RIMYI Update 3

Weeks 3 and 4 at the Institute have flown by. Last week were the intensely demanding classes focusing on back bending. This week thankfully, is pranayama week, which all of us are grateful for. Throughout the month: Geeta continued to teach Thursdays and Fridays; Guruji continued his teaching through his granddaughter Abhi on Wednesdays and Saturdays; Senior teachers Raya, Gulnaz and Chandra continued to rotate their teaching that reflected concepts taught by Guruji and Geeta; and, Prashant continued to spinalize our minds, body and breath.

Today in the ladies class, Guruji said we were all unprepared for pranayama so that is why we did a strong practice of primarily inversions to prepare us properly for seated pranayama. We did Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana, Prasarita Padottanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana with hand variations turning the hand out and towards us, Adho Mukha Vrksasana with hand variations, Pincha Mayurasana with hand variations, Sirsasana with narrower elbows, Dwipada Viparita Dandasana with the rolled mat spinewise, and an intense chair Sarvangasana lying over a vertical bolster with upper arms threaded under the low rung of the chair legs and forearms reaching up to the chair seat. The length of our spines, the support of our back muscles and lift of our chests that we learned in the asanas, prepared us for seated pranayama.

In a medical class this week, I was asked to take a few photos of one of Guruji’s oldest long time student who was in heavily supported back bends. Guruji told me where to stand to shoot. I went to where I thought he told me and then he proceed to tell me to move 2 inches to the left and to squat down in order to position the camera correctly. He was on the other side of the student and although wasn’t looking directly at what he wanted me to shoot, knew precisely what shots he wanted and was very specific about the angle and direction of each shot. His years of having photos taken of him while in poses, was clearly reflected in his art direction of shots I took. There is nothing casual about his yoga practice, yoga teaching or yoga photographing.

Geeta’s pranayama classes have been poignant and profound in her ability to move us into a state of self observation and self reflection. Luckily all her classes have been put on CD’s this month because when I come out of her pranayama classes, I can’t remember much but feel the effects of her teaching in my body and mind. I don’t know what her practice consists of now, but it appears as though her teaching to us strongly reflects her own self study.

Today I plan to observe the exhilarating children’s class, which I’ve been observing every Sunday morning. A couple of weeks ago the children were learning all different forms of ekapada rajakapotatasana .... not easy poses! Tomorrow, Monday, will be my last asana class before I get on the plane a few hours later to fly home.

Now its time to get serious about my packing!

Scenes from around a temple

And Eat Your Fruit

Nana know where the best of everything is located, including the best fruit. The little berries in the upper right side of the photo are goose berries from Rajasthan. We've been eating lots of papayas.

Dinner at Nana's

Nirmala, Nana's wife and Archana, their daughter-in-law made a delicious dinner for Anna, Susan and I. Nana's eldest son, Bala is in the blue shirt. The younger son, Rav, was there earlier but left for work. Archana is married to Bala. The photo at the upper left is of the family shrine. I told Nana, the shrine seems to have expanded since I was there 2 years ago. He said, "yes, more gods are looking after his family."

RIMYI update 2

Geeta taught again this week, for a Thursday night Pranayama class and a Friday evening twists and forward bend class. She is truly back in full form teaching a rigorous class Friday night and seeming to enjoy seeing us work our you know whats off and threatening to retire because we weren't getting it. She said her doctor told her she could go back to teaching but she said when she sees her students doing the wrong actions, it goes into her muscles and she gets very, very tired. Geeta looked good this week and her teaching was strong.

Raya taught a great standing pose class with inversions Monday night. At one point when we were in Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) instead of giving us specific instructions, he said "make this your poem, your essay, your painting, your canvas, your symphony." He was saying to use our yoga creativity to make the pose our own. He spoke to my heart and it was a beautiful metaphor for deeper penetration.

Prashant taught a class Tuesday night where we did only 4 poses in 2 hours learning how to use one body part to inform another. When in supta padangustasana or utthita hasta padangustasana, we used the extension of the up leg to inform the spine or the chest or neck or mind or breath; then vice versa. We held poses a long time while we meditated on the action and results. I came out of that class feeling terrific.

And finally Guruji's brilliance continues to blow me away in his teaching thru Abhi on Wednesday and Saturday. How the web between the thumb and the index finger can have a profound effect on necks, shoulders, side torso in urdhva hastasana. Guruji is relentless. If the actions are not coming, he will not allow Abhi to continue until we get it. He shows on her where we are going wrong and makes her come back to teach until we get it. Sometimes we might do the same pose 4 or 5 or more times. Saturday we were learning new actions for Adho Mukha Virasana. This pose that many of us do to warm up in the beginning of a practice where we get on our knees and just flop forward was given completely new life. I have never found Adho Mukha Virasana so challenging as how it was taught to us yesterday. It was actually nice to feel like a beginner again. I continue to say the man is brilliant. I know I am being repetitive but I can't help myself. The man is brilliant.

