Geeta Sequence: Week Two

1. Samasthiti
2. Urdhva Hastasana
3. Urdhva Baddhanguliyasana
4. Namaskarasana
5. Urdhva Namaskarasana from Urdhva Hastasana
6. Utthita Hasta Padasana
7. Parsva Hasta Padasana
8. Utthita Trikonasana
9. Virabhadrasana II
10. Utthita Parsvakonasana
11. Parsvottanasana (Standing with concave back hands on waist)
12. Parsvottanasana (Hands down, head down)
13. Prasarita Padottanasana (Concave back)
14. Dandasana
15. Urdhva Hasta Dandasana
16. Padangustha Dandasana
17. Ardha Halasana (swinging from floor to rest feet on wall)
18. Paschimottanasana
19. Savasana

In the second week, Geeta is introducing Virabhadrasana II (which acts as a preparatory), Uthitta Parsvakonasana, and Ardha Halasana. I still do not understand why Ardha Halasana would be introduced to a beginner in the first week; I find that pose extremely intense. I did observe the beginner class attempting that pose and it was successful. I guess I would just be intimated to teach that pose in my own class for the second week.

I noticed, while using props after classic asana was practiced, that my legs sway forward in the standing asanas instead of staying parallel to the wall. This revelation was gained from the amount of time we spend in class on Prasarita Padottanasana. My teacher said that when we are more flexible, as I am, we tend to shift the legs back in Prasarita Padottanasana. Through this discovery, I concentrated my attention on the aligning of the legs in my standing poses. And since standing is the most prominent component to these beginning weeks of the sequences, I had an opportunity to explore the swaying of my legs.

Life Is as Life Is.

"Life is as life is and is as it ought to be. If it were not as it ought to be, it would be other than it is. But it's not. Therefore, life is as it ought to be. It will change when it ought to change. This may sound circular to you, and from the Western logical tradition, it is indeed circular. But the truth is not limited to Western logical tradition. It is as it is. the question is, "Why is it as it is?" Because it is a drama to teach us."

- Goswami Kriyananda "Beginner's Guide to Meditation"

Light on Yoga: Week One & Two

1. Tadasana
2. Vrksasana
3. Utthita Trikonasana
4. Utthita Parsvakonasana
5. Vibradrasana I
6. Vibradrasana II
7. Parsvottanasana
8. Salamba Sarvangasana
9. Halasana
   
10. Savasana

This first week sequence is vastly different from Geeta's first week. Mr. Iyengar is introducing you to the core standing asanas and an inversion which vital to every practice. Geeta, on the other hand, wants to familiarize yourself with the basic arm/hand techniques that will be used almost throughout the other asanas. I think Geeta's sequence would be great for a complete beginner to Iyengar yoga and Iyengar's sequence is great for a more experienced practitioner. I'm curious as to how each of their sequences will unfold. I noticed that with each of their sequences, the amount of poses and the length of time increase generously over time. Therefore, I have incorporated props and variations of the asanas after attempting them the classic way.

Geeta Sequence: Week One

Throughout my ten year yoga practice, it was only within the last year that I decided to enroll in an Advanced Yoga Studies and Teacher Training course. Finally, my first teacher decided to open a school. This decision was wonderful for someone like me who feels like they can only enroll in a program by a Certified Iyengar Teacher. During my time in the program, there was a plethora of information that I tried to write on this blog and I still feel discontent with the amount of that I have written. I have realized, especially since practicing yoga, that if you want to fully immerse yourself within a subject, you need practice...ALL THE TIME! I was practicing postures 90 minutes a day during the workweek and then stopped altogther after getting laid off of work. Currently, I find myself struggling to practice so frequently. Maybe it's also because I started exploring the yogic texts, pranayama, and meditation. I know for certain that I need to establish a daily focus within the practice. A few weeks ago I began organizing Geeta's weekly yoga sequences from her "Preliminary Course Book" and realized that I have never followed the sequences in "Light on Yoga." Perhaps, I can practice these sequences and write about them. The only issue I have is whether or not to practice both at the same time or just focus on one guide. Yesterday, I decided to start Geeta's sequence structure again.

Geeta's Week One

1. Samasthiti
2. Urdhva Hastasana
3. Urdhva Baddhanguliyasana
4. Namaskarasana
5. Urdhva Namaskarasana from Urdhva Hastasana
6. Utthita Hasta Padasana
7. Parsva Hasta Padasana
8. Utthita Trikonasana
9. Parsvottanasana (Standing with concave back hands on waist)
10. Prasarita Padottanasana (Concave back)
11. Dandasana
12. Urdhva Hasta Dandasana
13. Padangustha Dandasana
14. Paschimottanasana
15. Savasana

Almost Certified

Even though I've continued logging my yoga sequences in this blog, I realized I feel astray detailing my thoughts and acquired knowledge. It's been awhile since doing the latter. I'm sure the main reason is because I completed the Advanced Yoga Studies 150 hour program at the Bhavana Institute for Yoga and Ayurveda. The program was well-rounded, informative and filled with a delightful group of teachers who offered encouragement and support. I knew yoga encompassed more than the asana and pranayama practice, but never could understand anything outside of those two subjects like: the yoga sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and yogic philosophy. Even though I walked away with new knowledge and insight, I still feel there's more to explore in the wonderful world of yoga! And now I'm currently finishing the 50 hours in order to be a certified yoga teacher. Within those 50 hours, I am apprenticing a beginner class, studying for an anatomy class, attending workshops and then I have to actually teach a class for a total of ten hours. I have yet to teach my own class. I don't understand how anyone does since this is a huge challenge for me. I lacked, and may still, in confidence within myself and ability which will get me nowhere but at a standstill in life. I need to work towards being more confident in myself (not cocky) and my yoga. I may not be the best, but I dedicate so much time, practice, and energy into yoga. I'm still unsure of sequences or the proper terminology when teaching, I guess that is another practice I'll over take.

Standing (Twist) Inversion Sequence

Adho Mukha Svanasana
- with hands on blocks against wall
- with heels on blocks against wall

Utthita Trikonasana
- heel against wall

Utthita Parsvakonasana
- blocks under groin
- blocks under thigh

Parsvottanasana
- hands on block, concave back

Prasarita Trikonasana
- 2 blocks

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Salamba Sirsasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Salamba Sarvangasana
- with Eka Pada variations

Halasana
- with chair

Paschimottasana

Savasana
- height under knees

Restorative Sequence

Supta Baddha Konasana
Supta Virasana
Adho Mukha Virasana on a bolster
Adho Mukha Svanasana with head supported
Uttanasana with blocks
Sirsasana
Chair Viparita Dandasana
Chair Sarvangasana
Chair Halasana
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana with support
Viparita Karani
Savasana