Saturday Morning Class

In my Saturday 8:30am class we focused on holding poses for 5 minutes. Not many adjustments were made by the teacher so the focus was almost entirely up to you. One begins to fully understand their bodies and selves once holding a pose for 5 minutes.

1. Utanasana
2. Adho Mukha Svanasana
3. Adho Mukha Virasana
   
4. Prasarita Padottanasana
5. Salamba Sirsasana
6. Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana
7. Salamba Sarvangasana
8. Halasana
9. Savasana (w/ pranayama blanket setup)
   

Light on Yoga: Week Five & Six

1. Utthita Trikonasana
2. Utthita Parsvakonasana
3. Virabhadrasana I
4. Virabhadrasana II
5. Parivrtta Trikonasana
6. Parsvottanasana
7. Prasarita Padottanasana I
8. Urdhva Prasarita Padasana
9. Pariporrna Navasana
10. Ardha Navasana
11. Salamba Sarvangasana I
12. Halasana
13. Ujjayi Pranayama in Savasana

I found it very interesting that Mr. Iyengar introduces Urdhva Prasarita Padasana and Navasana. These are asanas that I don't practice on a daily basis and are not regularly incorporated in my weekly classes. I found it especially interesting that he introduces pranayama so quickly. I was told that pranayama should be taught and practiced only when a yogini has a regular and steady asana practice. I'm glad that I have decided to start working my way through these weekly courses in Light on Yoga; it refreshes my memory on asanas and proper techniques. I also understand sequencing more, something that can still be confusing.

Geeta: Week Four

1. Samasthiti
2. Urdhva Baddhanguliyasana
3. Utthita Trikonasana
4. Virabhadrasana II
5. Utthita Parsvakonasana
6. Vimanasana
7. Virabhadrasana I (turning the trunk & bending leg)
8. Utkatasana
9. Parsvottanasana (hands down, head down)
10. Uttanasana
    
11. Ardha Halasana (swinging from floor to rest feet on wall)
12. Eka Pada Sarvangasana
13. Paschimottanasana
14. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
15. Savasana

This week's sequence is very similar to week three. I believe two asanas are added and one eliminated. I like how Geeta introduces Eka Pada Sarvangasana instead of Salamba Sarvangasana; it's easier to get into the latter when adding one leg at a time upward.

I think if I was to teach yoga, I would teach a group of individual asanas separately (like Utthita Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana II and Utthita Parsvakonasana) and then demonstrate in a quicker sequence-like form. I'm starting to practice in this fashion and believe students would appreciate and benefit learning how asanas are grouped together.