Mango Lassi

Aside from yoga, eating is a big part of the day. The best mango lassis are made here in Pune at a place called Shiv Kailash. You can see on the faces of Susan Wong and Nana that they are truly enjoying theirs. They use fresh yogurt with mango ice cream ..... oh, so delicious! The place is usually so crowded that Nana drives us there and we sit in his autorickshaw drinking our "shakes." Its like going to a drive in!

Medical Class

I’ve attended the therapeutic/medical classes every day since coming to the Institute. The first day I told myself I would sit on the sidelines and observe but soon I was whisked into action by assisting with prop getting and simple adjustments. The first few days I met and worked with a couple of senior teachers from the US. When Anna arrived last Friday, everything changed.

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  Since her arrival, I’ve been attached to her like glue. Anna is in the medical classes to attend to a neck problem that started when she was injured many, many years ago and has been compounded by subsequent accidents. She has had the senior Indian teachers, as well as Guruji guiding her. I’ve been photographing the process, which started relatively easy with many supported poses and adjustments by the teachers. Yesterday everything was intensified.
  
  Guruji got personally involved in her recovery and began to direct her program. He taught a class yesterday to the ladies, channeling his instructions through his granddaughter Abhi. Anna did not take the class because of an additional problem, torn knee ligament, but luckily she was sitting right next to Guruji and took meticulous notes. Little did she know that within this class would be gems of wisdom for her to practice by. He told her later that evening that this class was for herand that she must attend to the principles given.
  
  To say I’ve been overwhelmed with what I’m learning in these therapeutic sessions is an understatement. It is truly a humbling experience being around this brilliant man and his very able Indian teachers. Guruji’s mind and hands are like quick fire. He has no patience for incompetence or slowness. To watch this man work with his fierce determination at age 92 is nothing short of amazing.
  
  The senior Indian teachers have been generous, gracious and thoughtful in how they work with the “patients” in the therapeutic classes. There are young children; teenagers, middle aged and elderly people all together being assisted through yoga therapy. There are knee problems; back problems, neck problems; heart problems; cancer patients; psychological problems; feet problems; hip problems; elbow problems; and a myriad of organic problems and more ….. all in this asana room doing yoga with great assistance. It looks chaotic but each patient has one, two or more teachers working with him or her in order to access the poses for their recovery.
  
  There are days I feel overwhelmed when assisting in these classes. Yesterday was one of those days. Anna assured me that feeling inadequate here was normal. All I can say is that I am on one big learning curve over here.
  
  It is also wonderful to see how the teaching in the regular classes seques into the teaching in the yoga therap/medical classes. The big difference is that in regular classes we are self-contained and use few props with no assistance. But many of the instructions are the same and are being used in the medical classes.
  
  

Justin, Lek, Anna and me

Justin and Lek Herold came over for lunch to our flat yesterday. Justin is from Southern California but now lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife Lek. They own a yoga studio there.

Anna and Justin have known each other since the inception of the IYILA (Iyengar Yoga Institute of LA). He built the original IYILA and also helped build Anna's studio. A contractor by trade, he's a handy guy to have around.

While in class there have multiple times when Lek and I along with Susan Wong (from the flat below) have found ourselves sharing the shoulderstand mats together. As Susan says, we're "sisters in yoga."

Susan took the above photo so she's not in the photo. I'll include her in a photo later.

(Bonnie: Justin says hi to you!)

Happy Birthday Ganesh

Ganesh's birthday was Monday, February 7. Big celebrations in all the Ganesh Temples. To the right is a sand painting done at one of the Ganese Temples. There are 2 Ganesh Temples that I walk past on the way hom from the Institute. Happy Birthday Ganesh!

RIMYI update

On Friday night Feb. 4, Geetaji taught an asana class focusing on standing poses. Abhi and Gulnaz were on stage demonstrating along side her. Although this was the advanced class, Geeta taught us from basic instructions you would instruct beginners to incrementally more complex instructions for the "experts." As instructions became more difficult to managed, we knew right there what level we were at. Geeta seemed to be enjoying teaching us. At times she wanted to make adjustments on Abhi but then would hesitate and say, no, she wasn't to do any manual adjustments and so Gulnaz or Raya would come in to do the adjusting on Abhi. Geeta taught 1 1/2 hours of the 2 hour class and then Abhi took over the Sirsasana (headstand), Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) and Savasana.

