Archive for the ‘Back Bay Yoga’ Category
Nicole Clark led the second workshop this past Sunday at Back Bay Yoga, focused on the power of touch. Nicole is a powerful Forrest teacher as well as touch therapist, trained in craniosacral therapy among other modalities. She is also a gorgeous Brooklyn girl. This manifests in stick straight black hair, dark lipstick & a fabulous Attitude with [...]
Okay, got the duct tape out for the computer one more time (figuratively speaking… or not… & have the chance to type up today’s sequence. I like poses that get people warmed up for Astavakrasana & also enjoyed mostly leaving out chatarangas. It was a small class with injuries that didn’t [...]
Well, it’s pretty funny. I was waiting til after an afternoon assisting workshop to write, then completely forgot! And after commenting on writing everyday so recently too. I blame the excitement of going out for a fabulous dinner right after the workshop, then sitting down to watch the Travel Channel & zonking out on [...]
Truth in sourcing — this comes from February 2010 Allure magazine, page 90. (Yeah, sue me. I don’t always read the Bhagavad Gita when on the T. Though it has happened on occasion. :)
But the magazine does cite a study that supports what I’ve often felt, and it is always nice to be scientifically proved right. 
“Exercising in class or with friends produces more pleasure than working out alone. In a study at the University of Oxford in England, 12 rowers had higher increases in endorphins (as indicated by their ability to tolerate pain) when they trained in groups of six than when they trained by themselves, despite equivalent workouts and effort. Endorphins are believed to play a role in social bonding, notes Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary anthropology at the university. These natural painkillers can help you exercise longer and harder and boost your immunity…”
Okay, not endorsing the whole “exercise” and “pain” association with yoga, BUT! Frequently class is a huge upper, and doing asanas with others produces more pleasure & we’re also able to access more/different experiences than when alone. It’s just plain interesting to apply the endorphin/social bonding aspect to group practice — pleasure in practice & community enhancing chemicals, all for free in the body!!
Practice yesterday was teaching a super fun inversion class (more on that later this week; I’ll post the sequence) and taking Vanessa’s Hip Hop, all at Back Bay. Today there’s volunteering, sweaty class & maybe more Back Bay! Go endorphins!!
That’s the sound of my behind hitting the couch for practically the first time in a week. 
It’s also the sound of me feeling grounded. Ahhhhh.
I’ll update on today, then in a separate posting recap Day 4 of the FYCET.
Today, my friend, Beloved Husband and I all STILL woke up before 4 am! There was lounging around, then friend & I went to a 6:30 am Baptiste class. (BH sensibly stayed home. Following that, we went to Nicole Clark’s Hop, Pop & Rock class at Back Bay Yoga. That class was fan-f’ing-tastic! Her way of holding a space that is both supportive & playful is amazing. She also “had me at hello” by giving me the most luscious attention all class. I was feeling a bit whomped (as opposed to “Whump! and she gave me like a cumulative 30 minutes of TLC including breathwork, back massage & the sacral therapy part of cranio-sacral therapy. It was beyond words, but the best I can provide are that it was like turning from rock to liquid, or from transforming from a cranky, creaky armadillo into a purry sleepy, floppy kitten still in the nursing stage. If you are in Boston or can run, hop or fly here, get to one of Nicole’s classes!
The other big event of the day was a site visit to my volunteer project. It looks like I will have the good fortune to initiate a program between Back Bay Yoga and a Boston subsidized housing community. The community is in a large converted former school that houses 50 residents between the ages of 18 and 80, many previously homeless and/or with mental health challenges or addictions. Each resident lives in a kind of shared semi-private apartment with large common rooms available to all. It’s an amazing place. After some weeks of phone calls & emails, today I visited the facility, met with the coordinator & was able to talk to several of the residents. It was a skin-tingling delight. Next week I’ll do a small presentation & mini-class & see how this rolls!
It was nice teaching on the solstice. I was thinking about it on the way into the studio & came up with the theme on the T ride.
