A few months ago a new student and her friend arrived for
their first yoga class and cheerily said “no downward dog.” She was effective in making several of us smile,
yet we did practice downward dog, Adho
Mukha Savasana. Amy Dunkle wrote to me a
few years back, “yoga starts with the physical and builds mental layers.” Building the physical practice of yoga is
also rewarding. Since I’ve practiced
Adho Mukha Savasana enough, I recently found new delight in the feel of
pressing my palms into the mat and relishing the extension in my spine. Judith Lasater “Practicing Down Dog with equanimity
requires the balance of two opposites:
pushing away with the arms and releasing the backs of the legs. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali names these two
qualities abhyasa and vairagya, or “discipline” and “surrender” Based on
whatever we do during the day for work and exercise, yoga offers the
opportunity to move your body in new ways and practiced in a mindful, non striving way, your body readily says thank
you!
Satya means connecting with truth. Practicing yoga is one way to connect with our inner light. Breathing deeply, fuels the flames of well-being. Each day is a fresh opportunity to connect with the beauty of nature. I had 2 baby hummingbirds visit my flowers yesterday. Embrace a path that nurtures your soul. East Bank Yoga calendar is updated on a monthly basis. Namaste, Jill Moncur