Yoga Mira

Featured

Sun Salutation (Part 2) – Solar Powering

The Sun Salutation involves two distinct parts:

1) Sun Bowing – a beautiful flow into and out of forward folds and

2) Solar Powering – a series of movements linking downward dog, plank poses and descending planks. This phase produces heat or tapas in the body.

So, let’s discuss Part 2….

From forward fold, step the right foot back into runners lunge. The left knee is bent at a 90 degree angle while the right leg is fully extended backward, with the ball of the right foot on the ground and toes spread. The fingertips are touching the floor. Take a few breaths here and allow the right hip to open up.

Exhale while bringing the left foot back to join the right foot into downward dog. The feet should be hip distance apart. The bottom is reaching upward above the heart and head, while the ears are between the elbows. The arms should be actively pushing away from the ground. In theory, you should feel like you could kick the legs up into a handstand and support the body from this position.

From downward dog, inhale and come forward into plank pose. Be sure to bring the lower abdominal muscles inward and upward toward the spine in order to support the low back. The muscles between the shoulder blades should create a solid plateau, rather than a mountain or valley. Draw the bottoms of the shoulder blades downward and toward the seat muscles. Also try feeling like you are pushing away from the mat. The head, back, bottom and heals should form a solid plane.

Descending plank, also known as chaturanga, involves lowering your body either to the ground or hovering just a few inches above the ground, so that you look like a crocodile. This is to be done with great care.

As you descend into chaturanga, exhale and move forward at a sloping angle. Allow the chest to chase the line above the fingertips. This sloped descent permits the forearms and elbows to move into an ergonomically desirable 90 degree angle. This alignment helps prevent strain of the elbow joint. The elbows should point backward toward the outside of the ankle bones as you descend.

Chaturanga Descent to the Ground /elbows and forearms at 90 degree angle

From plank pose, bring the body to a soft landing to the ground. Gently inhale and come up to locust pose, which is a mini backbend, using the muscles of the upper back. The hands should rest lightly on the ground, letting the upper back muscles do the work. The lower abdominals should be pulled in toward the spine for low back support.

Or you may choose to try the more difficult upward dog. From plank, keep the body hovering a few inches above the ground. Push upward away from the ground, keeping the hips and thigh off the mat and come into an upward arch with the heart lifted. Shoulders remain away from the ears and the bottoms of the shoulder blades chase the seat muscles.

From either your choice of locust or upward dog, then exhale and push backward to downward dog.

Inhale the right leg up into three legged dog. Exhale and bring the right foot forward (either to the inside or outside of the right hand) into runners lunge. Bring the right foot and knee to the outside of the hand if you have a more prominent abdomen or chest area. The right knee will be bent, while the left leg is extended with the ball of the foot on the ground. Take a few breaths here to allow a nice stretch of the left hip.

From runners lunge, inhale and bring the left foot up to either the inside or outside of the left hand into forward fold. Exhale deeper into the fold and soften the knees.

From forward fold, inhale while bringing the arms outward and upward above the head, passing through chair pose as you come up to a standing pose. Exhale and bring the hands to heart center.

*****************

This same sequence can be repeated with the left leg initiating the movement into runners lunge and three legged dog.

*******************

There are various adaptions of the solar powering phase. This particular adaptation is my favorite because it allows for flowing and spacious transitions.

Next week I will cover how to find your rhomboids, the muscles between your shoulder blades. These muscles are useful for postural work and plank poses.

Until then, Peace and Yoga,

Dianne

Featured

Saluting the Sun

The sun salutation is a joyful calisthenic in a vinyasa flow class. It involves two parts: Sun Bowing and Solar Powering.

Sun bowing involves sweeping the arms to the sides and overhead and then swan diving into a forward fold. This is a way of honoring the warmth and light we receive each day.

2) ARMS REACH OUTWARD WITH SOME BEND IN THE KNEES

5) ARRIVE IN FORWARD FOLD WITH THIGHS SUPPORTING THE TORSO

Once in forward fold there is a teaser, known as monkey pose. It involves coming halfway up, with the torso parallel to the floor. The hands either rest on the shins or fingertips touch the floor.

