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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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