Do, Sense, Permeate
It is Pranayama/Restorative week, but you would not be able to recognize it here at RIMYI. For some reason, arm balances and arm variations in inversions came into the picture. I am menstruating, so I am a little disappointed in missing some of that work, but always things to do later!
Yesterday we did have our usual Pranayama class in the morning that is essentially a very nice restorative class. The afternoon was another “visitor special” led by Raya on Bakasana arm balancing. After working on all arm variations in Adho Mukha Vrksasana (full arm balance), he gave us some really great rope options for building “strength”, but reminded us that “strength in yoga” is not the bulky temporary strength, but sensitive, supple, and sustaining. He also had some good things to repeat in order to “gather” our legs in and become compact for the final Bakasana.
The evening class was basically a continuation of the visitor’s special. Abhi led the class through all arm variations in Adho Mukha Vrksasana, Sirsasana and Sirsasana II. Sarvangasana arm and leg variations, plus some seated twists finished out the class. Weirdly, there has not been much Savasana here this month. It is do do do, go go go, and then “class is over, put the props away”. I wonder what Geeta would have to say about this, as the last time I was here she was upset that many of our classes taught in the West do not give enough time for a full Savasana.
Last night Abhi did begin to speak about Prana (life’s energy that moves in all things) and its movement in asanas, for the first sign that we may be moving into “Pranayama mode” for our last week here. She mentioned the effort that is needed by any student to reap the benefits of asana and make the field of practice conducive to move prana more freely. She wanted us to assess in any moment what “attitude” we might be having as a student of Yoga. As stated in Yoga Sutra I.22, we can be mild, medium, intense, or extremely intense in our approaches. And, it is our intensity in practice that sets the pace of our progress on our path of yoga.
This morning we opened up the chest and areas of the lungs in standing poses with arm/ribcage focus, then went to inversions at the wall (or with support) to amplify the chest some more. Even in the supported versions of asanas, Abhi wanted maximum intensity! “Restorative” does not mean “lazy”! The work in these asanas prepares the body for the power of prana, so always the approach matters! She mentioned the needed progress to be aware of in our asanas – first we must “DO”, then we must “SENSE”, then we must “PERMEATE” every asana. FINALLY we ended a class with a clear set-up into a Savasana. Well worth it to enjoy the clarity of sensation and permeation of all that came before.
BONUS class with Gulnaaz took us on yet another journey of Padmasana. My hope was that my hips and legs would not be the same after this trip, and that actually might be possible – only time will tell. But, what I can say is that getting full-on push and pull from these teachers who have spent decades in medical classes and received countless adjustments from Geeta and Guruji themselves feels like being clay molded by a master potter. One adjustment from Abhi while we were working in Mulabhandasana (always pays to be in the front of class) and all the kneading of my legs and thighs from Gulnaaz have left maximum impressions and knowledge to work with likely for decades to come. Yes, INTENSITY matters, and building confidence to work for myself and by myself in different ways in priceless.
I have been “doing”, and I have been “sensing”, but to “permeate” truly takes time. A trip here away from “normal life” commitments and schedule is always a great opportunity for that time in practice and reflection. The last days in Pune will be short, but very very sweet.