I find it intriguing & comforting that the shortest day of the year marks the turning point towards spring. The darkest of times heralds a new beginning, even if it’s not obvious for some time. Long before the frost melts & the flowers come out, change has occurred. So we set the intention of finding renewal, even (especially!) in the midst of darkness.
Class plan was focused physically on neck, hips, shoulders. Kinda went like this:
Pranayama, cross-legged: Inhale, hold; exhale to uddiyana, hold
Unlocking the hips in Baddha Konasana
Rollbacks with block between thighs
Figure four hip/back release with leg extension
Twisting abs with a roll
Bridge with a block, figure four
Dolphin with one leg up
Classical Suns, 3 together, 2 alone
At wall: Dolphin, Chair with block, Forearm balance, Twisting Chair alternated with standing forward bend
Center: Twisting chair alternated with standing forward bends
B series into:
1) WII; Reverse warrior with neck release; Extended side angle variation with half bind
2) Triangle; Half Moon; Standing Splits
3) WI; Ostrich; Head to ankle prep; Head to ankle
Down dog to seated
Half Lotus Spinal Twist (strap modification)
Closing pose choice: Shoulderstand; Headstand; Pigeon
Savasana
Did Peter’s class after my own. Up WAAAY early tomorrow to practice before our flight. Cross fingers!!!
First, thank you for the yin DVD guidance! Looks like Sarah Powers is a winner!
Today was a very mellow yoga marathon at Back Bay tonight. Did Kathy’s 4-5:30 Vinyasa, Lynne’s 5:40-7:10 Forrest, then Lynne led a 2 hour Slow Flow to live sitar music. Have to say, at least tonight, it was easier to take Lynne’s Forrest class than to assist it! It was a great night & I’m glad I ignored the “excuse voices.” They show up all the time; I just choose not to listen most of the time.
Tomorrow, back for the am sessions! Packing in classes before we go off for the holidays. Yeah, still not telling where. It’s too good a thing to string a long for awhile…
My friend at Schmetterling Times is looking for yin guidance. I am quite unqualified to help.
(EDIT: Specifically, she’s looking for advice on good DVDs. She can afford one & Amazon has many… Thank you!!)
Have watched Paul Grilley’s instructional/anatomy DVD & done his Yin practice but unless I’m coming off a long hot session, yin is freaky torture for me. Literally, physically, pretty agonizing. And not in a fun, happy Forrest way. Have started really enjoying the mellower gentle flow classes, & Lynne does some Yin each Saturday morning, but especially with tweaky back, tetchy knees, & improbably difficulties with all Hero-related poses unless well warmed up… okay, I’ll stop beating the horse. Anyone else able to help out?
http://schmetterlingyoga.blogspot.com/2009/12/yin-yum.html
In practice news, had two LOVELY classes at Back Bay today. Took Nicoline’s Vinyasa which was a Hanumanasana (splits) class & really set up well to open up hamstrings & hip flexors. Nicoline has inspired me enough to Netflix another Shiva Rea DVD to take on Christmas break (more on that soon — you’ll never guess where we’re going!! Then did Kate Greer’s noon class which was a pretty varied flow including headstand, tripod, splits again & even some uddiyana in horse. Kate also does some chanting — we did a Ganesha round together at the beginning & she closed singing it again alone. Plus, she wore cute little Princess Leia buns & a headscarf and 4 (count ‘em, FOUR) of BBY’s teachers (including yours truly) were in the class. Super fun day!
This morning’s class at Back Bay was quite mellow (for me . I figure during the weeks going into the holidays, people’s lives are rough enough & there’s no need for buttkicking in yoga. Focused on neck, hips, shoulders — it’s a classic Forrest physical focus, as is picking a specific spot to work on during class.
The non-Forrestisms include the rolling bridge (Pilates based move there), abs with a block between the feet (that’s also a Pilates move, specifically a variation on Double Straight Leg), hips circling in cat/cow/Down Dog, stepping back from a twisting chair into a twisting lunge, oh and the externally rotated lounge lunge especially with the back knee coming in.
