Hands On Adjusting

Hands on Adjusting

Hands on adjusting in yoga is when the yoga instructor guides you towards more comfort in the yoga pose. Some instructors will walk around the class and watch for people to adjust in their pose. A lot of yoga students feel uncomfortable with adjustments because they think that when the instructor adjusts them they are correcting them and essentially telling them they are doing it wrong. 

I am here to tell you all that it is not that at all. There are hands on adjustments to help you have the right alignment and form in your pose, (which is really to prevent injuries, not to correct or chastise anyone.) and there are adjustments that are a symbiotic exchange between the instructor and the student. A good instructor (in my opinion) will give both types of adjustments. 

The symbiotic adjustments are adjustments where the instructor is in a yoga pose themselves as they adjust the student. Because both are in a yoga pose there is an exchange of energy between the two people. I am a 5'7" woman and I am able to give adjustments to students who are bigger than me (without trowing out my back) by maintaining my form in my yoga pose and if I am doing it right, I can get a similar release to the release I am giving. 

In my training at www.gobodhiyoga.com we learned how to properly adjust each other and we practiced, over and over our adjustments. (It was heaven.) We did this on each other so we would know how it feels to be adjusted and how it feels to adjust. I enjoyed both and was very excited to practice them on Husband. (He didn't seem to mind.) Once I know how and adjustment feels I am excited to share it with my students. 

Because touching is an intimate thing I try to ask my students before hand if anyone doesn't feel comfortable with adjustments. I do this because I really don't want to touch someone who doesn't like to be touched. It will take away my precious energy and we both will feel frustrated. If this sounds like you then don't be shy to say "I prefer not to be adjusted" in a yoga class. I would bet that your instructor is just happy to know before they cross your boundaries. I also try to spread my energy out throughout all my students, meaning I may give different adjustments to different students. It all depends on the timing of the class, what I have energy for and what I think they individually would benefit from. 

The hands on adjusting has been one of my favorite aspects of my yoga instructor training for so many reasons. There is something amazing that comes from hearing someone say "ohhh thank you!" and there is something great about feeling people's energies throughout the class. I really think it is a gift to be able to be in unison with my students even just for a moment. As we breath together and lengthen in poses, great things happen. :) I loooooove adjustments. 

The adjustments for form and alignment are just as important. The important releases in yoga happen in proper alignment (and frankly the poses just feel better). There were poses that I thought were impossible to me, I really thought "I can work hard, but this pose will never come." I learned that it was not my ability to do the pose that was holding me back, it was my alignment. I learned how to adjust my alignment and found I could do poses I never thought I could. I also found the poses that hurt before feel better and there is room to relax. This is because of alignment. Instructors can verbally or hands on adjust you in your pose to help get you to this place of contentment. I promise, we instructors want good things for you! Let the yoga fully come through you. :) 

Til next time!

Namaste,

Camille

The tiers of the Bodhi flow & timing

The Bodhiflow is a vinyasa flow that we learn in our training at Bodhi yoga.

The Bodhiflow can be used as a powerful,   intense flow series if you want.  It can also be used as a slow, lengthening flow series. There are 4 tiers of this flow and in our training we learn the flow in many different ways.  (This is a jumping off point for us as instructors. So we can take it and go with it however we want.) I have done that with my teaching.  I will use pieces of the flow and go in different directions.  It is great to have a starting point when I need one.

This past week I had the opportunity to be a student in one of the Bodhiflow classes at the Bodhi yoga center. The flow is different every time I teach it and being a student was no different.  This specific time was a unique experience for me.

I learned how emotions that are present in my day to day life make their way into my yoga practice.  I've been feeling impatient lately for things I want in our life.  (Husband and I. ) and I have been having a hard time accepting the fact that life doesn't work on my time line.  In this yoga class I was in the instructor went through the flow quickly and over and over again. I LOVE yoga normally and I found myself thinking "We aren't done yet?  Are you sure?" Whenever I thought those thoughts I had to fight frustration and annoyance.  I had to take some breaks (more to mentally calm down. ) but I did finish the practice.  It was in Savasana that I had this thought:

"Things happen in their own time."  I sighed as I realized I was learning a lesson about my life. 

I am still learning the balance of working towards something to happen and trusting that the thing will happen. 

Things happen in their own time.  Even in yoga.

Namaste,
Camille

I received my yoga training at www.gobodhiyoga.com

The Gunas!

Today I want to talk about something cool in yoga: The Gunas! 

In yoga there are 3 energies that govern anything happening on the physical plane. The Gunas could be present in personalities, in the way we live our lives, in the way nature happens around us and in the way we approach our yoga practice. 

The 3 Gunas are Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva.

Rajas: (or Rajasic Energy) is the forward-backward movement. I like to picture the rowing motion that rowers do to get their boats across the water. Forward, backward, forward, backward. Rajas movement is intense and can sometimes be exhausting. Traffic jams are an example of Rajas presenting itself in our surroundings. Another example is when a rain storm turns into a hail storm. There are people who have Rajasic personalities. (I bet you know someone like that, someone who is intense, willful and maybe even manipulative.I do and I'm exhausted thinking about them.)  

A Rajasic yoga pose would be Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose). The rajas comes into play with the front leg and the back leg pushing simultaneously into the ground. This creates the forward, backward energy flow throughout your body. The forward, backward energy flow that comes in this pose can be invigorating and empowering and that may be why I enjoy this pose so much. 

Tamas: (or Tamasic Energy) is the upward-downward movement. This movement is strong, deep and internally focused. I like to picture a tree with its roots beneath it and its top reaching to the sky in one, continuous line. The bandhas are an example of Tamas in yoga. (You are sealing and lengthening upward.) Some negative examples of Tamas in emotions are fear, slothfulness, and inattentiveness. Tamas is present in someone when they are resistant to try a yoga posture because of fear, or uncertainty. (We've all been there.) 

A Tamasic yoga pose would be Vrksasana (Tree Pose). Another Tamasic yoga pose would be Tadasana (Mountain Pose). These poses are similar in that there is energy going downward and upward, creating the long line. You feel this in these poses when the crown of your head lifts as you plant through the balls of your feet. 

Sattva: (or Sattvic Energy) is the side to side movement. Rajas and Tamas both are high energy Gunas. Sattva, is the balanced Guna. The energy of Sattva is peaceful, delicate and graceful. I like to picture waves in the ocean moving from one side to the other in a constant, peaceful way. Sattvic energy is pure-minded with neither judgement nor self-awareness. In a good Savasana Sattva will come into you. If a person has a Sattvic personality they are a calming influence, living in harmony with who they are what they believe. Sattvic people tend to bring peace into other's lives.

A Sattvic yoga pose would be Prasarita Padottanasana (Straddle Forward Fold Pose). This pose involves the side to side energy with the straddled legs and can bring the Sattvic peace in the forward fold. I particularly love this pose for that reason. If I am feeling insecure or full of self-doubt, I go into Prasarita and as I push outward through my legs I feel calm wash over me. I suddenly don't feel scared or worried anymore, I feel peace in the moment. That is Sattva working in me. 

The 3 Gunas can be used all throughout your yoga practice. There are poses that primarily use specific Gunas, but each pose will have an aspect of all 3 of the Gunas. If you understand the energy flow through you while you are in a pose, I think you will better feel the pose. The pose will begin to feel more natural and you'll be able to deepen into the pose. 

Have a great week

Namaste'

-Camille

I received my yoga (& Guna) knowledge from Bodhi yoga. www.gobodhiyoga.com