More Practicing

At my second weekend of Restorative Parner Yoga at Bodhi, I learned about Sen lines. Every adult I have worked with (including myself) loves Sen line work, so very relaxing and energizing at the same time!

Soon after, I went to visit grandchildren once again, the same ones I had begun my practice sessions with. Once again they were very eager, "do yoga on me, Abi, do yoga on me!" was heard everynight and sometimes throughout the day! They were ok with my slowness, and the fact that I had to keep referring to my chart. They learned the sequence before I did, and would remind me what came next and if I forgot to do any of their favorite parts!

Something that was very interesting to me, the children didn't seem to appreciate the Sen line work as much as they liked Marma points and the various yoga poses and stretches. This is very curious and I will do some study to figure out why that might me.

Practicing Fun

Soon after I began my Restorative Partner Yoga training at Bodhi Yoga, I went to visit my son, daughter in law and their 4 beautiful children. When I told them about what I was studying, the children wanted to receive Restorative Yoga sessions! Their eagerness encouraged me to get going right away on giving practice sessions. I also worked on my son, but nothing compared to working with the children! It was fun, joyful, playful and they immediately had "favorite parts". It made learning the moves and steps much easier. 

Even this very funny 3 yr old clamored  "Abi, do yoga on me"! 

FLOATING

Today I got to go to the beach and float in the ocean, one of my most favorite things to do in the world! As I floated, allowing the water to hold me up and move me gently side to side, I looked up at the sky and realized how completely relaxed I felt. There was no effort required from me, just the willingness to relax and be carried and moved, and receive and be healed. I was transported as I watched the clouds in the sky,  felt the warm sun and the soft waves, listened to the children playing and the birds, smelled the salt and felt complete joy.

Being the receiver in a Restorative Partner Yoga session, feels somewhat like this. Especially at Bodhi Studio.

Restorative Partner Yoga

Practicing with my friend Renae

Restorative Partner Yoga, or Ayurvedic Restorative Marma Point Partner Yoga.  Or something like that. I will figure it out in time. 

This is the next adventure I've decided to pursue at Bodhi Yoga. Not sure why, I'm sure it will become clear at some point during the quest, but for now it is enough that we had an amazing 3.5 days of learning and enlightenment. With an amazing group of women. The first of 3 weekends. There are many, many hours of study and practice to come. I'm excited to learn to deepen my practice and assist others in doing the same. 

After this first workshop I felt physically tired and a bit overwhelmed with all the information. However, I experienced a clarity I had not expected. Some issues that had felt burdensome, became less important and I was able to see things with a new perspective. Participating in Restorative Partner Yoga cleared and balanced my chakras. Thank you, Syl and Bodhi Yoga!

Sahasrara-Crown Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga Website

The Seventh Chakra, Sahasrara or Crown Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It governs your thoughts and beliefs, it is the chakra of enlightenment. The color of this chakra is violet.

From Bodhi Yoga website:

Your Seventh Chakra rules the sealing connection between you to your Divine Source.  There are more neuro-connections in your brain than stars in the universe and more cells in your body, than grains of sand on the planet; so who is bigger? When your “crown chakra”, the top of the head, is healthy, it can witness your Essential Truths in every other center of the body, right down to the cellular level. Issues in the Crown Chakra usually surface to help you learn that it is your attachments that can distract you from what’s most important. When your crown is open, healing occurs at quantum speed; it feels like coming home to the essence of who you really are, with Grace pulsating through you, witnessing to you your Divine paths, realized potential and infinite value.

The shadow of this chakra is attachment. The second of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism says that the origin of suffering is attachment. Connecting with divine essence balances this chakra. Prayer, spiritual practices, fasting, chanting, meditation,

My affirmation for the 7th Chakra:

I am a child of God. 

Mudra for the Crown Chakra

Ajna-Third Eye Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga website

The Sixth Chakra, Ajna, or Third Eye Chakra is located in the center of the brow, slightly above the eyes. It governs our intuition and insight, our understanding of what's going on inside and outside of our beings. The color of this chakra is indigo.

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

This space element chakra is located between the brow center of the forehead, with the pineal gland, developing even before the brain in embryo, often called “the third eye”.  This center is where you learn how to “move mountains” with your inner vision; to create the most abundance with the least amount of effort. This center also governs your inner life cycle clock, triggering puberty, adulthood and eventually the timing of transitioning from your body into Spirit, through a process we call death.  Issues in the Brow Chakra usually surface to help you learn to trust your sixth-sense, and let go of illusions, as you discern the difference between the time being right as apposed to “RIPE”.

Illusions, what an interesting shadow. To balance the sixth chakra, we can use guided imagery, dream journaling, chanting, vision boards, memory games, color therapy, aromatherapy.

My affirmation for the Third Eye chakra:

I am wise. I see. I take in the symbolic meaning of life.

Mudra for the Third Eye Chakra

Visuddha-Throat Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga Website

The Fith Chakra, Visuddha or Throat Chakra, is located in the throat area, mouth and ears. It governs our ability to communicate, express the essential truth of who we are. The color of this chakra is azure blue.

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

A great communicator is someone who can both hear and be heard, as well as understand the “vibe” of any given experience.  This sound element chakra encompasses all the way down to the “vibrational” level of the bright blue color spectrum. Your surroundings also “say” a lot about who you are communicating yourself to be.  When you live in integrity with who you present yourself to be, your presence will have cleansing effect on others. When you enjoy a balanced Throat Chakra you can speak your truths, as well as listen to others truths of who you are to them.  Issues in the Throat Chakra usually surface to help you learn to live more honestly, to purify yourself from the lies or stories you’ve been telling yourself, and let the truth of who you are raise your “good vibrations” to the surface.

In other words, the shadow of this chakra is lies of any kind. We balance this chakra by communicating with others, Living Movement, chanting, listening to others, writing, neck massage, sighing, laughing, and singing!

My affirmation for the throat chakra:

I express myself fully and appropriately. I hear and speak my truth. 

Mudra of the Throat Chakra