Yang/yin yoga

I decided to go back to Bethany for another yang/yin yoga class, and just like before the first half hour was hell. I went back just because I wanted to see if I could keep up with the flow this time around. Most of the poses in this class were apart of the seated sequence in Ashtanga Yoga with some added extras. I think I struggle with yang yoga because the seated postures rely on core strength, which is where i lack strength. The purpose of the pace and seated postures ultimately creates the intensity, heat, and activity that American postural yoga seeks. This style seems to be heavily influenced by fitness culture. The second half hour is yin yoga where poses are held for 3-5 minutes at a time. The holding of the poses aims to further the stretch of certain muscles in the various poses. The extra slow pacing of this is supposed to be relaxing for recovery from the intense activity of the yang portion. This embodies the priciples of yoga philosophy which are healthy body, and relaxation. I can make this claim because the music played changes to set the atmosphere. During yang yoga the music is fast, and electronic, whereas yin yoga is slower music, and more natural. Another thing about this class is we use boxes and straps from time to time to further a stretch or focus on form and the alignment of the body during poses.

Vinyasa Flow 3/22/18

i found out Tracey is no longer teaching yoga at the gym I was going to for classes. This week I did a vinyasa class on my own. I found a YouTube video similar to the routine we did in her class. I’ve been doing sun saluatstions and various other poses regularly so for the strengthening and endurance purpose I chose a familiar flow. I played my own music that was very slow and relaxed, and my flow aligned with that. I wanted something that would feel like I did some work without exerting myself like I have in some other classes. The poses usually done in vinyasa flow classes are beneficial for me. I have a tight back, and thighs so a lot of the poses help with my own mobility and functioning. I sit a lot due to school, and my internship so usually when it’s time for yoga there’s kinks in my body somewhere. Yoga is a form of self care for me so having slow spacey music really helps destress from the week. I liked practicing on my own because then I can make my experience what I need. However I am looking into other local classes for the following week.

3/8/18 Sivananda yoga

This week I did my first Sivananda yoga practice. I liked the Sivananda yoga practice because it was vigorous for brief periods of time followed by a period of rest. Sivananda yoga has 5 important philosophies which are proper exercise, proper diet, proper rest, proper breathing, and proper mindset. Proper rest, breath, and exercise are embodied in the physical practice. The flow started with  a cycle of sun salutations on each side. The poses were held briefly, so it was a fast flow that was in sync with breathing. After 10 cycles of poses we had a period of rest. The rest was very much needed to calm my breathing. I noticed the flow got faster toward the ends of the cycles once my breathing got faster. I’m not sure if that is intentional with the practice but I liked that. To me this practice seemed like the yang/yin practice I did last week, just not as intense. Another aspect i like about Sivananda is that there are other values that exist outside of practicing postures. An interesting fact I learned is that this particular practice is routined as in the poses are exactly the same and done in the same order.

Yang/Yin Yoga 3/1/18

This week I decided that I would go to different yoga class than the one I have been going to. I called a local yoga studio to see what classes were being held Thursday night. I found out there was yang/yin yoga class being taught at 7. I asked how the class would be for someone who hasn't been practicing for too long after a long hiatus. The person on the phone told that I should do fairly well and that the class will be a combination of a flow class, as well as some holding poses. I have taken flow classes plenty of times, and I did like the holding of the poses from ashtanga, and bikram so I thought this would be a great class. The name yang/yin comes from the first portion being dynamic, and fast paced, while the second half (yin) is more relaxed and we hold a pose for awhile for the most intense stretch possible. The class was taught by a younger woman named Bethany, she may have been the youngest instructor I have gone to so far.
The poses were mostly surya namaskar A & B, and standing sequence poses from the Ashtanga practice. There were poses added in the sun salutation sequences that I have not done before. For example after our high plank, we would draw the knee into chest and hold for a few breaths before planting the foot to go into warrior. While in warrior we would go to cactus pose (exhale), and then with the inhale deepen the stretch of the leading foot lean with heart forward and scoop our arms down before raising. This definitely made a difference in keeping balance and maintaining my breathing. After 20 minutes of this dynamic flow I had to slow down, and go at my own pace. It was impossible for me to maintain my breathing which cause my whole flow to be off, and I could feel the misalignment of my body when doing the poses. During the yang session the room is heated to an obviously warm temperature. During the yin half we did some forward floor stretches and held them for a long time, and then held pigeon pose for a really long time.

Atmosphere:
Ambient, atmospheric music played the entire time, during the yang flow the music had a faster tempo. There were giant heads of the Buddha on the various walls, there were mandalas painted and repeated on the walls of the practice space. The room was dark, except a string of low watt warm lights. The waiting room, and yogashala both had aromatic diffusers so the entire place smelled like lavender or something like that. The instructor only did a few of the poses, and mostly walked around and adjusted students.
Bethany incorporated a lot of new age philosophy in her yoga talk. She mentioned concepts of letting go of stress, accepting yourself, coping with failure, and perseverance. I have not had that aspect in many of the classes I have taken lately. It was nice to hear those things because I am overly critical of myself and I was getting frustrated with how I started to struggle with the flow. I felt defeated for a brief moment after having to change my flow. After class Bethany talked to me and asked how I was and what I thought of her class and I literally told her she's a mad woman and that the class was the hardest yoga class I've ever been in. The yoga studio has a bunch of different yoga classes and I have a free class credited to me so I am torn between going back to Bethany, or trying something new.