“The pose is a tool, not an issue”
So, let me explain the daily opening ceremony a bit more. This is actually new since I did the training — or, rather, it’s new that Ana does it publicly with the trainees, instead of before the session. I love it, and do not mind at all that it cuts into the previous 30 plus minutes of silent seated meditation. (I don’t do any of those three things especially well. : )
Ana speaks always from her own truth & experience. Her personal commmitment is to Native American spirituality. Each day she opens the “yoga ceremony” by burning sage and calling in the guardians from all four directions. East, South, West then North. Basically, she asks the guardians to keep out (and I quote) “any toxic, malevolent or just plain stupid energy both from outside and inside this room” and then riffs from there. It’s a treat to listen to whatever is on her mind in association with each direction each day. It ranges from healing, to working with pleasure/ecstasy, to dredging up swampy stuff, to connecting with sexuality, to owning our own actions. I just try & soak it all in & wish I could pass it on verbatim. It does show up on its own sometimes when I’m practicing, or teaching, like a sponge that has soaked up water and then is wrung out and some of it is released.
The chants we do are Native American also, morning songs mostly. Occasionally a Buddhist chant on letting go (Gate, Gate, Paragate etc for those who are interested) is included. Today was super because for the last one, a rather rippin’ tune, we were encouraged to get up and dance as our meditation. The singing & dancing ran on for rounds & rounds, maybe 5-10 minutes? I have no clue — totally lost time. My friend from previous TT pulled me up & I SO owe her. Got to let down the hair from its yoga bun and whirl like a dervish!
She’s now including graduates in the “talk yourself through” xyz parts as well & I’m having some fun with this, just as I enjoyed not having to do it. The direct quote on this change was “so I can see what you think you know.” : ) Again, having a voice this time makes it much better than last time when it literally hurt to talk. The encouragement here is always to go over the top with making cueing interesting, motivating, enlivening & fascinating to train folks to really project & fill a room with energy. We did more assists into handstands & forearm balances in the center of the room, then a looooong standing pose series. I’ve done similar ones at home alone & it was much better to be back within the “hoop of the people,” sweaty & supported by their energy. I felt loose, warm inside & out, bonded to my sweaty yoga buddies & safe to open into the poses. I was working with the issue of lifting up out of my low back as my theme.
After class, my friend & I stuck around & practiced more inversion assists, then took a second (easier!) class, with Nancy from Fresh Yoga, as a warm down. After a VERY necessary shower, I’m lunching & plotting exactly how I’m going to do nothing for the rest of the day. Reading? TV? Some combination? Ah, the continuing mysteries…. : )
Tags: Daily Yoga Practice, Forrest Yoga, Teacher Training, The Forrest Yoga Project