From monkey, then return to forward fold.

Just like the phoenix rises from the ashes, we then ascend from forward fold and return to a standing position. The arms reach out laterally, then upward and overhead.

Hands then settle in a prayer mudra at heart center.

In the meantime, here are some ergonomic pointers, to help you beam while Sun Bowing:

Thinking about Back, Knees and Hips: Think about maintaining a straight back, a microbend in the knees and rotating from the hips while moving into or out of forward fold. Consider even passing through chair pose on the way up and down and this will enable better alignment.

Aligning the Feet: Consider keeping the the feet hip distance apart. This puts the body into an aligned athletic position, similar to a giant slalom skier. It also keeps the knees from hyperextending and prevents loading into the L4-L5 area.

Igniting the Posterior Chain: Rotating from the hips also helps to ignite muscles of the posterior chain. The PC includes two of the most powerful muscles in the body – the gluteals and the hamstrings. Having those muscles share in the descent or ascent from forward fold helps create a dynamic back body and takes load off the low back.

Using Yoga Off the Mat: Use the mechanics from sun bowing when picking objects up from the floor or even when unloading the dishwasher. Bring the object close to you, then pivot at the hips as you bend down of stand up. These are the basic lifting mechanics used in workplace safety.

Next week I will write about the second part of the sun salutation – Solar Powering. It is where the core muscles of the solar plexus ignite in downdog, planks, descending planks and cobra. It is the calorie burner used to create heat.

Until next week, peace and yoga,

Dianne

Featured

The Meaning and History of ‘Namaste’ | Merriam-Webster

‘Namaste’ joins ‘karma’ and ‘nirvana’ from Sanskrit
— Read on www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-history-of-namaste

Featured

Offering Thanks – At the End of Yoga Class

The Hindi salutation “Namaste,” is a friendly greeting and a great way to start a yoga class. Participants can even say namaste to one another as a form of unification.

One of my first introductions to the word namaste was from an instructor at my local gym. She defined namaste as, “the divine light in me bows to the divine light in you.” When she said namaste at the end of class, everyone said it back. It was a genuine exchange of gratitude.

As much as I loved her class, the namaste felt awkward. I would simply respond, “Peace.” Perhaps it was due to my Catholic upbringing. Saying anything other than “amen” at the end of a spiritual experience felt odd.

I spoke to my girlfriend, Rajni, about my reluctance to say namaste toward the end of yoga. She smiled knowingly. Rajni advised that namaste means “hello” and that in Hindi there is no word for goodbye.

Rajni grew up in Pune, a town just outside of Mysore, where Ashtanga was born. She speaks 3 Indian languages: Tamil, Hindi and Marathi and is fluent in English. She studied Ashtanga since she was a young girl, living in India.

After my discussion with Rajni, I approached over a dozen Indian friends, clients and complete strangers to see if they concurred with Rajni.

While on a hike in Death Valley, an Indian man kindly offered to take a picture of my daughter and me, after seeing me struggle with a selfie. In exchange I took a picture of him and his partner against a backdrop of red looming rocks. This seemed like a good opportunity to ask what namaste meant.

He held that saying namaste for goodbye was like a silly cowboy western. He stated, “We don’t say namaste for goodbye, just as American Indians don’t say ‘how’ for hello.” He wanted to make sure I got the picture.

Each time a newcomer of Indian origins takes one of my classes, I usually get thanked for using namaste correctly. I apply what I learned from friends and fellow travelers.

One of my clients from Western India, Shikha, told me that she was really taken aback when she first heard “Namaste” at the end of a yoga class. She thought, “I guess that’s how they do it here.” It must have been bewildering for her.

When we borrow elements of another culture, we have a duty to do so with authenticity. This is is part of the yogic code of satya. It is a way of honoring what is true.

