Tag Archives: yoga

Yoga is not just posture !

March 17, 2013

maxstrom

“Remember,
it doesn’t matter how deep into a posture you go,
what does matter is
who you are when you get there.”
Max Strom

Yoga is not just posture.
The form, a perfect physical body, is not the goal.
The body is simply the vehicle we use to bring us
toward a deeper experience of who we are:
The Inner Self.
The goal of yoga is to channel the mind, body and spirit
so that each works together leading to a greater personal understanding.
When all aspects are in balance,
we are able to transcend the physical
and experience the deeper subtlety of our being.

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The Butterfly Dream

March 7, 2013

baddhakonasana

Baddha Konasana
Butterfly

“Once upon a time, I, Chuang Chou, dreamt I was a butterfly,
fluttering hither and thither,
to all intents and purposes a butterfly.
I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly,
unaware that I was Chou.
Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again.
Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly,
or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.
Between a man and a butterfly there is necessarily a distinction.
The transition is called the transformation of material things.”

Chuang Chou

“The butterfly dream shows that,
although in ordinary appearance there are differences between things,
in delusions or in dreams one thing can also be another.
The transformation of things proves
that the differences among things are not absolute.”

C. W. Chan

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Asanas Poster

March 4, 2013

yoga-poster

From Tadasana to Savasana
43 Basic Yoga Poses

Standing Asanas: The feet are our foundation

Tadasana – Mountain Pose
Trikonasana – Triangle
Virabhadrasana I – Warrior I
Parsvakonasana – Lateral angle pose
Virabhadrasana II – Warrior II
Utkatasana – Chair pose

Forward Bending Asanas: An experience of flexion
Uttanasana – Standing forward bend
Prasarita Padottanasana – Standing straddle forward bend
Parsvottanasana – Standing head to knee
Paschimottanasana – Double leg forward bend
Janu Sirsasana – Single leg forward bend
Upavistha Konasana – Sitting straddle forward bend
Apanasana – Double leg wind reliever
Pavanamukthasana – Wind reliever
Balasana – Child pose

Core Asanas: Activating the abdominal muscles
Ardha Navasana – Half boat
Paripurna Navasana – Full boat
Dandasana – Staff pose

Side bending Asana: Creating space
Parighasana

Back Bends: Exploring Extension
Bhujangasana – Cobra
Salabhasana – Locust
Dhanurasana – Bow
Ustrasana – Camel
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana – Bridge
Matsyasana – Fish
Supta Virasana – Supine hero
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana – Upward facing dog
Eka Pada Kapotasana – Pigeon
Anjaneyasana – Crescent moon

Twisting Asanas: Revolving the Spine
Ardha Matsyendrasana – Half spinal twist
Bharadvajasana – Hip spiral
Jathara Parivartanasana – Reclined hip roll
Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana – Revolved head to knee
Parivrtta Trikonasana – Revolved triangle

Inverted Asanas: Turning it all upside-down
Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward facing dog
Sarvangasana – Shoulderstand
Halasana – Plow
Sirsasana – Headstand

Standing Balancing Asanas: Steadying the mind
Vrksasana – Tree
Ardha Chandrasana – Half moon
Natarajasana – Dancer
Virabhadrasana III – Warrior III

Final Asana
Savasana – Corpse

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Sukha and Sthira, Ease and effort

February 27, 2013

“Practicing yoga with strength and in a relaxed manner
gives rise to harmony with the physical body “

Patanjali

wheel

Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras, described two qualities which must be present when doing yoga :
Sukha and Sthira

Sukha, meaning easy or happy,
refers to our ability to stay confortable in a pose without tension or strain

Sthira, meaning firm or alert,
refers to our ability to stay present.

These qualities bring a level of conscious awareness
which integrates breath and mind,
and differentiates yoga from physical exercise.
When present we learn to accept our limitations
and proceed from where we are in a balance way.

From Shambhava School of Yoga

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Focus on seated poses

February 13, 2013

Iyengar Yoga Sequence n°2 inspired by Glenn Ceresoli’s teaching.

iyengar sequence2

Supta Baddha Konasana
Dandasana
Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Trikonasana
Ardha Chandrasana
Parsvottanasana
Prasarita Padottanasana
Uttanasana
Dandasana
Urdhva Hasta Dandasana
Padangustha Dandasana
Urdhva Prasarita Padasana
Paripurna Navasana
Ardha Navasana
Jathara Parivartanasana
Supta Padangusthasana
Parsva Supta Padangusthasana
Parivritta Supta Padangusthasana
Triangamukhaikapada Paschimottanasana
Marichyasana I
Janu Sirsasana
Paschimottanasana
Badha Konasana
Adho Mukha Badha Konasana
Upavistha Konasana
Padangustha Upavistha Konasana
Gomukasana
Garudasana
Pincha Mayurasana
Adho Mukha Vrksasana
Salambha Sirsasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Salambha Sarvangasana
Eka Pada Sarvangasana
Halasana
Karnapidasana
Setubandha SarvangasanaViparita Karani
Savasana

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Chakra chart

February 11, 2013

the chakras

The chakras are the spiritual energy centres within the body.
Each chakra relates to a certain colour and emotion, represented by a lotus flower and the number of petals on it.

Sahasrara is the crown chakra, related to the colour violet.
It represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.

Ajna is the third eye chakra, related to the colour purple.
It represents our ability to focus and look within.

Vishudda is the throat chakra, related to the colour blue.
It represents our ability to communicate.

Anahata is the heart chakra, related to the colour green.
It represents our ability to feel love and gratitude.

Manipura is the solar plexus chakra, related to the colour yellow.
It represents our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.

Svadisthana is the sacral chakra, related to the colour orange.
It represents our ability to accept others and to be open to new experiences.

Muladhara is the root chakra, related to the colour red.
It represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.

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Without effort, we wimply are !

February 2, 2013

“Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.”

B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Effort

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Focus on standing poses…

January 31, 2013

Yoga sequence by Senior Iyengar teacher Glenn Ceresoli.

iyengar sequence1

Supta Baddha Konasana
Dandasana
Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Swastikasana
Adho Mukha Virasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Utkatasana
Trikonasana
Virabhadrasana 2
Parsvakonasana
Ardha Chandrasana
Virabhadrasana 1
Parsvottanasana
Parivrtta Trikonasana
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
Prasarita Padottanasana
Gomukasana
Garudasana
Pincha Mayurasana
Adho Mukha Vrksasana
Salambha Sirsasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Salambha Sarvangasana
Eka Pada Sarvangasana
Halasana
Karnapidasana
Setubandha SarvangasanaViparita Karani
Savasana

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