Sunday

So, on Sundays I just teach one class, Align and Flow. I so named this class this years ago because of my studies in alignment with Anusara Yoga and my long sordid past with Ashtanga Yoga. I like to flow through vinyasas but need to do so with alignment and breath because of tearing myself to shreds years ago practicing Ashtanga with no teacher and therefore no alignment knowledge. Also alignment means to me aligning with your inner being, which to me means strong breath and tapping into the energy of whats going on, I do believe that alignment in the physical body can help in this alignment with the inner body idea, or at least it has in my case, but I really believe that that inner alignment is tantamount to a practice and if you can tap into it it will keep you in good outer alignment, but I needed the outer alignment first to recognize the inner alignment. Ok, enough of that word, alignment lol. Funny thing is that now that I'm practicing Ashtanga again, from a new place how this class has turned into more of an Ashtanga type class, even though some of them don't know that, I do, and some of them too because many of them have been taking my classes since I was teaching only Ashtanga. Its just funny to me how it permeates my whole being. Its awakened so much in my physical body and energetic body that I can't even explain yet, but part of that is coming out in my writing on here more and in my inspiration for classes and workshops, and I've been drawing again, somewhat, not much, and writing in my journal more and more. This morning I practiced second series. I had a hard time, but made it through with deep breaths and focus on that inner feeling, I even tapped into my uddiyana bandha more deeply today than I have before. I've connected to moola bandha very well since I studied Kino's 3rd series dvd, which on the 2nd disc she has an amazing instruction on the bandhas, and since studying with her in Chicago where we did a whole 3 hour class on it. But uddiyana came this morning when I was in pincha mayurasana putting my legs into lotus/padmasana and about to lower down to karandavasana. I just sucked my lower belly in a bit more with very strong focus on the area and pulled my ujjayi breath in more deeply and just lowered down very softly and easily into the position. Now mind you I didn't make it all the way back up before jumping back for my vinyasa, but damn, the lightness with which I lowered down and maintained myself for the 5 breaths was amazing, so now I know I will get that lift up at some point, and maybe soon. So, again, it goes back to focus. Find the thing that feeds you, that inspires you and put your focus into it, your energy will align with it and you will achieve amazing things!