Losing weight as a practice

"I don't stop eating when I'm full.   The meal isn't over when I'm full.   It's over when I hate myself."

Louis C.K.

  

The Yoga Sutras are full of direct and implied commands that the yoga process is that…it is a process.   The only thing we really do in yoga is practice again and again.   We don't really practice to get it right because we are different every time we get on the mat.  We just keep moving through it. 

Don’t you love it when your kids are gurus?  I have a son who is now a piano professor and a performer.   We never had to make him practice the piano.  He loves to practice.   He sometimes drove us crazy with his practicing.   

He has taught me that practice is its own thing.   It is its own reward.   Surrendering to the process is what works.   Of course he practices to make it perfect---he has a goal in mind but he knows he will never reach perfection and he is cool with that.   He loves the process of moving toward it.  

Think about letting go of the goal.   The practice is the goal.   Just process.  

Using yoga as our vehicle, our metaphor---off the mat, we also practice eating better and less than we can not concerned with the outcome.   We know our bodies will change.   We know that we can trust the process.   If we eat less, move more, breathe and release our stress---we will let go of our excess weight.

Let's surrender to it and love the process we are in.   How fulfilling would that be?

Maybe we can even try on a little gratitude for having weight as an issue in this lifetime.   It is so direct. It is right in front of us.   So in our face!

I trust the process of life and I am safe.

Namaste!

Dean

Date Night Yoga Tonight

We're getting hot, sweaty, and breathing heavy! Sound like the perfect date? It is happening tonight at the WRAC. I'm leading the class at 6:00 pm in the gym. There will be wine and food afterward.

Here is the practice in case you can't make it.

1. Dirgha Pranayama on your back with knees bent
2. Valasana Kriya
3. Ardha Vinyasa
4. Tadasana---Parsva and Urdhva
5. Surya Namaskara A
6. Surya Namaskara B
7. Banarasana
8. Gurudasana
9. Warrior Series including Warrior III and finishing with Urdhava Prasarita Eka Padasana
10. Vinyasa to Eka Pada Raja Kapotanasana
11. Ardha Dhanurasana to Dhanurasana
12. Makarasana
13. Navasana, Ubhaya Pandangusthasana
14. Vinyasa to Janu Sirsasana, Parivritta Janu Sirsasana, moving up into Ardha Mandalasana---half circle pose
15. Marichyasana A, B
16. Paschimottanasana
17. Baddha Konasana
18. Setu Bandhasana
19. Sarvangasana
20. Halasana
21. Jathari Parivartanasana
22. Savasana



Namaste,

Dean

Doing the same thing and getting different results

We've all heard that the recipe for insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We're lucky that we already know that yoga is crazy. We do the same thing over and over and over and the truth is we get different results every time we hit the mat. We do Sun Salutations and feel who we are uniquely today---spiritually, physically, emotionally.

I can do the same sequence of poses multiple times a day and the results will never be the same. The truth for me is that we never step in the same river twice. It is always new.

Don't be afraid to do the same practice again and again. It is why we call it practicing. I dreamt of an old piano teacher and it made me remember the frustration of wanting to play all the incredible music that is part of the piano repertory and yet being taught over and over that I would only get better by working minutely on the same pieces of music until they became a part of me. I was changed through this method of practicing and amazingly the music also became something entirely new.


Namaste,


Dean

Results

My mantra is do what gets results.

I've lately seen way too many people reading on the on the aerobic machine of their choice for hours on end to lose weight and nothing changes.

Number one on my list of asanas that get results are the Surya Namaskaras. It is no surprise that the Ashtanga series starts with Surya Namaskara A and Surya Namaskara B----5 of each. If that is all that makes up your daily home practice, you are going to get stronger, more flexible, have greater balance, and your mind is going to get quieter.

Salute the sun! Vary the tempo. Go slow and then do some fast. Mix it up. Do them outside. You can take them with you when you travel! Get your breath and body moving and lose yourself in the process.


Namaste,

Dean

New Yoga Circuit

Yoga Circuit #2

I had to include the picture of Arnold in Utkatasana with a little weight on his back! Take a deep breath and here you go!


