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| Spring 2007 |
 Traveling Mercies Each time I study with any of the Iyengars (or their teachers) I am blessed. The theme of the convention in Las Vegas was “The Journey - Annamayakosha to Anandamayakosha – From Body to Bliss.” To me, it screamed Road Trip. Yoga Class in NWA June 23 |
| January 2007 |
 "You're kidding." My husband and I hadn't rehearsed what to say when your spouse tells you they have cancer. Supported Purvottanasana Printer-Friendly Version |
| Summer 2006 |
I Shall
Be Released Dale, I had to talk to you. After class yesterday my back pain did not return for 2 hours. Supta Baddha Konasana - It's All In The Details Printer-Friendly Version |
| Mar-Apr-May-June 2005 |
Chubby
in America |
| Jan-Feb 2005 |
It snowed today. Finally. I have been aching for snow. Preparing for DROP-BACKS |
| December 2004 |
The intention of my meditation is to converse with my soul, who now sits next to me, I imagine looking at me expectantly. The written instructions are, once connected to my soul, ask in my own words for direction in ‘reaching a state of pure spiritual consciousness.’ The words that fall from my consciousness are, “So, what do you want to do?” After a pause, I sense from deep inside myself and from the seat next to me simultaneously, “Hmmm, I don’t know, what do you want to do?” |
| November 2004 |
Can you recall your excitement when you were first allowed to help with a ‘grown-up’ task? After the task lost its volunteerism and was an assigned chore, how long did you enjoy it? |
| October 2004 |
Three weeks into my trip to India I was thinking about leaving, possibly never returning, at least not to the Iyengar Institute. |
| April 2004 |
I have just returned from a trip abroad, a trip that was a huge event in my life requiring months of emotional preparation. Kausthub Desikachar Drops In on Fayetteville, AR Students |
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“Why am I here?” “What is my purpose in this place?” “There must be a reason.” Standing On Your Own Two Feet |
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I am relaxed. Now she is giving breathing instructions. Breathe in long, slow, deep inhalations. Breathe out a long, slow, soft exhalation. Who Am I? |
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| October 2003 |
Integration - Intuition and Logic At about 9 am the phone rang. I was sleeping in. I had no class and it was snowing, really, really snowing. Howard was on the phone. Pose - Counterpose |
| August 2003 |
My Dad was in the hospital dying. We all knew it. I, for one, had chosen to ignore that knowledge and, to instead, focus all my energy on one of his physicians who kept saying that if he could get his strength up and SOON he could live longer. Seeds for Meditation |
| July 2003 |
A number of years ago my sister bought me tingshas. These bells made in Nepal or Tibet are often used at the end of a savasana or meditation session. She said, “Your students need these.” Setu Bandha Sarvangasana |
| June 2003 |
I've been practicing hatha yoga for about a year. I got started because I had gotten into some interesting correspondence with a woman in France who told me she was really feeling terrific as a result of doing the exercises in the book BIKRAM'S BEGINNING YOGA CLASS by Bikram Choudhury. Supta Virasana - Reclining Hero's Pose |
| May 2003 |
I had my tonsils removed when I was 6 years old. As many of you can recall, we were told it would be great, we could have ice cream, all we wanted, after the surgery. The QUEEN - Supta Baddha Konasana |
| April 2003 |
It’s time for spring cleaning. With the sun peering brightly through my windows I see dust and dirt that was easily missed in the glow of electric light. Urdvha Prasarita Eka Pada Sirsasana (preparation for Headstand) |
| March 2003 |
I have 2 dogs, Thelma and Louise, who have taught me quite a bit about discipline. They are large but still behave like puppies, so we attended obedience training together. There I learned how how to read with them (they already knew how to read and manipulate me), how to listen and communicate. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salute) |
| February 2003 |
It is said a great journey begins with one step. Just so. Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle) - A Student Responds |
| January2003 |
It’s so hard to believe that this is Volume 4 of Yoga! Since beginning to compile this in June, 2000 the work on the newsletter has helped me to bring focus and direction to my life. Sthira Sukhum Asanam - Patanjali’s Sutras 2.46 Book 2, verse 46 can be translated as “Abide in ease in asana.” If we learn and allow ease in asana, can we not allow this ease to creep into all aspects of our lives? |
| December 2002 |
In 1985 I went to Feathered Pipe Ranch in Montana. At that time, Judith Lasater was writing the asana column for “Yoga Journal”. When YJ arrived in the mail, I went to the asana column first. It was a great teacher. Open Heart, Open Pose - Utthita Ardha Chandrasana |
| November 2002 |
Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away I talked briefly with Judith Lasater after my father died. She said to do lots of restoratives. You may know that her book on restoratives was born from her work with her own personal grief. She knows it helps us to come to peace with situations that are difficult. I took her advice. I did lots of restoratives. Our Times - Anxiety and Depression |
| September 2002 |
The only available chairs in the hall were at the back. We opted to sit on the floor so that we could be close to the stage. We were sitting center front. And it was great. The sitar player was so amazing. Peace Sequence |
| August 2002 |
One of the things I adore about the Iyengar teachers I have worked with is their commitment to the individual. Menstrual Sequence |
| July 2002 |
My father died today. He breathed his last. My life with him has been divided into distinct stages and now it appears I have another to which I must adapt. GRIEF |
| June 2002 |
Zach and his friend, Quentin, were heroes the day we hiked down to the Colorado River.