Geeta's words were precise and eyes keen. She wanted all the newcomers to come to the front of the stage so she could watch them. That meant most of the senior teachers had to move back.

Saturday's ladies class was taught by Abhi, directed by Guruji. These classes taught by Abhi (directed by Guruji) have been full of brilliant instructions by Guruji channeled thru Abhi. Before coming here, I had many second thoughts about whether this form of teaching would be satisfying to me. Well, the answer is an absolute yes. The teaching has been challenging, motivating and exciting. Every class has so much new information. Every day I try to apply some of this new information in my practice. Now I know what he means when he says our practice should not get stagnant. I believe my practice had been getting stagnant because when energy gets blocked, the mind does so too.

Although Guruji is nearing 93, it is as though he is getting younger. I swear he looks and acts younger then he did 2 years. ago. It is truly inspiring and astonishing to watch the man in action whether he is in practice, instructing Abhi, adjusting in medical classes or conversing in the library. He has been in medical classes this entire week, primarily I think because there has been this big wig who is some high mucky muck with the Dalai Lama that Guruji is working with.

I'll write more on medical classes in a future entry.

Restorative Class 1/31/11

Hi yoga practitioners, here are my notes from a class I observed on my first day at the Institute. Because it was still January, I was not allowed to take a class until February, when I am enrolled in classes. Chandra taught a lovely class.


1-31-11 Restorative Class taught by Chandra, Monday 6-8 p.m.
Some people told me this class was fashioned after the one Abhi taught on the Saturday where she was directed by Guruji's instructions

Thick mats, thin mat, bolster, blankets
SWASTIKHASANA – invocation

ADHO MUKHA VIRASANA – horizontal bolster for head and elbow support
Forehead down hitting edge of bolster; arms extending across bolster so elbows resting on bolster; dorsal into body; extension thru armpits; armpits forward; arms away from each other; shoulders away from neck

ADHO MUKHA SVASTIHASANA
First go without support under head, then see what lift you need; hold mat or top of mat and move armpits back; push inner and outer knees back; heels down from buttock bones; knees!; lock the elbow joint; then walk forward to TADASANA

URDHVA HASTASANA to UTTANASANA
From waistline move forward; arms forward then down to floor or bolster; concave back; head down; then hold ankles; shoulders away from neck; trunk has to go down; hold ankles

PRASARITA PADOTTANASANA
Urdhva Hasta to extend side trunk forwardd then hands down with concave back; look up; top thighs back; head on floor or support; strong on outer edges of feet so arches can lift up

SIRSASANA or VIPARITA DANDASANA over backbenders for ladies on period
Inject lower shoulder blades into body; lift lower knee caps up; face back and lift up; connect tailbone to pubis; tailbone in, pubis up; roll top thighs in; to come out of pose: shoulders up, upper arms higher to come down;

Place mats in center; pass out chairs

CHAIR PURVOTTANASANA – chair, mat, bolster, blanket; wall
Mat on seat, blanket under neck and head; buttocks off bolster; heels to wall; doesn’t matter if you are short or tall, adjust so you fit properly (although Chandra brought a tall stool for a very tall woman’s head to be supported on); roll thighs in; legs straight; bend legs, hold chair; chest up

CHAIR BB – mat on seat; remove bolster and blanket from above; heels to wall
1 Sit completely thru chair; bottom shoulder blades on edge of chair so slide so much; slide off more; legs straight; hold back chair legs; shoulder bones back
2 URDHVA HASTA
3 BADDHA HASTA- hold elbows, cut shoulder blades on edge of seat; hold elbows firmly; then bend knees, push buttocks to head to come up

(UMA) SUPTA BADDHA KONASANA against pillar; 2 horizontal bolsters under back; neck and head supported; weight on hands; arms to side

CHAIR TWIST – remove blanket
1 spread legs apart; inner heels to outer chair legs; buttock bones NOT shifting; chest up; exhale and turn; lower abdomen lift up and turn
2 hold back bar and turn (L forearm on chair back; R hand behind to hold back bar); roll shoulder bones back and turn; lift abdomen and turn; chest up and turn

CHAIR SHOULDERSTAND- chair, mat, bolster
Chair (no mat on seat); ¼ mat on floor w/vertical bolster; occiput and neck resting on edge of bolster; shoulders draping over sides; arms under horizontal bars (if possible); “move chair closer to you”;

Then BADDHA KONASANA in above pose: feet together; some had on chair back others had on chair seat; open toes, open arches; then to come out, bend knees, arms still not coming up to come out; arms stay low; 7 p.m.

