A Sequence for Seasonal Allergies

Thanks to Laurie Blakeney and Ann Arbor School of Yoga for this week's sequence! It's timely because several students were requesting just such a sequence at this time of year. Give it a try and tell us what you experience.

An Audio Sequence from Abhijata

Abhijata Sridhar is BKS Iyengar's granddaughter, who has become an international representative of Iyengar Yoga worldwide, especially since Guruji and Geetaji's passing. We love and appreciate the skillfullness, openmindedness, creativity, insight, and rigor she brings to her classes. In our time of worldwide sheltering at home, she has provided an audio recording and a PDF of a class taught February 12, 2020 that we urge you to try. It emphasizes forward folding while stabilizing the hips.

Abhijata comments, "Without mental stability there cannot be any physical stability. Energy is fuel for the physical body. Where your mind will go, the energy will go, so bring the awareness all over. Sthira sukham asana and dvandva anabhigata – the body AND the mind." 

The Patanjali yoga sutra references here are II.46 and II.48:

II.46 sthira-sukham âsanam
sthira = steady, stable sukham = happiness âsanam = posture
The postures of meditation should embody steadiness and ease.

II.48 tato dvandvânabhighâta
tata = therefore, from these, from that
dvandva = play of opposites, dualities
anabhighâta = insulation, being beyond disturbance
Then, one is no longer disturbed by the play of opposites. 

We urge you to look them up for further study and exploration. There are numerous resouces online, including this.

If you need reminders of the individual poses in this sequence, explore the 1-minute video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

May your practice time be an oasis in the uncertainty and struggle of this moment. May it bring you inner strength, peace, and health.

Wringing It Out

We have entered week 4 of our closure. How are you holding up? Here is a sequence to banish the feeling of staleness that can come from a physical confinement. Until we can throw our windows open and move about freely, we can create inner refreshment, and rid ourselves of toxins we may be accumulating in our bodies and minds.

This sequence, recorded by Milwaukee's Riverwest Yogashala Iyengar Yoga practitioner, Sara Arends Haggith, was taught almost a year ago at the IYNAUS Convention, by Abhijata Sridhar, BKS Iyengar's granddaughter, who co-runs the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India, with her uncle, Prashant Iyengar.

It features a variety of twists done in many unconventional ways. At the convention, Abhi commented that there were many photos left out of LIGHT ON YOGA, including many of these twist variations. Try them all out, break out of known and habitual patterns, and have fun. Let us know what you observe from this sequence, and how you feel. Drink lots of water afterwards to help flush yourself out. Enjoy! 
Gwi-Seok for IYDC

Here is a short video of my favorite Marichyasana III variation from this sequence:

Home Practice Inspiration

We are making the most of our closure by meeting online daily. Our Sunday morning Led Practice is a time for seasoned practitioners to gather together to hang out and do a sequence together, collaboratively. A different person brings a sequence each week. Last Sunday, Erin brought a sequence based on one learned in Pune, December 2017, with Gulnaz Dashti, focusing on deep groin forward folds and arm balances. Here it is for you to try out!

much love from home, Gwi-Seok

Adho Mukha Śvānāsana

Uttānāsana- legs hip-width

Adho Mukha Śvānāsana

Uttānāsana - legs together

Tāḍāsana - arms in Urdhva Hastāsana and Urdhva Baddanguliyasana

Utkaṭāsana - short holds 3-5 times

Utkaṭāsana - at wall, heels a few inches from wall, work on lengthening thighs forward, pressing ankles back, heels down.

Tāḍāsana w/ arms in UH to Utkaṭāsana to Mālāsana (hands to floor behind) - come up in reverse, repeat as many times as you like!

Daṇḍāsana to Mālāsana to Utkaṭāsana to Tāḍāsana w/ arms in UH - repeat as many times as you like!

Paścimottānāsana

Lolasana - change cross of legs and repeat several times on each side

Mālāsana to Bakāsana

Adho Mukha Śvānāsana

Śīrṣāsana II or if still learning Śīrṣāsana I work here

Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana on blocks

Halāsana

Salamba Sarvāṅgāsana cycle

Viparītakaraṇī with support

Śavāsana