Meg and Eoin drove from Chengdu to Cape town. This is a four-minute video of some of the smiles along the way. I still can't believe they did it! Catch the little boy running back and forth under Meg's back bend.
Category: The yoga of it all…
From taking care of two energetic toddlers who are far from sleeping through the night, to trying to get on the mat everyday I try to find the stillness and balance in moments here and there.
Vande Gurunaam…Reggae version
The "One day Gurunaam..." version of the Ashtanga opening mantra (chanted before every practice) is an old joke now. I've heard many teachers make it. No idea who started it though. Madonna has her Shanti-Ashtangi dance version. Here is our Bob Marley inspired one: Everyday Gurunaam "One day Gu-ru-naam To-day Gu-ru-naam To-morrow Gu-ru-naam E-ve-ry-day Gu-ru-naam … Continue reading Vande Gurunaam…Reggae version
Mat moments
L and R watching an interview of Richard Freeman on my computer screen. They were engrossed. L singing "nummmm" and R "Ohhhhh" after they heard Richard chanting Om. L pointing at a photo of David Swenson saying "papa". M reading a story to L after a run, in Pigeon pose. R trying to feed M … Continue reading Mat moments
Medium and Happy
Rahul and Leila have come a long way since their birth at 31 weeks gestation. At 18 months they have caught up with other children their age physically, emotionally and developmentally. Leila recently jumped from the 5th to the 10th percentile in weight, and Rahul is steady at the 10th. In height they are both … Continue reading Medium and Happy
Restorative day
With slight fever, a head ache, and general fatigue my first thought is "rest day". That is with respect to asana of course. A typical Ashtanga practice is out of the question the way I am feeling. My muscles and joints feel like they have sat through a ten-hour flight. It's a holiday weekend so … Continue reading Restorative day
Ashtanga lite
L and R are almost a year and a half now, and my practice is developing as they are. As they grow more independent I have more time for it, for the grounding of the big toe, awareness of mula and uddhiyana bandha's, fuller breaths, and deeper savasanas. Asana details: I have very slowly built … Continue reading Ashtanga lite
Rahul practices to Sharath’s live web class
This evening Sharath (Pattabhi Jois' grandson - the late ashtanga yoga guru), had a live internet broadcast of his class in NYC. We tried to catch it. It was 7pm our time. We were half an hour late. We saw was a picture of the class in ardha badda padma paschimattanasana or half bound lotus … Continue reading Rahul practices to Sharath’s live web class
Savasana confessions
Savasana aka corpse pose, final relaxation, or just "take rest" as Pattabhi Jois used to say, is usually practiced at the end of a yoga session. Lie on your back. Let your legs separate slightly and roll out. Keep your arms along your body with the palms facing up. Allow the floor to support your … Continue reading Savasana confessions
Down dog at dinner
How do you explain to a toddler who loves her down dog, that yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach? For every mouthful of her heavy pasta dinner Leila performed a deep down dog for us. I doubt it was comfortable, and certainly far from blissful!
Natasha Devalia 