Or SETUBANDA SARVANGASANA on bench or CROSS BOLSTERS with heels supported for ladies on period

CHAIR SETUBANDA using same support as above
First calves on chair seat then lift buttocks so feet now press outer edges of chair seat at intersection of chair backrest; shoulders on bolster; arms prepared from CHAIR SHOULDERSTAND; back should be like a plank; hold chair and move tailbone in; so much move tailbone forward; if tired, then rest and go again; abdomen should not go forward; buttocks forward as though someone pushing mid buttock forwaqrd with strap; “I didn’t say rest that much!” Then slide down

VIPARITA KARANI – same setup as above except turn bolster horizontally
Tailbone can be a down a little if back paining; shoulders completely on the floor; bottom thoracic chest widens to side

Slide down so crossed legs on bolster
7:15 p.m. – lights dim

SITTING for PRANAYAMA using chair behind back; sitting on horizontal bolster in front of chair; use folded blanket under knees to even hips; chair close to you; arms threaded back holding edge of chair seat of fingers descending and wrists pulling chair closer; if shoulders roll forward then hold outer edges of chair legs and take outer elbows in; sit properly on bolster; move chair closer to you; chair has to be cutting your back; head down from roof of nose (jalandara bandha)

Few moments normal breaths.

Hold chair, inhale, lift side trunk higher to arm pits; move chair closer to you. Then slowly exhale; shoulder bones back;
Inhale, lifting side trunk touching and ascending up to armpits; move shoulder bones back; exhale;
Inhale sides of trunk evenly ascending up to armpits; slowly exhale, back of head quiet

Connect eyes to shoulder blades; lift bottom ribs; connect low shoulder blades; center body coming tall; abdomen moves toward spine; move low shoulder blades in; shoulder bones back

CHANGE CROSS OF LEGS; now hold chair legs

Three Antara kumbakhas – move abdomen back to spine to begin inhalation; 3 normal breaths in between; 3 cycles only; then bring head up

Chairs away. Everything else away except:

SUPPORTED SAVASANA w/lift under back– bolster, blanket, thick mat
Place bolster at top edge of mat; When lying down, back of head away from shoulders then blanket to shoulders; back of legs long; side chest long; back of arms long; buttocks away from boslter; lie down now;

Top shoulder blade moves down then bend elbows, upper arms down; outer edges of shoulders down; fingers up; then forearms down; roll fingers toward thumb thumbs to floor; then drop feet to sides; even arches;

Forehead skin down; shoulders completely down; eye balls away from eye lids; back of arms down; back of legs long from hips to feet; fronts of thighs receding to backs of thighs;

Slow, soft inhalation. Slow, soft exhalation. Normal breaths.

Then inhale to ascend bottom rib, middle rib, top rib (3x)
Then inhalation touches all the ribs; like “blotting paper it touches all the ribs; bottom to top ribs.

Palms on chest, roll off

SUPPORTED SAVASANA with bolster under knees or SIIMPLE SWASTIKHASANA with outer ankles on bolster;

Exhale, slight pause; slow inhalation; exhale
Inhale longer, exhale, small pause: witnessing a silence; complete exhalation.
Normal breaths
Inhale, long exhalation, small pause; witness the silence; complete exhalation, then normal breaths (3 cycles)

Palms on chest; turn to R; then come up.
That's enough.

Geetaji

Tonight, Thursday Pranayama night we had a very big surprise. Geetaji walked into the asana room to teach us. We all began to clap.

She had stopped teaching since the Portland Convention last May so we were all overwhelmed with her presence. She told us if we enjoy the class, good; if we don't enjoy the class .... she did the best she could. She has lost weight and her voice was smaller then I remember but her instructions to us were very clear and concise. I don't normally set my mat at the front next to the platform but this evening I did so I could be near a couple of friends (Linda diCarlo and Julia Peterson) who could "help guard my mat and props." So I had the pleasure of Geetaji teaching right in front of me. It can't get any better then that.

Before she walked in, an announcement was made that if there were people who had never had pranayama at RIMYI, they were to go upstairs for a beginning pranayama class. That cleared the hall of about 1/4 the people. Geeta did not want to teach beginners this evening.

She spent quite a bit of time getting us structurally into the correct positions for both supported savasana and seated work. There were a few people who were very jet lagged and not able to keep sitting upright so she had them go to the pillar or wall. She told us when we do our pranayama practice and we are tired and forcing ourselves to sit, that is not right and we should lie down. She said if all we do is savasana some days then that is all we should be doing.

