Anatomy and Compassion

Illustration by Caleb

I wrote in a previous post that I have been watching Anatomy for Yoga, by Paul Grilley, to fullfil my anatomy requirement for my Bodhi Yoga teacher training.

I am fascinated by what I'm learning, and not just about anatomy. The shape of our bones has a direct effect in what our yoga looks like. For example, consider something as simple as putting the palms of our hands flat down on the floor (for downward facing dog, table top, etc). To make this happen, the radius pivots around the ulna, and not until I saw the demonstrations in the video, did I realize that not everyone's forearms pronate to the same degree. If you have bone structure that do not allow for complete pronation, then your shoulders will become involved anytime you place your hands down on the ground. Fascinating! I had no idea. It's like discovering a new species or something. A new understanding and appreciation for the need of having compassion towards all.

I think of the many people I have heard say things like "I can't do yoga, I'm just not flexible", or "my body doesn't go that way". They give up, without even trying. And on the other side of that same coin, how many of us have injured ourselves while trying too aggressively to achieve a pose, that perhaps will never be available to our structure? (Matching a photograph on Yoga Journal can be hazardous!) Again, compassion needed.

I'm not saying we stop pushing our edges, growth and progression require that. Hopefully we learn to diferentiate what is tension and can be improved, and what is structure and to be accepted. Our limitations can be our greatest teachers, as we accept them and learn to work with them. Self compassion is the key, and all compassion begins with self compassion.

Anatomy for Yoga, Tension or Compression

My grand baby, doing happy baby 

As part of my Yoga Teacher Training at Bodhi Yoga, I need 20 hours of Human Anatomy study, besides that which is included in the Training. To fullfill this requirement, my amazing friend Renae invited me to watch a series of DVD's, Anatomy for Yoga, by Paul Grilley. I don't know about Renae, but I was prepared to endure a few hours of boring lectures, to fullfil the requirement.

Well, I was most definitely wrong and how wonderfully so! Paul Grilley does a terrific job of teaching anatomy with many visuals and practical demonstrations of how our anatomy  shapes our Yoga. Absolutely fascinating!

In the first 2 hours we learned about Compression. Here is a paragraph from an essay Mr Grilley wrote on this subject, Tension or Compression: The Fundamental Distinction

When we practice Yoga asana the fundamental distinction to make is this: “Are the physical restrictions I am feeling tension or compression?” Tension is due to the stretching of muscle or connective tissue but compression is determined by the shape of our bones.

This idea has turned my Yoga world around, and I will probably write more about it later. Can't wait to continue watching!

How interested in my life am I?

I wrote an earlier post about a statement in Joel Kramer's Yoga as Self-Transformation, (thank you Bodhi Yoga, for sharing it with me). Here is another gem from that same article:


Sometimes "scattered" or agitated--you're off in different directions at once. Yet, at other times, you may also have great energy and be very focused and calm. Yoga involves learning to generate energy, and also to focus it into different parts of your body. This enables you to break through physical and psychological blocks, increasing energy, which allows new interest to come into your life. At any instant, the quality of your life is directly related to how interested you are in it. 

I really, really love that last sentence! It makes so much sense, but I had not thought about it in that way. It made me stop, think and realize (with a heart filled with gratitude) that my life is filled with so much I am interested in, and yes, my life is good.

Yoga is not just stretching!

Oh my goodness, the more I learn the more I realize how little I know. In all aspects of my life, but right now specifically about Yoga.

Yoga involves a lot of stretching, but it is not just about flexibility. Yoga involves strength, but it's not just a workout. Yoga involves breath work, relaxation, learning to be present, compassion for self and others, awareness, and so much more.

I recently read an article by Ganga White, "Standing Upon the Shoulders of the Past". One paragraph stood out to me. Ganga says:

One of the more valuable things I've learned is to listen to and trust is the intelligence of the body. After all it is millions of years old, which give it seniority to tradition! When I have been climbing mountains...I adjust my Yoga to a softer and more stretching practice which balances the tightening. If the body has been more sedentary I find that a more flowing, vigorous asana practice seems to "happen". There can be many ways to practice asana....

I'm learning BodhiFlow, an energizing evolution of Yoga Vinyasa; BodhiYin, a yummy healing and restorative practice; and soon BodhiSpin, a gentle blend of Kundalini style yoga. Along with Pranayama (breath practice) and Meditation. A grand adventure at Bodhi Yoga.

Becoming Ourselves

As part of my Yoga Training at Bodhi Yoga, I recently read a wonderful and thought provoking article, Yoga as Self-Transformation, by Joel Kramer. Yoga Journal, May/June 1980. 

Joel talks about how "for thousands of years yoga has been a tool to open the mind and body, bringing transformation". (I love moments of clarity that bring pure enlightment, and there are so many thoughts in this article that produced "Ahas" for me). He points out that "the transformation that yoga brings makes you more yourself and opens you up to loving with greater depth". 

I have been thinking about this. Have you noticed that we often refer to babies as being "perfect"? We instinctively know that they come into this world in purity and perfection, "trailing clouds of glory" as William Wordsworth describes in Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Chhildhood.  Children see life, nature, others, through pure eyes that still hold the magic of understanding their own divinity. But life happens, and we forget. We become jaded, burdened and hardened, our cares take up all our bandwidth and we no longer notice the beauty and magic of life.  How wonderful to have the yoga path to help us shed what we don't need and become more ourselves, to wake up once again to the magic of life and be able to enjoy it!

Then automatically we love with greater depth, because the more we realize our divinity, the more we recognize it in others. But that's a topic for another day. 

YOGA Post 2

I love to try new things and am sometimes overly confident about my abilities.

I don't know how to sew, but I decided to make a shirt for my husband many years ago. In fact I made two. With some help. They are great costume pieces my sons have worn. Recently I decided to make a jacket...I needed a lot of help to complete it. I realize I like to jump into things and figure out the "how to" during the process, rather than waiting till I know how to do what ever it is I'm doing.

Now yoga. I decided I could start teaching, after just a few weeks of studying. After all, I have been doing yoga for many years... Luckily my first class was for just one person, a sweet and supportive friend, so it turned out alright, but it was more difficult than I expected. Probably because I didn't make a specific enough plan. During the class I had to remind myself that I am an actor and could certainly act like a yoga teacher. Next week I will do better.

Eventually my skill will catch up to my confidence.

Thank you, Mandi, for doing yoga with me. And thank you, Syl, for your wisdom and for the wonderful Bodhi Yoga studio.

YOGA Week 1

I have been doing Yoga for nearly 20 years. A few years ago I began to consider getting certified as a Yoga instructor. This was not an easy decision, and not just because of the investment in time, effort and money involved. Yoga, to me, is a very personal, introspective, and meditative practice. I was not sure I wanted to share my yoga time by teaching others, and yet I was getting these nudgings.....

My thoughts and feelings shifted this past year and I decided to "dive in" and join the winter teacher training at Bodhi Yoga. I began studying in mid January and we met for the first time this past weekend. It was amazing! I am so thrilled to have embarked on this adventure.

I am learning so very much and have changed my mind completely about "sharing my yoga time". I am looking forward to sharing what I'm learning and assisting others in their Yoga experience.