck was that all about?' Turns out in that very lesson he'd planned to add in some chanting and had heard the track for Om man padme hum from the Deva Premal CD I had brought down. OMG I nearly thought he wanted me to chant for everyone, but luckily we all joined in after he started.
I must confess I made the mistake of associating John with his book and DVD. To me he was the asana guy. To spend time in his class hearing him talk about nature, yoga history, philosophy, to see how he is with his family at close quarters, I just never expected such a spiritual experience from this retreat. He's such a wonderfully engaging and sharing person, if you ever have the chance to go see him at a workshop or class go, go, go. The adjustments you get from these guys are really top notch. Lucy had to go off for 2 days in the middle of the week and I really missed her advice and hands on. Getting double adjusted in mari C (one after the other no less), supta kurmasana and urdhva dhanurasana was just amazing.
Just watch out for the Bandha police :>
I've put my notes in the order of the practice which means if you're reading this you need to page back a few blog entries. Here's the first entry here..
Posted by graeme at 12:13 PM | Comments (2)
John Scott - Kurmasana + Supta Kurmasana
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Kurmasana
- Mari A + B are single arm versions of this so work on those to improve this
- lead with elbows when moving arms further under shoulders
- rotate shoulder so arms more under knees
- engage feet (me)
Supta Kurmasana
- feet first (assisted)
- then arms
- allow back to bend (people have different flat spots)
- raise feet on adjuster ankles - they press on hips as an opener
And that's as far as I was going.
Posted by graeme at 12:08 PM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Bhujapidasana + Titthibhasana
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Bhujapidasana + Titthibhasana
- jump feet as far forward as possible
- shoulders as far under knees
- relax (engage) and squeeze legs into shoulders
- locate hands as wide as mat (me?) to allow feet room to cross underneath torso
- elbows at 90 degrees (sit back into palms)
- feet lifted by lowering hips (lever over arms)
- to cross: bandha engage and bud (raises torso, legs and feet) as ankles come closer together
- forward fold chin to mat by bending at elbows
- squeeze legs into shoulders, head up for titthibhasana
Practice, Practice, Practice ... all is coming
Posted by graeme at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Navasana
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Navasana (alternate)
- good prep for jump backs/throughs
- legs up (straight)
- hands interlocked and above head
- hold for 5 breaths
- when arms come down to normal navasana position (palms in) pelvis/torso should not change position (slump)
- resetting:
- knees and ankles together
- straighten legs
- open legs, feet wide apart
- cross feet at ankles
- straighten legs (feet apart)
- bring knees/ankles together (repeat until tired)
- dont let heart sink below water line!!
Posted by graeme at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Marichyasanas
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Mari A
- lead forward fold with shoulder then elbow (like a wing) rather than hand
- foot closer in to inner thigh (me?)
- keep arm relaxed as swinging around back to bind as relaxed arm is longer than engaged arm
Mari B
- hip opener:
- lift foot leg straight
- bend at knee, knee under shoulder as much as possible
- same arm as leg try and hook into elbow crutch
- straighten back, raise into torso
- toe to nose
- toe to chest (if you get you toe to chest THEN you're ready for padmasana - OMG !!)
Mari C
- never touch hand behind (lose foundation)
- bud down over leg
- bound arm pushes against inside of knee to straighten
- dont sit back on sitting bone (me) yet
Mari D
- ready position: both arms clasped around knee, leg in padmasana - signals ready to be adjusted
- bent leg to move forward out of way
- need good ankle flexion as foot should really press in to hip (ouch)
Posted by graeme at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Seated
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Paschimattonasana
- Correct sequence - A 1st 2 fingers on big toe, B hands over toes, C thumbs on top of foot, grip behind, D grab wrists (I'd been doing A, C, B, D - go figure!)
- raise knees from floor to straighten back (for those of us blessed with tight hamstrings)
- 1st contact with feet raise out of front torso to keep front/back length even
- lower head to knee (top of head)
- move head so nose on knee
- move head so chin on knee (helps straighten back)
Purvottanasana
- bend in knees (slight) to help ground feet (foundation!)