Can you imagine a dance instructor saying “Hola” at the end of flamenco or salsa class? Most Latinos would respond with, “Come se dice?” (“What did you say?”) Almost everyone knows that “hola” means hello and “adiós” means goodbye.

Most of the Indian women and men that I know are fairly assertive, so why aren’t they correcting western yoga instructors? Perhaps it is out of respect.

Rajni explained that it is considered extremely disrespectful to go up to an instructor and correct them in front of a class or to correct them, in general.

Maybe there is a deeper reason. I read an article written by a British ambassador in the 1940’s. He claimed that people in India bowed with a namaskara during a greeting or goodbye. Perhaps this led to the jump in translation, where namaskara and namaste were both interpreted as goodbye.

While it is not clear how namaste gathered a new meaning, it is clear that namaste has been incorrectly interpreted; particularly as yoga traveled along the western trail to our continent. So, how do we proceed and what is appropriate to say going forward?

According to Rajni, instructors in India typically conclude class with a profound silence. The silence lingers like incense in the air and allows time for reflection. It is a sacred silence.

When the students are ready to part, they bow in a prayer mudra and finish class by saying, “Dhanyavaad,” which means “Thank you.”

I often conclude class by saying:

Peace, until we meet again,

Dianne

Featured

Moving with Care

In yoga there is philosophical code, similar to the the the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Code of Law. The Yogic code is found in the texts of the Yamas and Niyamas.

The Yamas consist of 5 restraints and the Niyamas consist of 5 observances.

The first two Yamas are non-violence and truthfulness, known as ahimsa and satya in Sanskrit.

Non-violence and truthfulness are intertwined with one another, like condensation and rainfall. They germinate within the practice of yoga, but flourish both on and off the mat. They offer growth, both in how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.

When we think of ahimsa, while in a yoga posture, we actively think of how to move in a way that is kind to the body. We want challenge, but also want to respect our body’s boundaries. Rather than “being careful,” we want to move in a way that is full of care.

I remember when I was teaching my son how to move his lower limbs when he was just 4 months old. I would place him on his back and help him emulate either walking or running and sing a little song about what he was doing. He would shriek with joy whenever we switched gears from the walking to the running game. I did all of this with great care.

As he got older and his limbs became stronger, we moved to standing and then walking with support. At around 12 months, he was walking on his own and would soon move faster than me.

Like learning how to walk, yoga is a process that takes time and practice.

Increasing flexibility to the point where you can nearly touch the floor, takes practice. Gaining enough upper body strength for descending planks, takes practice. Staying balanced during tree pose, takes practice. If these things could happen in one week, then there would be a void in the process of discovery. We would miss the insight from the body’s biofeedback loop.

Yoga is an art form that teaches us to let go, take it slow and find patience.

I could not imagine getting frustrated with my toddler because he was not walking at exactly 12 months. Each baby is different. In yoga, every individual is different. In addition, your own body can be different from one day to the next.

On days when I do not get enough sleep, I cannot balance in one legged tree pose with my usual ease. It surprises me and reminds me to tend to my sleep more carefully. Yoga kindly tells me the truth. Which brings us to the second part of the yogic code, satya.

Being truthful or authentic, is the ability to have a genuine connection free from incorrect thinking, perceptions or representations.

Having a genuine yoga practice means honoring your body by seeing what is true for you. Adaptations may be required. It is important to be true to your body rather than true to a pose.

In Warrior 2 I take care of my body by staying in a higher stance than I did 10 years ago. I have some arthritis in my right knee. I remember having a fall on that knee while stepping over a child gate in my family room. I was carrying my daughter and I didn’t want to drop her. All my weight landed on that right knee and I thought I had broken it.

As a result, the Warrior 2 stance that I take is higher than the widely stretched and deeply athletic stance I see pictured in yoga books. I am still using my quads and hamstrings and distributing weight on both feet, but with my heels closer together. Finding a stance that accommodates where we are is a way of finding our own personal truth.

How do we take ahimsa and satya with us off the mat?

It is important to approach our body with kindness and to approach others with care as well. It is important to free ourselves from images or societal expectations that we might try to impose on ourselves or others.