She had us bring our eyes to the back of the head. Ears drawing to the center of the skull. Throat back. I think I've been throwing my throat forward because this evening's seated pranayama felt better then ever. It also helped that in Wednesday's class there was a big emphasis on using Urdhva Mukha Svanasana actions doing Adho Mukha Svanasana. That certainly was good preparation for tonight's class.

Eat Your Veg

This is the Veg Man and his assistant who I buy my vegetables from in the morning. The price is not based on individual items. You decide what you want and they put it into a scale to weigh and you pay by the pound. This morning I got a big bunch of spinach, onions, potatoes, cute little eggplants, cucumbers and green beans. It cost 60 rupees ($1.50).

Settling in

My flat in Pune is a short walk from the Institute. Its a 4th floor walk up: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, large living room, kitchen and balcony. Its located on a quiet street with lots of trees. There's a few nice vegetable vendors right down the street; a park close by that is a short cut to the Institute.

I've been cooking with a friend, Susan Wong, from SF who is living in the flat below. Her gas has been out of her cooktop so she has been coming over to my flat to eat dinner. Susan is an anesthiologist and yoga student. She has an old elbow as a result of injuries and surgeries and hopes to get advice on how to better manage it with yoga. She talked with Rajlakshmi yesterday and Rajlakshmi suggested Guruji take a look at it today in practice.

Monday was the first day at the Institute. Since it was Jan. 31, I could not take class since my program begins Feb. 1. I observed Chandra teaching a restorative/pranayama class. People told me that she taught principles from what Guruji taught on Saturday. He was teaching how to open the chest and not thrust it forward.

Tuesday, I went to Prashant Iyengar's 7 a.m. class. His main theme of the class was that we should "Do yoga to learn." What we do, he says is "Learn to do yoga." The class was a combination of lecture/doing in the typical Prashant fashion where he emphasizes integration of mind, body, breath. In fact at one point he said that integration should be like a conference call where mind, body and breath each have equal say in the conversation. Gone was his anger and instead he taught with generosity and a good spirit.

Later on Tuesday, I attended my first medical class where my intention was to just observe and absorb. Wrong! I was enlisted to help and a couple of more senior international teachers taught me the fine art of adjusting with a myriad of students with different problems. Guruji was there overseeing the group. Many, many Indian teachers as well as teachers from around the globe were there to assist. I assisted Theresa Rowland from New Jersey while she worked with a couple of "patients," as they are called. The work done by assistants is physical, demanding and exhausting. I could feel my tiredness from being jet lagged rising to the surface.

After assisting in medical class, I attended Prashant's evening class. He took some of his basic themes from the morning class and elaborated on them. Now, by this class my jet lagginess was beginning to get the better of me. We worked on how the breath can affect the yoga. At one point we practiced an inhalation, exhalation, retention of breath out while in Trikonasana (triange pose.) I was so tired that my eyes closed for a second and I almost passed out and felt like falling backwards. Luckily I didn't but that was a close call. I made it thru the class intact, came back home, had a small dinner then went to sleep!

First days in India

My trip began with a terrifying experience at LAX. I went to the counter to check in and found that I left my passport at home .... inside my scanner. Yes, my scanner. I had time to kill before leaving for the airport so I decided to scan my passport and visa since I knew I would need copies for registering for class, getting a phone, etc. Well, I had the copies with me but forgot to take the passport out of the scanner. Luckily, Ransom was with me and he drove back home to retrieve it. It was nerve-wracking sitting at the aiport wondering if he would get back in time for me to catch the flight. But with an hour to go, there he was, passport in hand! What a savior!

Flight to Frankfurt was punctual and non-eventful. Meals were fine. I watched "EatPrayLove." Had a few hours to walk around the Frankfurt airport but it was 3 a.m. my time so did not have much energy to do anything other then grab some tea and snacks.

Arrived in Pune 4 a.m. Saturday morning directly into "Pune International Airport." This is primarily a domestic airport but there are now 2 international flights that come in and out of Pune: One from Frankfurt (Lufthansa that I was on) and one from Dubai. This was one of the easiest customs check I've ever been thru in India.

Spent the first couple of days at the "O" Hotel in the Koregon Park district of Pune. After spending 24 hours either on a plane or at the Frankfurt Airport, I was completely exhausted. My main activity that first day was going to the spa ..... sitting in the sauna and having a massage. Other then that, I walked around the area a little ...... saw the remnants of the German Bakery that was bombed last year. My friend Nana, the autorickshaw driver came over in the afternoon and he drove me around for a couple of hours so I could check out the sights and get my bearings.

On Sunday, I moved into my apartment.