Ardha Badda Padma Paschimattanasana
- work on forward fold rather than bind (it will come)
- work bent leg grounding to floor (self assist)
- ankle flexibility key
Janu A-C
- A: leg at 90-95 degrees
- B: hips square
Posted by graeme at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Standing continued
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana A-D
- work on hip alignment, pull raised leg back into hip
- use a ledge (adjuster shoulder)
- keep orientation above bottom foot midline
- lift out of chest and heart
- for B when on ledge simply rotate bottom foot by 90 degrees
Ardha Baddha Paschimottanasana
- leg lifts leg
- position foot on soft part of hip then rotate straight leg so toes skywards
Utkatasana
- Up:long, long outbreath from Utkatasana, forward fold + press hands in to ground as bud down
- lift up into quasi hand stand (assisted)
Vira A
- front foot further out than you think (me?)
- sink into back foot/leg as much as possible
- dont turn back foot out as much to keep hip rotation (me?)
- raise up heart + chest
- lift up through swords of arms (elbows in - bad man, bad man :>)
Vira B
- elevator not escalator
Posted by graeme at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Standing
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Padangustasana / Padahastasana
- counter poses for Sun A+B (wrists)
Trikonasana
- raise hand at same time as lowering other to floor as this aides the twist
Utthita Parshvakonasana (alternate)
- swing free arm down and then into air
- stretch out through finger tips (push into adjusters hand!!)
- then rotate palm/shoulder so facing along center/line of torso (above head)
- lower hand to 30 degrees
Pravritta Parshvakonasana
- bud down but relax abs = engaging muscles
- lead with elbow
- turn front tow in, heel out to allow for greater movement of bent knee across midline when budding
- work on torso rotation rather than lifting hand above head
Padottanasana C (alternate)
- palms outwards
- extend arms then bend at elbows, hands to back
- move hands further up spine towards shoulders
- extend hands
- turn palms in
- repeat with palms inwards, then turn palms outwards ands repeat
Posted by graeme at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Sun Salutes
This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Lead from the Heart
- like insect warming its body from the sun
- 2 to 3 salutes to warm up, say hello to all the cells, organs of the body
- 4 and 5 to set the tone/pace for the rest of the practice
Breath, Bandha, Driste
- face the East as this aligns energy lines of body with spin of the Earth
- can nourish all body parts by breathing
- bend at knees on forward fold, enough to align torso on legs/thighs THEN hands to floor (negotiation)
- bud down then stretch out to lengthen front of torso and really lengthen hamstrings (for me)
- lift hips, tilt pelvis + sitting bones to ceiling. push through heels
- allow hands to swing like wings, finger tips as if filled by air
- shoulders relaxed
- feel water run into legs at down dog
- feel the sun on your back
Practice
- Autocratic, democratic and lassiez-faire
- Seek out balance in everything. Too much excess, even in the good things, leads to disease
- disease = diss - ease (ie not at ease)
Sun B
- work on centre line, dont turn back foot out so much
- step front foot just inside hand, big toe behind palm
- raise hands together above center line. work on back leg to keep hip rotation forward
Posted by graeme at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)
John Scott - Principles
To try and keep this stuff short I'll write it in note form, take from it what you can. This stuff is my understanding of what John said and as such not necessarily what he meant.
Principles
- Connect with the Earth
- Knees are the negotiators (bend to lower center of gravity)
- good relationships (on/off mat) reliant on negotiation + compromise
Tibetan Heart Yoga
- Perfect 10 (count to 10 during meditation. If your mind wanders revert back to 1)
- Om mani padmi hum
- 5 levels : Physical layer, breath, wind channels, thought and world seeds
- lead from the heart which has 3 dimensions (front, back, sides). Breathe the back of heart.
