Denmark: May 4 – 6, 2018

Workshop at Studie Yoga in Denmark. Props, and Drop-backs.

Ardha Chandrasana with Chair and Wall. Grip the standing leg buttock onto the pelvic bone and move the upper hip and elbow up and back.

Curving back over an upturned chair. Revolve the upper arm skin in, toward the head. Observe, she is not gripping that slant-board – it’s resting lightly in her open palms.

Dropping back to the wall. Move the tailbone in, raise the back ribs away from the lumbar spine and move the shoulder-blades down. You can walk down the wall, and also onto a chair. To come up, stamp down through the outer edges of the heels and feet and propell your back ribs forward and up.

For those unable to raise the shoulders or press the shoulder-blades in, or who have compromised cervical discs, Sirsasana with two poles.

Delicious Danish hors deurvers. Mine, in the small bowls at the bottom of the picture, was gluten free.

© 2018 Bobby Clennell.

Pietrasanta: April 27 – 29, 2018

Workshop in Pietrasanta, Italy, with Vicki Vollmer.

I taught in this wonderful space amongst this privately owned collection. Back left, art by Yehudit Sasportas. The figures on the right are by Robert Longo.

The pose: Viparita Dandasana with Chair. Press the upper thighs down, move the heels toward the wall and extend the legs fully to lengthen the pelvic muscles and alow the pelvic organs to breathe. The wall sculpture is a George Segal.

I didn’t get the name of the artist who created this work. Anyone?

Gilbert and George, of course! Chair Sarvangasana with chair and bolster. Sometimes you just need to hold Sarvangasana quietly, with minimum effort.

To maintain strong abs, and if your back is strong, lift your shoulders and come out of Sirsasana slowely.

Another view of the space. The large wire sphere on the platform is a Mona Hatoum. Sirsasana: back brain to the floor, front brain to the feet: BKS Iyengar.

A closer view of this strong piece by George Segal. In contrast, Viparita Karani. Trust me, this seemingly simple pose calms the nerves and balances hormone levels like no other.

I taught a day of Pancha Vayus which are differentiated from the Pancha (five) Pranas. Sorry, I can’t immediately find the photo of the Pancha Vayus poster used in this workshop.

How to look styish without even trying. Vickie’s dogs.

This is the life!

A close-up of the Yehudit Sasportas piece.

A closer look at the Robert Longo.

Look at the Roig Bernardi!

© 2018 Bobby Clennell.

Oxford, UK: April 14 – 15, 2018

Workshop at Oxford and Region Iyengar Yoga Institute.

Virabhadrasana 1. The outer hips should be parellel to each other: descend the bent leg hip. Move the tailbone in. Compress into the hip sockets.

Here Virabhadrasana I is combined with a deep back bend. This student is not just leaning back to touch the wall behind him. His spine is upright.

Warming up for Hanomanasana in Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana with chair and belt.

In Hanomanasana, the work is similar to that of Virabhadrasana 1.

OH, to be in England now that April’s there
And whoever wakes in England sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now! Robert Browning.

Ustrasana. Keeping the navel against the wall, lift the lumbar and dorsal spine, coil the back ribs, and place the crown of the head on the support. Move the outer elbows to the inner elbows.

Urdhva Dhanurasana from a chair. Lift!

How many Iyengar Yoga teachers does it take to cut Guruji’s birthday cake? ORIYI events secretary, Evelyn Crosskey, who organized the workshop and party, looks on.

On the evening of the last day of the workshop, there was a party to honor the one-hundredeth year since Guruji’s birth. My film Yantra was played on a loop: http://bobbyclennell.com/yantra.html.

© 2018 Bobby Clennell.

Saddle Street Farm, Dorset, UK: April 10, 2018

The plan for this afternoon.

Keep your heels pressed firmly against the chair legs and then lift your pelvis so that it doesn’t drag. This is a chest opener, but while curving over the chair, in order to help maintain a healthy bone density squeeze your tailbone and grip the gluteal muscles onto the pelvis.

When there is no tall stool available, a chair and three bolsters works almost as well. Observe the difference between the two poses: Guruji has supported his chest so that it opens to the maximum.

© 2018 Bobby Clennell.