Yoga journal hatha sequence series#

The sequence he developed kick-started my yoga journey, and for that I am grateful. People have asked if my departure from Bikram yoga had anything to do with the allegations against the founder.

No matter where I am, there is great reassurance to feel my practice is available to me at any time. Bringing more self-intuited awareness to my practice has helped cultivate my ability to similarly notice and adjust in my daily life when things get rough. I’ve been learning and drawing inspiration from all these experiences to weave into my own. I also began exploring new teachers and locations that fit with my schedule. Whether I have 20 minutes or 120, it’s all OK. My back has loosened and my hips are feeling much more open. I am realizing how much I love inversions and the creativity that comes from spontaneously discovering my own series. Sometimes I kiss my knees when I’m in Uttanasana. Instead of powering through my sequence, I relish it. The feeling of connection to all that is fills me with great joy and gratitude. I loved the quiet anticipation of the day, feeling the breeze on my skin, the warmth of the sun on my face, and listening to the birds singing their morning songs. Over the summer, I moved my practice from the guest room to our back lawn, frequently practicing at sunrise. I am the captain of my soul.” I am both the teacher and the student. I lost track of time and when I was ready to be done, almost 2 hours had gone by! I felt the words of poet William Earnest Henley in my bones: “I am the master of my fate. I lingered in some poses when my body felt the need, then eventually deviated-skipping some postures and adding some new ones.

I began with pranayama and tried to focus on that deeper space that said “trust the process.” My mind slowly settled as I began the familiar sequence. I think my ego was also fearful that all the hard work I’d put in may evaporate if I wasn’t in the 105-degree room going through the instructor-led poses. So one day, instead of getting into my car to make the drive to class I rolled out my yoga mat in our guest room.

I realized I was starting to feel like a hamster running on someone else’s wheel. Going often meant falling behind in other areas of my life, leaving me with stress and anxiety. Between the 90 minute class and the 20-plus-minute drive each way, it was a three-hour commitment. It was difficult to carve out enough time in my work and home schedule to get to the studio as much as I wanted. Moving at your own pace is not an option.

Yoga journal hatha sequence series#

However, the Bikram series is based on a set sequence and timing driven by the teacher’s memorized dialogue-which Bikram trains instructors to deliver the same way, every time. I wanted to linger longer in certain poses, and started to wonder if there may be benefits to other asanas and hand placements. I found some areas- like my hips and upper back-continued to remain tight. Over time though, the huge gains in flexibility, strength, and awareness started to slow. Last year I wrote a blog about my experience called “Finding God, My Way.” It was from that place of quiet I was able to slowly develop a deep and intimate relationship with myself and my body. The sheer difficulty of Bikram forced my mind to quiet itself in a way I had not experienced before. Over the years I had tried other yoga classes, but it seemed like a lot of awkward bending and twisting while my mind judged and questioned. Four or five days a week I would religiously go to class, which taught a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in humid, 105-degree heat. That’s why it’s your path.”įor three years I was a dedicated Bikram practitioner. Your own path you make with every step you take. “If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!