Monday June 15, 2009

Lots of Yoga today, and my body aches!

First I spent a half hour with the kids up at the House of Meditation--I used a lot of the activities and games I have learned from my ChildLight Yoga training.

Started with the Candle and Glass experiment; light the candle, then cover it with a glass.  The analogy is that our lungs are like the candle, and we need oxygen to breath--without it, our "candle" goes out.  They were so enthralled with the experiment we did it twice.

I introduced Namaste, then we sang the Namaste song twice.

Then I demonstrated the Rock (mouse), the Cat, the Down Dog (dog) and the rattle snake (cobra).  We went thru all the poses together, then I told the story of how each animal, beginning with the mouse, met the next animal, and all the craziness that ensued.

They loved it.  Finally, the sun came out, warmed up the rattle snake, and he fell fast asleep (in Crocodile).

Then we sat up and did Bee's Breath, then came into Savasana, with Breathing Buddies (Beanie Babies) on their tummies.  

Came up to sit.  Namaste!  Rolled up mats and put them away.

I think they really enjoyed it!  I know I did!

*         *           *            *

At 5pm, I had an hour of Easy Yoga in the Goodyear Gallery with friends--there were 5 of us this time.  I essentially did last week's warm up in Tadasana, for about 10 or 15 minutes (Forward & Side to side Balancing, Upward Salutes, Yoga Mudra,Head Tilts, Self Hugs with Bent Knees, lots of Namaste, then Namaste over the Solar Plexus, stretching the wrists and fingers, Chest Openers, Rag Doll, etc), then decided to do 10 minutes of meditation and mudras.  I asked everyone to consider dedicating their Meditation, and perhaps even  the rest of the practice, you someone they know who is suffering, to consider sending them loving compassion and healing energy (Metta).

At the end of Meditation, we consciously came back to the 3 Part Yoga Breath.  We did a Seated Forward Bend and Roll up and a Seated Spinal Twist.

We came down on our backs on our mats, and really stretched out, essentially as we had in Tadasana.

We did Half Moon, Knees to Chest, Leg Lifts, Ankle Rotations, slight Supine Twist, Supine Bound Angle with the arms in a Salute, then playfully did Happy Bug and Happy Baby.  We all laughed.

Had a really nice Savasana, also with Breathing Buddies (yup, adults love em too!)

For some reason this practice seemed to resonate with everyone.  It seemed to be what we all needed.

I played music for the entire hour, and really found that it helped my pacing, and I think it helped people slow down through the asanas.

Finally came to Namaste!