Sunday, December 1, 2013

RoadstoBliss Documentary on Iyengar Yoga Therapy with Lois Steinberg

Thank you RoadstoBliss for donating time to make this documentary on Iyengar Yoga Therapy with Lois Steinberg. Click here to watch the video.

Roadstobliss has a wonderful website with various videos featuring BKS Iyengar, Geeta Iyengar, Dean & Rebecca Lerner, etc. Click here for the website.

Below is the story of my migraines, not that I want to bore anyone with a long reading tale. Actually, it is good for me to write as the process brings me face to face with the situation as a reality; a concrete situation that I live with. I know others out there live with health issues making this an opportunity for others to not feel alone.

Every year, Lois Steinberg organizes a Yoga Therapy Course where teachers learn how to work with people who have various aliments. Many teachers flew from Russia to attend along with local teachers.

 I was a student subject for this 5 day course because of my chronic migraines. Since I was an extreme snowboarder for 20 years, I had multiple concussions. When I was in a car accident in 2005, I was hit from behind, then I hit the car in front of me which created strong whiplash. I went unconscious, this was when the migraines started and never stopped.

I have a bit of brain damage that doctors cannot explain very well or seem to help. I actually have learned about this brain damage through the Iyengar Yoga teachers more than doctors. My vision is effected, I have migraines on a weekly basis, and I have feelings on an emotional level in the form of low patience/anger/irritation. I have been to all sorts of doctors including neurologists, cranial sacral doctors, osteopaths, massage therapists, counselors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. And, had 2 surgeries to try to 'numb' the pain. When I went to neurologists that were ranked the best in the country, they told me they wanted to burn the end of my nerve permanently so that I would not feel pain. I let them do 2 trial runs of this 'numbing' process through surgery as it would only last 2 days. After these procedures, I could not feel the entire right side of my face or the back of my head/neck, it was like going to the dentist and having the lips numb, except it was most of my head and my entire neck. I could not imagine having this numbing feeling for the rest of my life. I would rather feel the pain than not feel at all. I ended up fed up with most doctors. Some of these treatments have been awful experiences and some have been helpful. I struggle with having to take medications to treat pain weekly which make me bed ridden for most of the day due to the effects of the drugs, but they do take away the pain. So......

I found the benefits of Iyengar Yoga Therapy. I was able to get help with my migraines while in India, and the therapy truly works. When I practice therapeutically, I am able to manage my migraines better. While I was at Lois Steinberg's Intensive, I started out on Monday with my right eye twitching non-stop and knots in my right shoulder. On Wednesday, I had developed a bad migraine. I did not take my medicine and practiced with the help of Lois and Vavara (my teacher from Russia), I was able to get rid of my migraine WITHOUT medicine! Out of the 5 years I have had migraines, it has only been a handful of times that I have been able to stop one naturally, giving me HOPE.

Just like dear Betsy talks about in the video, Yoga teaches to see each day as a gift. Through Yoga, I feel inspired to not spiral into a depression because of this illness. I am able to keep going and to not give up trying to better myself and find a way to ease the pain. Instead of hiding from the pain, I am able to lay down and confront it with a relaxed body and mind; ultimately to accept it. This experience has made me more compassionate to others as I can relate to how it feels to live with pain that comes and goes as it pleases. I am truly thankful to have Iyengar Yoga as a tool for emotional, physical, and intellectual support during good and hard times. I am able to see that I have a light inside myself even when I am in bed with pain. And, I can see myself through the pain, it does not completely take over leaving me blind. I am able to hold on to a sense of kindness in the world that others have for me, that I have for others, and that I have for myself.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Inspiration for Practice: Samadhi the Film

I love Iyengar Yoga because learning is endless. The dedication & passion that BKS Iyengar shares with his students is amazing. See Samadhi, an inspirational film:


My eyes popped wide open at minute mark 10:23 until the end as the Invocation to Patanjali is sung and BKS Iyengar leads students through smooth flowing sequences; truly beautiful!

It is fun to try these sequences! At first, I laugh as by body looses balance, I try what seem like impossible sequences. How slow and wobbly I am at the transitions! With practice, my laughter & smile becomes more focused into concentration and the flow becomes smoother.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

A Poem Written On The Day My Beloved Dog Tosh Passed on to Make A New Journey


A few days ago
while in a Yoga pose,
a vision surfaced

My dog was going to make a new journey
He knew I was going to be ok,
so he could pass to another realm
because I am happy again after many years
on a path of healing and yoga

Today, my best friend
my sweet boy
passed away peacefully in my arms.