Virabhadrasana III |
| May 2002 |
The action of yoga asana is relaxation born of simultaneous extension and exertion. Guruji Iyengar began using props to assure that his students could receive the benefit of extension with less exertion, thereby allowing relaxation. BACK PROBLEMS and OTHER DELIGHTS |
| April 2002 |
"What is the single most wonderful thing about your trip to India?" Vrksasana |
| March 2002 |
This edition is dedicated to all my friends in the Yogis Addicted to Props Support Group Salamba Sarvangasana on Chair |
| February 2002 |
Problems: The Path to Knowledge "What is your problem?" I'm thinking I had better come up with a problem pretty quick because Geeta is looking impatient. Utthita Trikonasana |
| January 2002 |
"How many times do I have to do this for you?" That is Mr. Shah. I figure he will 'have to' until I get it or he gets fed up. Hard to say which will come first. Pranayama 101 |
| November 2001 |
I have a friend who signs off all her e-mail with her name, snail-mail address and “If you can think it, you can be it.” I love receiving e-mail from her. Adho Mukha Vrksasana |
| October 2001 |
Are we LOST?” six-year-old Zach yelled from the back seat. Virabhadrasana I, II, and III |
| September 2001 |
My father often brought home exotic co-workers. Men appeared with different skin and accents, sometimes, facial hair. Their wives sometimes were American, sometimes looked like they could be a player in a spy novel. Komasana & Paschimottanasana |
| August 2001 |
It was Catherine's idea. To say I was not excited was an understatement. As Catherine put it, she drup me to the workshop "kicking and screaming." Virabhadrasana II |
| July 2001 |
Last year I was depressed. I couldn't think. Adho Mukha to Urdhva Mukha Savanasa Vinyasa |
| June 2001 |
Last month I became a member of the cohort of senior citizens by receiving my very first senior citizen discount. The Posture of Sitting |
| May 2001 |
My study of Patanjali’s yoga began twenty-five years ago with the course of study outlined in the back of Light on Yoga. Utthita Parsvakonasana - Extended Flank Pose |
| April 2001 |
The human body is 72% water. Deane Juhan, in Jacob's Body, states that our "bodies are just a way for water to get up and walk around." Prasarita Padottanasana - Stretch with Feet Apart |
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My friend, Sarah, was interviewing a patient, taking her medical history. Among this patient's revelations was the fact that the patient practiced yoga to help manage the symptoms of her medical problems. Sarah responded, "Oh, you practice yoga?" The patient said, "Oh, yes, I breathe." Sarah replied that she had also "been known to exhale now and then." Pranayama - Phase I |
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Become True to Yourself, Release the Child One of my mentors, Dee Ann, said after the death of her mother she regretted that her mother never really understood her career. My husband helps university faculty use high tech media in course instruction, including television and the internet. His mother thinks he repairs TV sets. Tadasana - Mountain Pose |
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The other day the quote on my calendar for Women Who Do Too Much was, "You can't please someone who doesn't want to be pleased." Blanket Folding 101 - Savasana II |
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In our yoga practice we work within our own comfort zones. Asana sometimes provides us with relief of discomfort, then provides a discomfort of its own. Savasana - Corpse Pose |
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| October 2000 |
When I first began practicing yoga, I had no idea what to expect. I certainly wasn't concerned with whether I could do an asana well or not. I was unaware of benchmarks for improvement. Salamba Sarvangasana - Supported Shoulder Balance |
| September 2000 |
As yoga becomes more mainstream we reap the benefits of more classes by more teachers at all times of the day and week. Supta Padangusthasana - Supine Hand to Big Toe Pose |
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Residing in the Abode of Iyengar Yoga I love casseroles. When there is a complete meal with side dishes and dessert I often eat too much, but with a casserole and one side I can have a flavorful meal of just-right proportions. I approach my study of yoga in the same fashion. Adho Mukha Savanasana - Another Day, Another Dog Pose |
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What do we do when we are pulled this way and that, and all attempts at practice fall apart? It’s then we discover the true meaning of yoga. Nama Fuerstein translates nama as “to name”. To name an event or entity is to honor it. Parsvattonasana - Flank Pose |
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Last night I dreamt that there were three large holes in my new leotard. Let me tell you about this leotard. It is a unitard. I can recall the first time I tried on a unitard with the intent of buying one. I thought I looked like a big whale in it. Patanjali: Verse 1, Pada 1 Lunge - Preparation for Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana & Hanumasana |
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