As far as the dance between ahimsa and truthfulness, we want to avoid violent or harsh truths. If a student is really upset with themselves over their progress, I lovingly guide them into practicing patience. A harsh statement can hurt feelings, diminish confidence and erode trust, even if it was intended to foster progress.

Truth is not to be used as a blunt or violent instrument in our relationships with ourselves or others. The truth hurts, if it is used in a cruel fashion.

It is our duty to proceed with the truth in a way that assists us in finding our footing. Our inner guide can encourage and be a “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” Truth can move us in the right direction, when we proceed with wisdom and care.

Peace and Yoga,

Dianne

Featured

Breathing First

The foundation of yoga is the breath. It is pure, simple and true.

When we sit on a cushion or chair and merely notice our inhalation and exhalation, we are doing yoga. We are uniting with our breath while in a seated posture.

During a hatha class I took with Mark Devenpeck (owner of Triad Yoga and Pilates), I remember him saying, “If you are forgetting to breathe, you are doing something, but it is not yoga.”

When we breathe life into the yoga postures, we are now doing yoga. We are forming an energetic connection with the movement.

We often inhale on the extension, in order to lengthen the movement. In contrast, we tend to exhale on the contraction, making ourselves more compact and harnessing the strength of the breath.

We can also imagine the breath rolling in and out of the body, like the waves on a friendly shore; both giving and taking away.

We can visualize inhaling into any part of the body that needs a little love, similar to air filling a red balloon. When we are ready to exhale, we can practice letting go of any unwanted tension. This is an opportunity to unwind or literally un- “wind” with the breath.

Some spaces that can carry tension are the shoulders, back, hands and abdomen. Our bodies tend to symbolically carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and backs. We also tend to grip our hands or clench our bellies while under pressure.

Yoga can help reclaim the peace and calm in our bodies through targeted breathing.

One of my favorite breathing exercises is to breathe through each of the energy centers of the body. It can be done in savasana (final resting pose) or at any time.

Starting at the top:

Breathing into the top of the head, then exhaling and relaxing the muscles in the eye sockets or around the eyes
Breathing into the area between the eyebrows, then exhaling and releasing the muscles through to the back of the head
Breathing into the sinuses and cheekbones, then exhaling and relaxing the muscles inside the ears
Breathing into the tissue around your mouth and lips, then exhaling and releasing the tongue from the roof of the mouth and softening the jaw bone
Breathing into the front of the throat, then releasing the muscles on the back of the neck, tops of the shoulders and all the way down to the hands
Inhaling into the tops of the hands, then exhaling and releasing through the palms
Breathing into the heart center, then exhaling and releasing the muscles between the shoulder blades
Breathing into the area above the belly button, then exhaling and releasing all the way through to the mid back
Breathing into the area below the belly button, then releasing and relaxing all the way through to the low back and muscles around the tail bone
Breathing into the hip sockets, then exhaling and relaxing the seat muscles
Breathing into the tops of the legs, then exhaling and letting the back of the legs melt into the earth
Breathing into the tops of the feet, then releasing and relaxing the arches of the feet
Breathing into the spaces between the toes, then exhaling and relaxing all the way through to the tips of the toes

I invite my students to enjoy this relaxation from head to toe, giving them some space and time, free from any cues.

Our parents rejoiced in the first breath we took when we were born. Coming back to the breath is an opportunity for renewal and a reminder of our most innocent beginnings.

Peace and Yoga,

Dianne

Sense Withdrawal

Pratyahara is the yogic term form for withdrawing your mind from the sensory input of the outside world. When we sever this connection, it allows the mind to find a place of ease.

The cellphone can ring, ping and buzz like an angry bee. We do not hear it nor feel it’s vibration. The television can strobe images of sensational news. We do not notice. The smell of a savory barbecue can waft through the windows from next door. We do not smell it nor salivate. We are within ourselves in a cocoon of solace. We are untouched and unphased by the outside world.

