Yogarosa Blog

Day 1 RIMYI a Teachers Programme Pune, India Iyengar Yoga Teachers who mentor students from around the world were invited to this special program December 7-15. It took place at the private club PYC Hindy Gymkhana in Pune. The program will be very full, and we were asked not to schedule appointments during this event, as most days would begin in the morning and end in the evening. As we were awaiting Prashant, Abhijata asked us if we were jetlagged. We all said yes. She asked if we wanted her to teach a 5 minute class. We laughed. She said, no I’m serious, Parsva Swastikasana, Twist to the right! Open eyes. Open the outer corners of the eyes and look up, roll the right shoulder back! Uttanasana same Sirsasana head placement. Recover! Stand up. Padmasana right leg up. As many started to sit down, she said, no, standing! Now you will not be sleepy! Wake up! Eyes at the horizon level. Paschimottanasana Namaskarasana open the chest!! Sit down.  After we gr...

FOMO Fear of missing out is a real thing. Have you ever thought that you wish you had done something that you didn’t, or you went somewhere that you really didn’t want to go to, but didn’t want to miss out? I have been home sick with a very bad cold since Thursday. (5 days). 5 days at home would be inconvenient, but 5 days in India is a different story. Coming from Miami to Pune to study for a month with the best teachers in the world is a big huge treat for many of us. Missing 5 full days is a travesty. Each day, each moment, each class, is filled with learning that is spilled on us so fast, that the learning really comes later on during practice and contemplation. We are really exposed to the teachings here, not everything is absorbed or understood right away.  Part of the adventure of traveling, is that we are exposed to bugs that our bodies may not know. Having been couched and sneezed on pretty much all of last week with nowhere to hide, I caught a very bad cold that...

Saturday Geeta’s Class Sequence  Adho Mukha Virasana Adho Mukha Svanasana  Half did Supta Padangusthasana with the belt, the others did Utthita Hastasana padangusthasana with wall support We started with the top leg at 90degrees so that we could move the hip down. We were to move the buttocks down and middle buttocks in. Lengthen the sides of the trunk. Second time set up the hip properly with leg at 90, then raise leg without losing the hip. Half did Parsva Supta Padangusthasana with belt, the others did Parsva Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana with wall support  Start with leg at 90 degrees to acquire proper action of the buttocks. Second time set up hip at 90, then raise leg without losing the proper actions. There was a woman doing Parsva Supta Padangusthasana who had a hip replacement. Geetaji had us watch. She was bringing the foot up in line with the shoulder (as many of us have been taught), and she showed us how the pelvis goes wrong. Sh...

Abhijata’s Pranayama Class I remember when Abhijata was first coming to the US for the first time. There was a lot of talk about her “qualifications”, as she is so young. What could she possibly teach the more senior teachers who had been studying with Guruji for so many years? She ended up shining, and proved herself in her own right as a knowledgeable, confident, strong and charming teacher. Growing up with a yoga master has certainly given her a gift. I remember watching Guruji two weeks before he passed away teaching Abhijata. And watching her wondrous eyes as he told her in their Marathi language some details about Sirsasana. Then Guruji giving her some other points in Urdhva Dhanurasana. I watched as she obediently followed her Guru’s words. And how she would run to him to make eye contact in between postures. They seemed to have a very special bond between them. The love could be felt. What a beautiful way to learn, not only from this century’s greatest yoga master, but fo...

Geetaji’s Ladies Class  July 11, 9:30-11:45am When Geetaji arrives, she finds her seat and sits straight despite her age and ailments. She is sharp, witty, direct, and seems omniscient in the way she can detect students problems and foresee future problems. She is catching us in our mistakes, and our lack of understanding in the poses. She rightly gets frustrated that some basic points have not been understood, so she clearly points out how to improve. She sees the missing links. And not only reinforces them, drives them into us sometimes with a loud voice, sometimes by explaining the damaging effects of improper actions. She cares so much for our wellbeing, that she hammers into our heads what we are supposed to be doing, and doesn’t let us off the hook until we do it. At least she says “ok some of them are doing.” And for a moment she seems satisfied.  Today she spotted a young woman (in the back of the room) and asked her to come to the front. She asked her what...

Day 3 RIMYI Morning Ladies Class and Afternoon Medical Class Before class, the hall was set up and the rules were given. Ladies on their periods or anyone feeling unwell were given their place. When Geetaji teaches the class, it’s a blessing. Upon first glance, her body has weakened over the years. But as soon as she starts teaching, her power shines through. With the capacity to see the back of our bodies from the front, (I want to learn that) she commands us to see our blind spots.  Starting with open eyes for the invocation, she instructed us to open our mouths for the chant, to keep us more alert and prepare us for learning. Perhaps to open our minds. (that we evacuated yesterday!) To make space for everyone, we put away the mats. Without any mats, she wanted us to experience what it was like in the old days without mats. They didn’t always have mats. The mats have made us lazy, because of the grip of the mat, we don’t work our feet properly, especially our back...