We meet again yoga weekend.....

Friends...weekend 4 was as expected...tough. I'm happy to have survived it. The challenges continued to present themselves.

This yoga weekend was all about sequencing. I was really looking forward to this weekend because of the topic. It's one of the aspects of yoga that I really enjoy most. The art of never knowing what is coming. My guru, Pam Reece, is always so creative with switching things up.

I knew this weekend would be tough not only because of Isaac coming to teach and make us really sore. But because it was also my birthday week.

FRIDAY EVENING

Two of my lovely yoga classmates brought me birthday treats. It was so incredibly kind and thoughtful. I was so touched. I'm really glad to be making some nice friends.

We listened and we practiced. We were broken up into 4 groups with 4 people in each group. Then the assignment came and subsequent freak out. It was quite funny how some became so panicked. I felt like saying chill yoga peeps C H I L L. 

I landed in group 2 and in 3rd spot. 

Our group was assigned various arm balances and we each had to fill 20 mins. 

1. Warm up and build up to Crow - Bakasana

2. Heating and Crow to Tripod Headstand

3. Prep for Side Crow and Flying Crow (DIFFICULT)

4.Cool down to Savasana

I was so wiped Friday evening. I don't recall much other than being fueled with the desire to be a creative sequencer now that I had been given the opportunity. I took a shower and went to bed.

SNOWY SATURDAY 

I woke up with my mind racing at 7AM, I had to sequence! How would I sequence? How should I sequence? I quickly developed my class with build up to side crow and flying crow. Then my fiance read it out loud while I did it and we timed it.

I had to bring my birthday cookies in to share with my yoga friends because I had way too many! 

We got our butts kicked by Isaac and then Group 1 proceeded to kick our butts. 

Group 1 had Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. They were actually very fortunate to go first. The luxury of being vulnerable if you will. The freedom to just take a stab at whatever they liked. This was going to be interesting. They killed us for an hour, received their feedback and praise and then repeated with a shorter session. Then we got to break for lunch. It was a glorious thirty minutes. My ham sandwich was devine. We were starved.

Then my group was on deck.

We ended up closing the evening after our first round and were sent home early. We were elated!

I don't feel like I bombed miserably, but I was unexpectedly cut short because #4 had to leave early for a wedding. So we would get to repeat again on Sunday morning.

My right hamstring began to bother me. NOT GOOD.

SUNDAY

Our bodies were beat. B E A T (just for emphasis).  

Group 2 repeated and I changed up my sequence and still ran over 20 mins. I screwed up on the right and left sides, but quickly realized my error and made the correction. It's so intimidating speaking in front of a room, even when they know you.

The remainder of the day consisted of staring at the clock willing it to keep ticking away.

Just because my body was done.

All 4 groups finished and we sat in a circle and held hands. We closed out the weekend with a nice loud om.

Bonus: No homework

Thank you for reading. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

Much Shanti, 
Rosa

Weekend 3 Has Come and Gone

This weekend we had the pleasure of meeting David Magone. This guy is a MAGICAL human being. If you live in Boston. LUCKY YOU. 

David Magone

It was nice to be reunited with all my fellow classmates once again. We are all really developing a friendship because of our chosen yoga journey. 

Over the weekend we practiced a few different types of meditations. We dug deeper into his PranaVayu System of skeletal alignment. This was required reading prior to his arrival. The entire class seemed to have done their homework because every time he would ask us a question we would blurt out in unison. Our teachers in the back of the room both looked at one another and smiled. That made me happy.

On Friday evening, David led us through one of his class sequences (60 mins. of toughness). Woah man. It didn't take long for the sweat to hit the mat. He gave very clear cues and flow to the class. His assists were smooth without being intrusive or forceful. When it came down to finally arriving at shavasana he has a very unique way of having you bring awareness to certain body parts. He basically took you on trip from your upper lip to your elbow to your right ear and so on. Deep. I absorbed a lot from David, he has some great cues, comments and insights. 

He also had these cool Tibetan Prayer Chimes. 

I need to get a pair so I can be cool too!

He would use them to start and end our meditations, get the attention of the class when it was time to regroup from practicing. They were really neat. I wish I could get a set for all my classmates but sadly I have yet to win the lottery. 

Overall it was another challenging weekend with many highs, lows and neutrals. I learned a lot and I am thankful for this opportunity to learn and apply.

Our homework is interesting as well. We have quite a bit of reading to do in addition to teaching, meeting up with one another and interviewing each other to write a bio about our classmate. David made an interesting point. It's easier to write about someone else than it is for yourself.

In other news, I have been working on my music play lists. I think it is a critical component for class. I also take pride in being a great DJ. So I feel like I have to represent and inject some life with the music I select for my future students. It's my duty!

Well the time has come for me to return to work. Thanks for reading about my adventures. I truly appreciate your support. 

Ahhhh I have so much to do. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Much shanti, 

Rosa

If you have interest in learning more about the alignment system and meditations you can go here:

David Magone's entries on The Huffington Post
PranaVayu

Shamatha Meditation

Kinhin/Walking Meditation

Message from the cat

My yoga is beginning to catch up with me and my ligaments

I took a double header yoga class on Monday. Yoga Flow at 6:30PM followed by Yoga Chill at 7:35PM. 

