Latvia: April 15–17

Workshop at Yoga Center Shakti.

Urdhva Danurasana with hands supported on blocks: Turn your upper arms in. Press your hands into the blocks, and your feet into the floor and lift your pelvis and torso off the floor. Place the crown of your head on the floor. Firmly establish this preliminary phase of the posture: connect the heels-pressing-down action with the tailbone- lifting action; lift your shoulders up, and curve your back ribs in until your sternum bone faces the wall. Then, using your shoulder-blades and pelvis in equal measure, push up into the pose.

Urdhva Danurasana with the feet supported on blocks. Start with your feet on the blocks, crown of head on floor, and spread palms of hands pressed into the floor. Roll your elbows in, parallel with shoulders. Bring your knees to the wall. Firm your back ribs and shoulder-blades into your back to fully open the chest. Then, pressing your heels and hands down, push up into the pose.

Saints Boris and Gleb Cathedral in Daugavpils is the largest Orthodox church in Latvia.

Outside the Mark Rothko Art Center. Mark Rothko was born here in Daugavpils.

Mark Rothko painting.

© 2016 Bobby Clennell.

Granada: April 8–10

Workshop at Yoga Estudio Granada in Spain.

Parivritta Sukasana at the wall. Before you rotate, first lift your front spine to the maximum.

This modification of Adho Mukha Svanasana with feet on blocks teaches us how to fold at the hips without rounding the back. Don’t be in a hurry to teach your body the language of Iyengar Yoga. It takes patience and persistent practice. Workshops give us an opportunity to work with partners.

Uttanasana with the head up, arms in Paschima Baddhanguliyasana, and chin supported. The helpers are not forcing the arms, just supporting.

Supported Janu Sirsasana with wall and bolster support. Align the center, mid line of the torso with the mid line of the head.

Sarvangasana with Chair Support. Pick up your shoulders and roll them back one-at-a-time and press your shoulder-blades into your back so that the breast bone comes to an upright position.

Granada is without a doubt, one of the prettiest places I have ever visited.

The local gypsies had traditionally lived in caves in the mountains surrounding Granada.

This spirited performance….

….was performed in a restaurant/theatre that was a renovated cave, dug deep into the rock.

© 2016 Bobby Clennell.

Dorset: April 20

Workshop at the Studio at Saddle Street Farm

Parivrtta Upavistha Konasana. As you turn the lower waist forward, elongate the side ribs along the leg you are turning toward. Point the upper elbow toward the ceiling. Press the lower elbow into the floor. If it doesn’t reach the floor, place a narrow block or a folded sticky mat underneath it.

The drive from Swanage, Dorset to Saddle Street Farm, Dorset took me through Poundbury, an urban extension to the Dorset county town of Dorchester. It is built on Duchy of Cornwall land according to architectural principles advocated by The Prince of Wales. It’s an interesting place, an experiment if you will. Though beautiful to look at, it’s somewhat lacking in soul, perhaps because it doesn’t have a proper main street.

 

© 2016 Bobby Clennell.

Utrecht: April 1– 3

Workshop at iYoga Utrecht

Supta Padangusthasana 2, with one leg bent: To maintain an even weight on both sides of the pelvis and torso, and to extend the inner thigh muscles evenly, place a thinly folded blanket under the straight leg.

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana. Spread the fingers and press the hands down.Move the upper arms and shoulders back, and the inner elbows forward.

Parivrttaikapada Sirsasana: without disturbing the central position of the head or the hands, twist the spine in the direction of the front leg. When turning to the right, hook the right shoulder-blade deep into the back.

The bicycle parking lots in the city were overflowing.

Hidden in the historical centre of Utrecht, and right next door to iYoga Utrect is the Saint Willibrordkerk church. Its rich ornamentation is stunning.

Another decorative column in the Willibrordkerk.

© 2016 Bobby Clennell.