This is not easy to achieve nor always desirable. But, it is a nice tool to have when needed.

A few weeks ago I was teaching a yoga class to 20 women on an outdoor patio. Nearby, a group of buff and grey haired men were speaking loudly, over the sound of my voice and the music. One of the gym attendants asked the loudest man if he could bring the volume down just a notch. In response, he bellowed, “I will not be quiet!” Aside from being incredibly rude, it visibly upset all the women in the class. They gasped. Their senses were now supercharged. They started talking to one another in disbelief. This could have been a terrible way to begin a yoga class.

Instead, I saw this as an opportunity to practice sense withdrawal. However, not immediately. First, I tried to remain calm. I worked as manager at Nordstrom and one of the company mantras, “Lead my example,” rang in my head. I also channeled my inner valley girl, dropped my jaw and stated, “Seriously?” I flipped my hand in a dismissive fashion toward the space where this man’s blast arose.

I told the class that part of yoga was knowing how to release things and let them go. It was also important to stress that as yogis, we were not lambs but more like monkeys. We keep our sense of humor.

We began the class with belly breathing exercises and a strong exhale, with the word, “Ha!” We did 8 of those. After that, we proceeded with 30 seconds of “haha” belly breathing. At times I put my hand over my mouth and pretending that I was laughing, like a bratty monkey. Some of the participants were laughing by the end.

After clearing the space, we began breathing with movement and blocking out the voices of territorial men. We could bring our minds back into our bodies and flow with the breath alongside us, within us and around us. Throughout the class, I sprinkled a few more moments of the group surround sound , “Ha!”

Close to the end, we practiced a lot of lion’s breath. It looks like a Maori warrior prepping for a Rugby match. Tongue is out while saying a slow and long “Haaaaaa!” It really is not the prettiest facial expression. Try it in the mirror and you will scare yourself.

We settled into svasana or the final resting pose, a meditation while lying on our backs. This is where pratyhara can really manifest and the brain can restore and reset.

Based on everything, I figured that this was going to be one of the most restless resting mediatations I had ever seen.

Not so. The women were quite relaxed. Throughout the class, we found our voice. We responded in a slightly absurd and Lysistrata manner to a trespass. We blocked out the aggression of the animal kingdom by being playful.

After class I did speak with management and let them know what transpired. What happened was by no means acceptable behavior, but as yogis we learned resilience amidst this time of high emotions.

Personally, I have been on a writer’s withdrawal for over a year. I hope to write more consistently going forward. I have many tales of teaching yoga, encountering moments of wonder and disbelief. This was a moment of wonder. I guess this is what you would call, an “Aha!”

Peace and Yoga,

Dianne

Tadah! The Magic of Tadasana.

In order to make a good first impression, we often offer a firm handshake. Similarly, if we want to make a good first appearance, we stand straight and tall.

Tadasana or Mountain Pose helps you to find that poised posture. It helps restore alignment and put things back in their proper place.

Practicing Tadasana restores balance, spinal alignment, hip extension, shoulder placement and positioning of the organs. It reignites proprioceptor sensors in the hands and feet, creating more spatial awareness.

The practice of mountain pose also helps manage emotions. Standing slumped forward tends to reinforce feelings of depression or defeat. Whereas, straightening up tends to restore feelings of confidence and ease.

There is an expression, “Fake it till you make it.” Standing with correct posture allows nervous feelings to diminish and helps us achieve results we desire.

So, let’s begin the practice of Tadasana.

Feet First: First start with your feet hip distance apart. Practice lifting your toes up, spreading them wide and then setting them down, so you can find your arches. Do this a few times.

Knees: Allow a microbend of he knees, so they are active rather than locked.

Hands: The palms should be facing forward in the anatomical position, with the fingers gently reaching toward the ground. The triceps or inner arms will become more activated with the palms forward and it enables the chest to open up more.

Abdomen: Imagine a button 2 inches below your belly button and gently pull that area inward and upward toward the spine.

Chest: Allow the chest and heart to buoyantly rise and allow the shoulders to naturally roll backward and downward.