This did my ankle in. I suspect double pigeon or ankle to knee as the culprit. This is my diagnoses. I feel like after 12 hours of anatomy I know what I'm talking about.

I somehow inverted my right ankle (thus making some ligament(s) very unhappy) and had been dealing with a great deal of pain for the last couple of days. So much so that I broke down and went to the drugstore and got compression sock. I cancelled my classes for Wednesday and Thursday. My classmate was cute and said you're doing the right thing. You must listen to the wisdom of your bones. So that's just what I did. 

I woke up this morning and my ankle feels 100% fine. I have been watching it all day and still feeling good. So I'm going to tread lightly and see if I can go to class tonight. 

In other news, I took my first Core Fusion Barre class last week. That was an experience. I continue to struggle with wanting to go to a class everyday and get my sign offs, but also want to ensure that I am taking care of myself. I don't want to set myself up for sickness. I don't want to be in a weekend of yoga and be sick as a dog. That would be my nightmare. I have this need to be fully present. Although I wouldn't be hard on myself if it happened. 

In other news, I made asana with sanskrit flash cards I plan on studying tonight along with getting my reading done. So much to do!

I'm really enjoying the pressure of having to learn this stuff. I really hope it sinks in. Still scared shitless!

Hope you have a happy Thursday. 

Much shanti to you!

Rosa

Weekend #2 is in the history books!

FULL DISCLOSURE: This weekend kicked my ass. 

So I've decided to create a countdown clock to keep me focused.

168 days to go! 

Friday evening was 3 hrs. of inversions. Followed by having to return to work to get some very important stuff done. Didn't get to bed until 2AM. Saturday and Sunday consisted of 7 hours of back bends and hip & hamstring openers. Along with 7 more hours of anatomy. Anatomy is now complete. Thank goodness we got an extra hour this weekend. We have enough knowledge to start and finish a class. Give or take a few closing postures. I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I am that 9PM finally came on Sunday. My body is soooooo tired. Overall though, I feel like I absorbed a lot. I'm still very intimidated by it all and I'm hoping that it will click eventually. Now onto to homework. I have reading. I have to teach twice a week and I have to study the sanskrit posture names ASAP. Along with a minimum of two yoga classes a week. I'm off to study and do some exhale chill yoga! 

Much Shanti! 
Rosa

Yoga Weekend #2 is approaching!

Since completing the first weekend of Yoga Teacher Training "YTT" I have been diligently practicing my meditation, breathing, attending classes and doing my homework. I'm not quite finished with my reading but will aim to complete that tonight. I would like that to remain fresh in my mind. 

My weight loss has been maintained and strength is returning to every inch of my body. 

It's actually quite impressive how regular practice really transforms the body and mind.  

I came across this article and picture today and thought I would share. 

Shanti!

Rosa

I survived the first weekend!

So Friday, Saturday and Sunday came and went. I couldn't be sorer. This is the reason why I am now typing on Tuesday evening. 

Friday was a nice introduction to the program schedule, syllabus and group. I honestly don't remember much more than that. The 3 hours on Friday went by quickly. 

Saturday was a different story. I woke up early to take advantage of the limited time I had. My man and I went to one of our favorite breakfast spots and spent some quality time together. 

Then 12:30 arrived and I was seated in my favorite corner of the room. For 3.5 hours we were introduced to a meditation practice, sun salutation A and pre sun movements. We practiced it, took notes and then alternated in teaching each other. It was both nerve racking and fun. It was quite remarkable when giving my first cue. Someone actually moved! You have to teach as though you are leading a blind person through a class. After getting through the 3.5 hours we were given a 30 min. lunch break. 

On to anatomy. We started with an overview of what she planned to cover. Axial skeleton here we come! We all took tons of notes and fortunately we weren't quizzed following the first 3.5 hours of anatomy. Saturday was the first full day and I really felt it. 

Sunday I felt like I had to treasure the morning hours once again. But sadly nothing is really open on Sunday morning. Perhaps I will just do laundry on these mornings. 

Sunday consisted of an opening meditation and review of what we learned the day before. We then moved on to sun salutation B and standing poses. We took notes and then hit the mat with our partners to guide them through the new movements. I really couldn't wait until anatomy. 

Break time arrived and I ran home because I missed my man and Munch. I quickly inhaled my lunch and hugged everyone I could and rushed back to class for anatomy. 

In anatomy we finished covering the axial skeleton. We covered the skeletal system, muscles, respiration and the nervous system. Quiz time! We were broken up into groups and each group was assigned a asana or posture. We needed to identify what muscle group was active and in what movement for both the back and neck. Our group did well and quickly identified the answers. We then chit chatted and got to know one another a little better. Then we all had to present our findings in front of the class. After that we were assigned our homework and sent on our way to enjoy our Sunday evening. 

My lovely man had dinner ready and waiting for me upon arrival. 

Overall it was a challenging and fulfilling weekend. It's really going to be an interesting journey. 

Much shanti to you! 

Rosa