1. Warm up gently and then fold over in Uttanasana. Grab your elbows and feel the breath move in and out. Soften the knees a little and go a little lower. Establish your intention to breathe and stay moving through the entire sequence. When you’ve ready come on up and get started.
2. Start with 2 Surya Namaskara A’s or your favorite Sun Salutation.
3. Move right into an Utkatasana, Chair Pose, flow. With hands over head, biceps by ears, move into Utkatasana on the inhale and back up to standing on the exhale. Keep the breath and the movement flowing 10 times. Have your feet shoulder width apart and go deep in the squat. Let your rear go!
4. 2 Surya Namaskara A’s.
5. Chatturanga Dandasana (pushups) in a flow. 10 of them. Inhale up and exhale down.
6. 2 Surya Namaskara A’s
7. Navasana (Boat Pose) flow. Inhale in Navasana exhale Ardha Navasna ---lowering legs halfway and the lower back to the floor 10 times.
8. 2 more Surya Namaskara A’s
9. Banarasana Flow, Monkey Pose. From Adho Mukha Svanasana, Down Dog, lunge with the right foot to the outside of the right hand. Return the foot and lunge with the left foot to the outside of the left hand. Inhale on the lunge and exhale on the return. Do 10 on each side.
10. Repeat the entire sequence.
11. Finish out with Baddha Konasana, Butterfly Pose, Paschimottanasana, Forward Fold, Jathari Parivarttanasana, on your back twist.
12. Savasana!

Namaste!

Dean

Yoga Intervals? Yoga Circuit?

My weekend yoga practice included experimenting with doing yoga as a circuit or yoga intervals. Okay, for purists, it probably is more like Grape Nuts---neither yoga nor intervals or circuits. However, it was a challenging practice and fun. The key for me was trying to make it as aerobic and possible by keeping myself to one breath per movement and not holding any poses except for those noted. This was a practice about flowing and staying balanced. It definitely wasn’t about doing perfect poses. Have fun!

1. I warmed up for 5-10 minutes---for me that included jumping on my rebounder to get my blood flowing.

2. Then I did 1 Sun Salutation/Surya Namaskara A.

Starting with arms at sides, inhale arms overhead, exhale over to a Forward Fold. Inhale and glance up. Exhale move back to Plank (knees on or off the floor). Take an inhale and on the exhale lower yourself to the ground. From there, inhale to Cobra Pose. Exhale, do an optional Pushup and then finish in Down Dog. Take five breaths and then jump back to a Forward Fold. Inhale looking up and flattening your back. Exhale back to Forward Fold. Inhale come up to standing, arms overhead. Exhale bring your hands together in prayer position in front of your heart.

3. I took a breath and did a Surya Namaskara B---Surya Namaskara starting from Chair Pose with added Warrior 1's.

From standing inhale to Chair Pose and exhale over to a Forward Fold. Inhale and glance up. Exhale move back to Plank. Take an inhale and then on the exhale lower yourself to the ground. From there, inhale to Cobra Pose. Exhale, do an optional Pushup and move into Down Dog. Lunge with the right foot and inhale into Warrior 1. Exhale arms to the floor and take the right foot back. From Plank, exhale to the floor. Inhale to Cobra and then do the optional Pushup and go to Down Dog. From Down Dog lunge with the left foot. Inhale to Warrior 1. Exhale hands to the floor. From Plank lower down to the floor. Inhale Cobra. Exhale, Pushup and Down Dog. Take five breaths and then jump back to a Forward Fold. Inhale looking up and flattening your back. Exhale back to Forward Fold. Inhale come up to standing, arms overhead. Exhale bring your hands together in prayer position in front of your heart. Immediately repeat the sequence but take your left foot forward first into Warrior I.

4. Then I did a Vinyasa into Warrior 1, 2, Side Angle Pose, Triangle Pose, Twisting Triangle, Pyramid Pose, Warrior 3, and finally Standing Splits.

From a Forward fold, look up, move to Plank, lower down, Cobra, Pushup, Down Dog---lunge to Warrior 1, right foot forward. From Warrior 1 take a breath and move into Warrior 2. From Warrior 2 put your right hand on the floor next to your right foot, left hand in the air. Take a breath. Straighten your right leg and move into Triangle pose. Take a breath and switch arms going into Twisting Triangle. One breath later, put both hands on the ground or on your leg and drop your head. Next breath, lift your left leg up and extend your arms forward into Warrior 3. Exhale dropping your hands and head to the floor and then inhale while you lift your left leg to the ceiling---Standing Splits. Drop the left leg on an exhale. Glance up from Forward Fold on the inhale. Drop back down. Inhale and come to standing. Immediately repeat the sequence on the left side.

That was 1 round of the circuit. I repeated it 4 times and then I did legs-up-the-wall pose (Viparita Karani) for 5 minutes.

Be great!

Namaste,


Dean

Outside!

Power Yoga at the WRAC will be outside tonight and every Monday and Wednesday nights the rest of the summer unless it rains! Grab a mat and get outside. Class starts at 6:45 pm.

Head stand/Sirsasana on the grass!

Om!

Namaste,

Dean

Class starts next week

Classes start at Wenatchee Valley College next Tuesday, June 29. Power Yoga is at 5:30 and the gentle, Yoga For Backs class starts at 6:30.