Head Check: Bring the chin downward to the chest, feeling the elongation of the back of the neck. Bring the chin parallel to the floor, while maintaining much of that neck elongation. Feel as if a string is gently pulling upward on the crown of the head. Allow the head to bobble from side to side a little so it will feel more free.

Breath: Feel this posture and use the breath to create space. Make any adjustments by breathing into a space that might need care and use the exhale to let any tension in that area go.

Standing in Tadasana for just 60 seconds, a few times a day, can bring about big changes in body alignment and confidence.

The morning after I had my daughter, I practiced Tadasana 3 times a day while I was in the hospital. Intuitively, I knew it was what my body needed and I could feel changes within my abdomen each time I took the pose.

The nurse in charge at Saddleback Hospital was training a group of future RNs while I was there. She was shocked because the shape of my uterus went right back to its normal size by Day 2 in the hospital. She had never seen that before and wanted to know what I did. I showed her Mountain Pose. She seemed skeptical and literally turned around with her flock of young white coated students.

That was 16 years ago. Now hospitals in my area offer onsite prenatal yoga classes or refer patients to Mohm Yoga, where I teach prenatal under the direction of owner, Danya Sher. You better believe that Tadasana is one of the poses we recommend after delivery.

I also taught this pose when I worked as a PE instructor for Irvine Unified. Children often came to PE with attention difficulties, particularly those in the first grade and second grade. We would practice 60 seconds of Mountain Pose and it was like a little miracle. Many of the kids would emerge with smiles on their faces. I remember one boy saying, “Why do I feel so good?” I told him it was because he learned how to focus and relax.

Those children were my inspiration for becoming a yoga teacher and why Tadasana remains one of my favorite poses today. It is so restorative and uplifting.

If you feel the urge to look a few years younger, a few pounds lighter and few inches taller, practice a new alignment trick, “Tadah with Tadasana!”

“Mira, Mira!”

Concentration on subtle sense perceptions can cause steadiness of the mind.
— Patanjali.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

In this blog, I am hoping to make yoga accessible to every age group and population and to respect the origins of yoga, in terms of both language and lineages.

The name Yoga Mira was chosen for a few reasons.

Yoga in itself is a way to harness and bring the mind, emotions and physical body into harmony with one another. Within a steady mind-emotional-physical triad a yogi is better able to reflect and receive guidance from the soul.

The word “mira” means an ocean, lake or body of water in the Sanskrit language.

Yoga Mira is merely a reflecting pool and a place to allow the mind, emotions and body to flow in communication with one another and to find peace. The word “Mira” in Spanish also means “look.”

When I was a little girl my Panamanian mother would often say, “mira, mira” when she saw something special in our backyard. It could be a white butterfly, green lizard or hot pink fuscia flower. These things were fascinating and a delight to the senses. At 81 my mother is still very active in her miracle jungle of a backyard and will point out new hydrangea blossoms and thriving plants. She will offer snips of greenery that I can take home and use as starters for my garden.

Interestingly enough, she is also an active yogi. She takes a gentle yoga class two times a week and it has helped her thrive and keep her asthma at bay. When she feels an asthma attack coming on, she guides herself into her yogic breathing and is able to calm the histamine response. Mind you, she still keeps her inhaler nearby and sees her allergist regularly. However, her doctor has told her to keep up the yoga and has been impressed with her diligent practice.

As a yoga teacher, I am constantly learning and sharing new ideas and concepts. In this blog my intention is to synthesize and share with others in a clear and fluid way. Currently, I teach prenatal, hatha flow, teen yoga and chair yoga on a regular basis. Working with the very young on up to the senior generation is a blessing. Everyday, I feel like calling my mother or a dear friend and saying, “Mira, mira!” I love to share what I learn from wonderful students and fellow yogis.

Please join me once a week for a look into how yoga and can benefit your relationship with your body, your inner self and with the people whom you hold dear.

“Mira, mira,” my friends and may peace be with you,

Dianne Daucher