Exhaling out.
It’s been quite the week.
It started Tuesday with a lecture on the history of yoga, which I thoroughly enjoyed. On my to-do list is to read the Bhagavad Gita as well as a book by Iyengar. A few insights stayed with me from the reading, one being:
“Self-possessed, resolute, act
without any thought of results,
open to success or failure.
This equanimity is the path.”
I relate to this quote in that it’s how I need to view this yoga-teacher training. I need to detach from the result and instead focus on being present and doing the best I can do.
Saturday
Saturday started with a lecture on vital anatomy in which we tried to pinpoint various landmarks on our bodies. Then came a two-hour Ashtanga workshop with Lisa Cohen, whose energy emanates. It was my first experience practicing Ashtanga, the basis for power flow. Just holding poses like chaturanga dandasana for extended periods of time has me sore still. The class also may have included the longest time I’ve held downward-facing dog.
One insight Lisa shared that stuck: FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.
Another: Being present is a gift you give yourself. That’s why it’s called the present.
I’d love to try an Ashtanga class again soon, especially with Lisa. My favorite part of the class, though it was uncomfortable at first, was having us adjust each other in down dog. It was my first time adjusting someone! I also liked that our mats were set up in two rows facing each other. “Look across the river of love,” Lisa would say.
After the workshop was asana method practice in which I led the class through Surya Namaskar A counting in Sanskrit. I appreciated the practice in finding my voice.
Sunday
Sunday started with a discussion of creative visualization, or manifesting our dreams. I was not expecting it to be the first time I would cry during this training. Talking about what I want to manifest made me feel vulnerable. It was good to let it out along with my doubts about whether I have made the right decisions.
Next was the chakras and meditation workshop. It was my first experience learning about the chakras and their corresponding chants. I felt noticeably relaxed afterward, and I want to try the meditation more in my daily life. A lot of emotions continued to surface throughout the workshop. The vibrations of the chants carried away the nervousness about the next session of the day, which was asana method practice. I think the more I practice the cues and leading people into the poses with simple instructions, the more confident I will become. The week ended with a 30-minute flow that incorporated all the standing asanas we’ve learned so far, which is a lot!
And just like that: two weeks are down and 10 more to go.