Practicing yoga with a group of wonderful, supportive people in the summer---does it get any better than that?

If you are worried about the Power Yoga class being too much---although you should always do less than you can---come and try it before you register.

To register, go to www.wvc.edu and click on Continuing Education. The classes are under the category, Health and Wellness.

Namaste,

Dean

Chaturanga Dandasana Variation

Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training calls this move Spiderman Push-ups. We're going to call it FUN!

Start in Plank position and then lower yourself down to 2 inches off the floor in Chaturanga Dandasana---keep those elbows in tight. Lift your left leg, bend your knee turning it out slightly, and then draw it up toward your left elbow. As you push yourself back up to plank, return your left foot back to its original position. Repeat with the right leg.

Now do it again...and again.

Keep breathing!

Here is a video link: http://www.livestrong.com/video/5245-spiderman-pushups-/


Namaste,

Dean

DVD Recommendation

When people ask me for a DVD for home practice, Eoin Finn's PURE AND SIMPLE YOGA is the first thing out of my mouth. It is a great practice and Eoin is a wonderful teacher. His cues are clear and his enthusiasm and love of his own practice is evident. It is available on Amazon.com for $22.

Namaste,

Dean

Last Night's Class

Okay, it was incredible. The class at the WRAC was the first time my entire family was in the same yoga class together! I lead the Sun Salutations---by the way the days are now getting longer---my son Luke did standing poses and a grueling lunge series and my daughter-in-law Katie lead the floor and finishing poses---my hips may never be the same. We used my son Dylan's music for the class. It is called "Lean, mean, yoga machine" and it is available on Itunes. Sweet, sweet class. Lots of sweat, joy, and bliss. The plan is to spread it around.

Luke is working his schedule to teach with me again tomorrow, Wednesday, December 23d at 6:45 pm at the WRAC. Come and enjoy!

Namaste,


Dean

Fire Salutation

This one gets your fire going whether the room is heated or not! Concentrate on your breath keeping it smooth, deep and flowing. Do it quick or do it slow, make it your dance!

Agni Namaskara---Fire Salutation

Start standing in Tadasana

On an exhale fold over into Uttanasana

Inhale keep your hands down, look up and flatten your back

Lunge taking your right foot back looking forward

Put your right hand down, lift your left arm up, turn and look toward your left hand---Parivritta Parsvakonasana

Switch arms, right arm up, left arm down---Utthita Parsvakonasana

Both hands come down to the floor as you push through into Down Dog---Adho Mukha Svanasana

Exhale as you drop knees, chest, chin down to the floor, rear in the air moving into into Ashtanga Namaskara

Lower completely down to the floor and place your hands under shoulders, elbows in tight, inhale and come to Cobra Pose---Bhujanghasana

Inhale and push yourself back to Down Dog---Adho Mukha Svanasana----take a big exhale

Keeping your toes kept curled under, flow through to Up Dog on an inhale and on the next exhale move back to Down Dog, keeping the movement going for 5 breaths---Urdhva Mukha Svanasna Kriya 5 X

Lunge again---right leg forward looking forward

As you exhale, bring the left foot up next to the right bending over in Uttanasana

Inhale to look up and flatten your back, exhale back down

Huge inhale to standing---Tadasana

Hands together in front of your heart on an exhale---Samasthiti

Woo Hoo! You've got another side. Repeat the series.

Namaste,

Dean

Get on your mat

Home Practice 2

1. On your back, feet flat on the floor knees up---breathing in and then pressing the lower back into the floor on the exhale 8x
2. Same position, three part breath 5x (Dirgha Pranayama)
3. Roll over onto all fours coming into Child’s Pose
4. From here come to Down Dog/Adho Mukha Svanasana
5. Uttanasana---standing bent over and grabbing elbows releasing the back
6. Slowly come up into Tadasana.
7. Surya Namaskara A---take it slow for 2x
8. Surya Namaskara B---2x ending in Down Dog
9. Come to standing and Side Bend on both sides
10. Simple Balancing pose---Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana/peace fingers grab your big toe and extend
11. Vinyasa into Warrior I, Warrior II, Reverse Warrior, Triangle and Reverse Triangle,
12. Repeat other side---Warrior I, Warrior II, Triangle, Reverse Triangle
13. Lunge to Prayer Twist and then to Eka Pada Raja Kapotanasana/Pigeon---then repeat on the other side
14. Come to standing and then Vinyasa down to a seated position
15. Paschimottanasana/Seated Forward Fold
16. Navasana/Boat Pose----work those abs
17. Roll onto your back for Lying Twist
18. Savasana
19. NAMASTE!