- Diamond in the Rose
The above stuff John mostly read from the book "Tibetan book of Heart Yoga" which you can find here
Posted by graeme at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2005
One year on
Todays' a bit of an anniversary for me. One year ago today I set foot in Mysore for the first time. I remember that the train got in early and I found myself waiting at the station for Her to come meet me, bemused and feeling somewhat out of place. As soon as She came round the corner I somehow managed to pick Her out of the many riskshaws that drove into the station. And though I couldn't see Her face I somehow knew from the flash of colour on Her top that it was Her.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Everything just seemed so different back then. I was so naive about things. About being in in India, about Mysore, about life really, and most definitely about myself. If I'd known half the things that were about to happen to me in the year that followed I probably would've gotten back on the train and gone home. Still, a year on I've got an awful lot to be thankful for. Good health, great friends, food on the plate and a roof over my head, and a yoga practice that helps me face the somewhat insignificant things I dramatise as my life each and every day.
The last year has pulled back a lot of layers of the onion but I'm happy to be on this side with the memories that I have. If the next year's as eventful as the last then things are going to turn out just grand.
In many ways the next year starts on Thursday when the bosses are in town for annual review time. I'll be finding out if the sabatical I've requested is a go or no-go and how long they're prepared to let me take off - I've asked for a year. I haven't really given it much thought, just tried to keep as optomistic as possible. Let's see what the Universe can provide...
Tomorrow I'm going to go back through my notes from John Scott's workshop and see if I can gleam the nuggets of wisdom into a form that I can put down here. I'll transfer over the pics too and post them up.
Posted by graeme at 6:18 PM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2005
Home
Just in from the workshop week.... am totally shattered. It's amazing how much you can put your body through and still drive 10 hours to get home.
A funny thing happened. when I got back here I was so happy to be home that I spent 20 minutes driving around to see the old places again. It was nice as I came into the Square to think that I call this place home now.
Sometimes you have to leave home just to know how good it feels when you get back...
More updates on the John Scott workshop when I get back to speed here...
Posted by graeme at 9:56 PM | Comments (0)
December 2, 2005
The 7
Today was the 3rd day of my holiday and the 3rd day the office has phoned in a panic over the Customer's project. I had to give away my login password (something I particularly hate doing) else face another day back in the office (I went in yesterday). Today, however, was enough. If they phone next week all they'll get is the answer phone.
This evening was the second of the mysore practice group sessions that I'm now running. It was quite a shock to see so many people there.. ok there was only 4 but considering I've practiced with just the flatmate at this time for so many months, any more than 2 bodies in the room makes the place look like George Square. I'm feel a bit torn between wanting to run these sessions and actually taking part, but Its the right place at the right time. I did treat myself last night and took part in the led primary series class. It's been about 7 weeks since I last practiced with them and teacher I think decided to thank me by giving me more than my fair share of adjustmets. It was great, just great. I'd forgotten how hot you can get in the group classes and it was a nice reminder of the feelings and sensations that course through the body differently than when I'm practicing on my own. It felt like coming home in out of the snow and feeling myself slowly defrost in front of a nice roaring coal fire.
So the group practice was really special too seeing as how it was the first real practice together. It seemed to run very quickly and it was a fantastic opportunity to try the same adjustments on the guys taking part. Mostly people's practice go at different rates and the further in to practice they go the more spaced out between postures they become. This gives me more time to get round people which is handy for postures like Utthitta Hasta which can take a bit longer to get through. Still. I have to learn where each persons strengths and weaknesses are and try and help out best when they get to the parts they're dealing with most. There's a real mix of people in the group. The Guitarist has a great strong practice, and knows a lot about asanas and variations and is always willing to share advice and tips; the Cyclist has the patience of a saint and doesn't mind the fact that he gets pummelled more than anyone - I feel for the guy probably because that was me this time 2 years ago; the Strong man blasts through his practice usually because he's on the way to the pub - he inadvertently name dropped once he'd met Derek Ireland and had had Dave Swenson round to his flat; and the Rock climber could probably teach us all a thing or two shes so flexible - if her climbing's anything like her asana she'll be up the Eiger soon!! The Ceileidh dancer has a cold, and the Flatmate's fiance arrived in to town tonight.
She even texted me last night to say She'd love to come practice with the group if She could shake the cold. So that would make 7.
Something extra-ordinary happened Wednesday I forgot to mention (and can't yet here). Looks like the hard work is beginning to get noticed 8>
Posted by graeme at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)