Kamakura-City: December 6 – 8, 2019

Three day retreat in Kamakura-City.

These three pictures of Fuji San were taken from a moving train. When you see her for real, you understand why she has Goddess status.

Fuji San.

Fuji San.

Baradvajasana with my translator and friend, Kyoko Atsumi. When turning to the right, press the  right side waist in, toward the left side waist.

Jathara Parivatanasana, with knees bent. As you turn to the right, press the left shoulder to the floor. Pull the knees right up inder the right armpit, and at the same time, lengthen the front and inner groins away from you.

Jathara Parivatanasana, this time with a helper pressing the opposite shoulder. Observe, her hand is turned back away from my armpit.

Passasana. This student is moving her left side ribs and her abdomen to her right, while keeping her knees level with each other.

If your heels do not touch the floor, with the feet together, working with a slant board this is a good starting point for either Malasana, or Passasana.

To keep the front spine moving forward, rather than having the back rounding just above the lumbar, train your body, slowly over time, by practicing Janusirsasana with a chair. To bring awareness to the movement of the spine, and to prevent the body from sinking onto the right thigh, practice Janusirsasana with a chair and rolled blanket.

Parivritta Janusirsasana with a Chair. Move your left waist forward and roll your right side waist and ribs up and back.

A much revered healer.

Dessert.

With Kyoko, and on the extreme left and right, two of her students. And let me tell you, the best hair-cutters in the world are Japanese!

© 2020 Bobby Clennell.

Notes from Pune: Yogadandasana. February 2019

Yogadandasana. Drawings made from a class taught by Rajlaxmi at RIMYI, Pune.

Adho Mukha Sukhasana. Some students reached forward to the grill.

Sit in Upavista Konasana: extend your ankles toward your heels. Sit on a narrow fold blanket. Fold your legs into Baddha Konasana. Place a narrow brick between the feet.

If necessary, go to the wall and hold the ropes. Turn the brick, first onto its flat side, and then turn it to horizontal. Descend the knees.

Place your feet on top of the brick. Now place a folded mat under the brick.

Now sit on the brick. Remaining on the brick, extend your right leg out to the side. Press the Baddha Konasana knee down and turn that heel up.

Change legs. (If the brick is hard, sit on a vertical bolster). Extend both legs out and return to Upavistha Konasana.

Bend your left leg to Marichyasana position. Turn left toes back. Press arm against bent leg. Change sides. Now move back to Baddha Konasana. Now bend your left leg to Baddha Konasana, right leg to Upavista Konasana. Lift your pelvis, raise your heel and push it forward so you sit on the inner side of the big toe.

Change sides. The students are now on a four-fold sticky mat or vertical bolster or a block. Wedge a brick between heel and pubic bone.

You can come into the pose by sliding down the ropes. To bring your weight to the inner edges of the folded leg big toe, roll forward…

…and now roll forward on both legs. Rajlaxmi came right to the edge of the platform to roll forward even more. 

Place the feet on a flat block. Then turn the block onto its tall end. Press the knees down.

Paschimottanasana: if you are stiff separate your legs.

“Yogadandasana means the staff of a Yogin. In this pose, the yogi sits using one leg as a crutch under the armpit, hence the name” BKS Iyengar: Light On Yoga. Bend your right leg back into Virasana. Push your left foot back (see more complete instructions in Light on Yoga).

The pillar was used to support the lifted leg, while the students turned toward the Virasana leg.

The knee of the Baddha Konasana leg has to turn.

Change sides. Forward bends: Janu Sirsasana; Ardha Baddha Paschimottanasana;

Triang Mukha Aika Pada Paschimottanasana; Marichyasana 1.

Paschimottanasana; Malasana; Uttanasana; Adho Mukha Svanasana; Parsvottanasana; Setu Banda Sarvangasana with a Brick and Tadasana legs. Some students used bolsters for Setu Banda. Move the shoulder blades deeper inside the back. Push the shins toward the shoulders, but at the same time, walk out with your legs.

Savasana.

© 2019 Bobby Clennell