Anusara-opening to servitude

 Anusara Invocation said at the beginning of practice. 

Last night I practiced the art of grace and servitude. I opened my heart shining and bright toward a cause that is greater than myself. Something bigger. More complete. All-knowing. 

It was my first Anusara inspired class. Anusara yoga was started in 1997 by a man named John Friend. It is a form of Hatha yoga that is practiced based on a set of alignment principles used in everything we do. 

When I asked my teacher Meaghan to describe what Anusara was all about she gave the following answer; 

Anusara yoga is based on several principles of  alignment that we use everyday  in our lives without really realizing it. It’s about using those principles to open our hearts and shine brightly from the inside out. It’s based on  a tantric  tradition,  that everything is good, all things are conscious and that we are continually present. 

 From my great and detailed research I’m still learning more about this style. To the left is the man himself: John Friend. He previously was a financial analyst. Can you picture that? He was also a renowned Iyengar yoga teacher.

Anusara uses more of the hindu religious and devotional connections than other forms of Westernized yoga. 

In fact, upon entering the Heart Flow yoga class at my regular studio I was handed an invocation card that is directly related to Anusara. We opened our practice with this invocation. It was very healing and invigorating when surrounded with the sound of this invocation.

Following the invocation there were asana that specifically related to grace and servitude. With the recent passing of our official leader of the opposition to the government, Meaghan read from some recent remarks he had made about giving his life to serve the people of this country. We opened ourselves up to service and maintained strength and softness through poses.

We worked on several poses. We also learned two of the principles of alignment. They are openness to grace and muscular energy. We also did some preparation for a shoulder stand, see below.

I didn’t make it to this perfect right angle. I have yet to build up to this point but learning the feeling of being upside down can be quite intimidating.

I wouldn’t necessarily say I was scared. I felt a bit too close to the wall. I also found that it was difficult to keep my hear soft while keeping my arms strong. 

I intend to get to this point. It may take time but eventually all things will come together. 

I enjoyed this practice immensly. I felt I had come away with a new way of thinking. My mind clearer I went forth. I found out more. I look forward to the upcomming workshop with Robin Golt in the fall. 

A quick drawing of warrior 1.

Energy: Exchange and Breathing

Last week I was able to take in 3 whole classes at Shakti. I took Hatha Flow 1 three times. The first on Monday with Beth. The second on Wednesday with Grace. Finally, with Meaghan yesterday. All three so variated in style and teaching method. 

Grace was surprisingly athletic. I found it incredibly aerobic to participate in her class. Meaghan was very spiritual and rejuvenating. 

I also found out about the Energy Exchange program at Shakti. It’s a program where you trade your adequate cleaning master skills for 2 hours a week in exchange for unlimited yoga classes there. Being that I am poor-ish and trying to save up money to do Yoga Teacher Training next year I am hoping this program can give me a little extra in the way of my practice and saving financially. I think it’s great actually. 

I’ve run out of my asthma and allergy medication this past couple of weeks and it’s only now that I am noticing my breathing is becoming affected. I’m trying to remedy this ASAP. 

Pigeoning Forward.

I went to Hatha Flow 1 last night with Beth instructing. I am beginning to feel myself settle into the ease of Hatha Flow 1. I’m preparing to enter into Hatha Flow 2 very shortly. 

Last night though I was able to perform most all of the asana, I found it hard. Yoga stretches you in more ways than that of the physical. Instead, I am beginning to stretch mentally and spiritually in my practice. It’s challenging and rewarding. 

Last night during lizard and pigeon poses I felt my emotional self want to run away from all of this stuff that I my body was allowing me to release. I didn’t cry but I had extreme feelings of both anger and fear in these poses. 

Yoga allows us to push through this experience using our breath. My breath saved me last night more than ever. The last thing I really want to do in a yoga practice is fall apart emotionally. But then again maybe that’s the point. Complete surrender.

Lizard Pose.

Commentary on the John Friend Link

I just listened to an excerpt from a Wonder Lust Fest. interview with John Friend (founder of Ansura Yoga). It discussed the economics of being a yoga teacher. 

I think primarily outside of Newfoundland (and the St. John’s Area) this problem exists much more commonly than within. I get it. It makes sense to me. 

I have an interest in doing yoga teacher training, should this discourage me? I think not! John goes on to talk about places where there are more yoga teachers than students. That is not economical. You don’t need to be a teacher to deepen your practice necessarily. You must being doing teacher training, not only to further your yoga experiences, but to help those in demand of practicing yoga. 

John speaks about practicing for 7 years before he began substituting for his teacher. I understand that not everyone should be a yoga teacher. Not all of us want to teach because it’s a cool thing to do or that they aren’t happy in their job. 

It’s like I was reading about today. The yoga sutra discusses a principle where we act humbly and submit to the divine. That’s not to say one has to be religious but we should act in a way that it is about the quality of the act and not the fruit that is bared. A yoga teacher (like other teachers) hopes to plant a seed into the students. That the quality of their actions may then be passed on. Not to see people progress because you are the best at teaching. 

So that’s where I am with this interview. There’s good points. I agree with many things but I am also at war with the underlying message that is not intended but sounds a little “there are too many teachers I don’t get it, go away”. In a space that requires a teacher then training is beneficial. 

My personal intentions with YTT is to further my knowledge to a point where, when I no longer live in St. John’s, and I’m in an area where there is a demand I am prepared to teach to my peers the thing that I have loved for so long. I am aware that there is very little money in teaching (generally and in yoga) and that is not the purpose. It is not yogic. It’s spreading, that’s good. 

Interesting article on the Economics of Yoga Teacher Training

Interesting article on the Economics of Yoga Teacher Training