Folding over a roll in child’s pose & a forward bend, using a block for the elbow to knee variation as well as the use of the strap for birdwing are my own devices, but I think are quite within the Forrest paradigm. Pigeon with the back knee in while forward folding is quite Forrest & fab, btw.
Theme: Pick an area that is tense or shutdown & needs to release & open
Technique: Relaxed neck, use of roll, uddiyana
Props: Strap, block, roll, blanket
Crosslegged — set theme; Pranayama – Nadhi Shodhana
Kneepile: Shoulder shrugs; birdwing with a strap; side bend with neck release
Abs: Elbow to knee, feet down first then with knees over hips. For the second variation, hold block with thighs & do Elbow to knee variation with opposite leg straightening to ceiling (in order to start opening hamstring & easier on back)
Rolling bridge
Abs 2: Hold block at ankles, leg straight to ceiling (ish). Lower legs a few inches (low back presses on mat) then lift SLOWLY to a count of 5 or so
Held bridge, with block support as needed. Add leg extension each side.
Cat/Cow/ribcage & hip circles
Child’s pose over a roll
Down Dog with leg up: ankle, then hip circles
Rag doll over a roll
Classical Suns — slowly, blanket down to protect knees. Go from boat, to low cobra, to cobra. 3 together, 2 on own.
Horse stance with uddiyana/Wide leg forward bend, hands clasped/Horse stance with agni sara/Wide leg forward bend with neck traction
Chair to twisting chair to forward bend, each side
Twisting chair; step back to twisting lunge; knee down, low lunge; externally rotate front foot, bend back knee into buttock, slight twist & back bend, each side
Vinyasa into:
- Warrior II; Reverse warrior with neck release; Extended Side Angle
- Warrior I; chest opener; Ostrich; full bind; Easy bird of paradise (or standing pigeon if not binding)
- Pigeon; pigeon with back foot in
Shoulderstand, variations welcome or Viparita karani
Plough (optional)
Karnapidasana (optional)
Support fish using roll at back of shoulderblades & block under head
Savasana
After class, took Peter’s noon hour-long Journey to the Core & just did some light stretching. Have to say, getting warmed up this morning was tough after a day off!
I’ve decided I’ve internalized too much criticism about being a hyperactive, atomic squirrel. Like it’s a bad thing. Love the squirrel! Embrace the squirrel! Give it acorns & a nice tree to live in!
K, this is what brought on the current bout of epiphanic crazy. Beloved Husband connected me with a friend of his who also has uber-bouncy, perky tendencies & we all went out to see the sparkly vampire movie. Much high pitched squealing, giggling, hugging, mocking, laughing-our-asses-off ensued. (BH fortified himself with a shot of Jaeger for all this. It was priceless.
Then BH pointed something out on the way home, as I raved about how much fun I had. He observed that I felt so good cuz someone (two someones) had validated the squirrel. The squirrel got to come out & play & talk too fast & act like a twelve year old & it was FABULOUS. The squirrel was not told by look or word to settle down, stop metaphorically laughing in church, be quiet, behave, or otherwise rein in.
It’s been a little like walking on eggshells (or nutshells) recently around myself… yes, I need to breath & speak in pitches & speeds that normal human ears can comprehend. And to mellow out when I start buzzing around & stressing out. It’s good to go deep, to work seriously & with commitment on learning the craft of teaching , & to heal issues & pain. And “relax” is not a four letter word. (It’s five. Yes, I can count.
And yes, I do use humor as a defensive reflex. And to keep my distance from people, emotions, events.
But not most of the time.
I also use humor because it’s effing FUNNY! And it feels good to laugh; it can be as good a stress release as chanting Om for an hour, and, as Lynne pointed out in class today, it is also good for the abs. And I bounce around because it feels so fantastic to be light.
There was an amazing two hour class at Back Bay this morning — Lynne took us through some cranio-sacral stuff purely through breath, followed by SLOOOOWWWW abs, variations on handstand & forearm balance using a strap, headstands, then an awesome thigh-opening flow — but, bottomline, my yoga today was Laughter.
Long live all that is nutty.