Mexico City: September 14 – 15, 2019

Convención de Yoga Iyengar in Mexico City, Asociación Mexicana de Yoga Iyengar.

A variation of Setu Banda Sarvangasana. Here it is being practiced with the head and neck curved off the edge of the platform.

Here is Chantall Gomez Jauffred showing us how it should be done, with tremendous dynamism. She is exploring the connection between the heels – press them down – and her tailbone, lift it up! She is also pressing her backribs up away from the platform, and forward toward her chest.

Supta Padangustasana I. I am trying to persuade this student to press the belt up leading with the base of the big toe.

She’s being a bit resistant. She wants to pull her foot down. I want her to push her foot up and just curve the toes over.

Ah! Now the toes are coming to life!

Now she’s conected to her quadracep muscle. And as she presses up with the base of the big toe she can more easily connect to her outer hip, which in turn helps her elongate the right side of her lumbar spine.

Everyone is being asked to roll the lifted leg outer hip forward (away from them).

Parivrita Trikonasana.

We were increasing our awareness of our lumbar spines.

 

© 2019 Bobby Clennell.

Hiawatha, Iowa: May 31 – June 2. 2020

Workshop and retreat with Friendship Yoga

If getting up into Urdhva Dhanurasana feels out of reach, here’s one way of developing your strength and getting off the ground. Propped blocks placed at an angle help provide some leverage. Plus It’s easier to get up when you are already half way there. Now push down into the hands and feet, and lift your hips and trunk off the chair!

Beginners sometimes begin by supporting their back at the waist. As strength develops, and experience is gained, the student becomes better able to move the hands further down the back, press those back ribs in and raise them completely up off the floor.

With a little help the student can now walk her hands toward her shoulder blades.

My host, Nancy Footner made these beautiful plates.

© 2019 Bobby Clennell.