Image compliments of arebonteam.blogspot.com
I started an Iyengar class last night that I'll be attending for at least seven weeks. Boy was it awesome!!! The teacher taught at a local yoga festival I attended and I was sure to catch her class, as I've been curious about her for some time now.
I was greatly inspired by her class at the yoga festival and found that she had a series starting yesterday. The class was well attended - it's her level1/level2 iyengar class (as opposed to her foundations yoga class). I have done some Iyengar in the past in NYC at the beautiful center there and loved it. So much yoga, so little time!
Anyway yesterday we did a lot of work on extending the upper thigh bones out of the pelvis. Also a great and difficult downdog to chatturunga move repeated a few times. My chatturunga hold is measly. My form is good but my stamina is lacking. I don't practice enough sun salutations! The series culminated in full arm balance (handstand) which she helped me get up into and I balanced off the wall (awesome!)
It was a great wonderful amazing class. She's a strong and challenging teacher with a firm voice that demands compliance. What I miss from iyengar is a real emphasis on subtle opening in small parts of the body. I was able to modify everything for pregnancy with relatively little change from the rest of the class. I have a feeling I'm going to learn a lot from practicing with her pregnant as far as how to modify. Sure I know the Bikram pregnancy modifications but that only covers the Bikram class. I know the basic tenants but there were things I learned last night.
My sanskrit is a little rusty so I'll just call the pose separate leg drape over front leg, hips rotated - I learned that pregnant or menstruating you don't have the heels in one line so as to leave more room (less pressure) on the pelvic area.
I had a total blast. I'll be teaching Bikram tonight. I practiced some in the last week but am also making sure I get my swimming in.
Take care yogis and yoginis!
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