It is the saddest day
strong waves of tears
withdraws of touch
shock
images: playful and disturbing.

Loneliness, alone.
Opening the front door excited to see him,
then remembering he is gone.

Getting used to my environment without him.
Missing his smell.
How I loved the smell of his paws.

WHERE is HE?
My eyes dart along the sky and trees
because I do not know where he is
and may never know.
I guess that's why people say
they are sorry "you lost them."

Mystery.
Ravi Ravindra's voice echos
"take comfort in the mystery"

Yoga, I have to teach tomorrow.
Today is a mess
How do I pull it together?

Hold onto the "Yoga Life Raft"
Words of Donna Farhi
Viloma I
Svadyaya-study the scriptures
Asana practice tomorrow

Unconditional love
Dedication
Togetherness
These are not lost because my loved one has passed
These are present in Yoga practice.

I know we can't be alone in this world
What is it that makes us not alone?
The Breath & Beat; the Air & Heart Dance.

We are never truly alone
The breath is within us
pulsing in rhythm with the heart,
a moving life force,
a cosmic mystery


















Thursday, September 19, 2013

Resources from Yoga St. Louis

Click here for a list of Iyengar Yoga Resources from Yoga St. Louis including youtube video links, teacher websites, and books.

Be inspired to practice and be inspired by your practice!
Love,
Kelly

Saturday, August 31, 2013

David Yearwood talks about Iyengar Yoga

In the video below, David Yearwood talks about the fundamentals of Iyengar Yoga. David is a highly dedicated Yoga teacher with whom I see at Lois Steinberg's studio once in a while. This video is great for beginners to see as it is helpful for explaining an overview of Iyengar Yoga.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Backless Chairs that are Sturdy

Click here to see the backless chairs that are sturdy! See my previous post with a video on how to make backless chairs.


Monday, August 26, 2013

Backbend with 2 Chairs

The pose in the photo below of Rebecca Lerner doing a backbend with 2 chairs is a favorite pose of mine to help open the upper chest and prepare for Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Posture). The belt on the pelvic area is not required. It is best to learn this pose from a teacher first. The guidance below is to help remind you after you have been taught from a teacher.

*Place 2 chairs on a mat to prevent sliding, back to back (you do not need back-less chairs for this
  pose)

*Place 4 blankets on top of the back rims of the chairs

*Stand in front of the chair seat. Bend the knees slightly and reach from the sides of the hips backwards to touch the blankets behind you. Place the heels on the chair legs, which is very important to keep the chairs stable (notice the photo below).

*Keeping the hands on the tops of the blankets, bend the knees more, bend the elbows out to the sides and carefully lower the upper chest/shoulder blade area onto the chairs.

*Once the chest is on the blankets, lower and straighten the arms to the sides of the hips.

*Exhale, press the toe mounds and heels to lift the buttocks and engage the legs.

*Curl the upper chest backwards to lift and open the sternum.

*Take the head back

* Reach the straight arms over-head, shoulder width apart with palms-up or palms facing each
  other.

*Reach through the fingertips keeping the arms active and lengthening. Straighten the elbows to
  lengthen even more through the arms.

*Breathe and allow the chest to open. The support of the chairs and blankets encourages the chest to open and to expand vertically and horizontally.

*To come out of the pose, lower the arms to the sides of the hips, bend the knees and lower the buttocks onto the chair, sit in a neutral position.

BKS Iyengar states:

"In resting you are responding." 

-Quote from the article called"Interview with BKS Iyengar on Backbends  12/5/91 Questions asked by Victor Oppenheimer and Patricia Walden

-Photo taken by Daryl Fowkes, a funny/talented friend and teacher at Houston Iyengar Studio, Alcove Yoga, and Yoga Heart Studio



Wednesday, August 14, 2013

How to make a Yoga backless chair

Here is a good video that shows how to make a Yoga backless chair. You can spray paint the entire chair in a cool color to make it look nicer! How to Make a Yoga backless chair

Click here to see the type of backless chair that is sturdy