Sunday night ~ and the Eve of Week Two

I just got out of my night shower and I'm all lubed up with a combo of sesame and sunflower oil.  Yes, Dennis, I tried to get most of it off of my hands before getting on the laptop!  hee hee  

The first week was so very diverse!  Long days, to be sure, but SO MUCH FUN TO LEARN!  This school is so incredible ~ we experienced Chakra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, 5 Elements Yoga, Vipassana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and of course hands-on Asana practice for Hatha Yoga.  And anatomy of the body. 

You may wonder what lineage I am learning.  For example, Debbie teaches Anusara Yoga.  The lineage of this school is from the Bihar School of Yoga in India ~

http://biharyoga.net/

I never realized there were so many  "styles" and  "types" of yoga.  It is truly fascinating!

We are also studying Vedic Astrology and we study the planet for each day of the week:  it's color, gemstone, deity, chant, and what the planet represents.  For example, Monday represents the Moon, so the color is white, gemstone is pearl, deities are Shakti/Paravati, the mantra is Om Som Somaya Namaha, and it represents the Mother.  Our charts have been prepared and presented to us and my head is swimming trying to understand it all.  The one thing I DO know is that Vedic astrology is different than the astrology we all know in the west.  It differs by 22 degrees due to the Procession of the Equinox.  So in Vedic astrology, I'm actually an Aries, not a Taurus.  So much to study and learn!

Last Tuesday I was in the Group of 5 that got to cook the Ayurvedic lunch for everyone.  How I love GHEE!  The food has been cleansing and delicious!  In fact, I made myself a Kitchari tonight for dinner by following this recipe.  CINDY, how can I not think of you?

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/05/my-favorite-kitchari-recipe/


We take a hike almost every day after lunch and that is a very nice break after so much intensity of learning.  After that we go into Yoga Nidra which is a practice like savasana but lasts much longer.  Its purpose is to train the mind to go into a deep state of relaxation without falling asleep.  No success for me yet, nor for anyone else in the class ~ we have ALL fallen asleep!  Here's more info on the practice ~

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/1372/


And of course there is the chanting and the learning of Sanskrit.  I was really struggling with the chanting at the beginning of the week, but I'm getting the hang of it.  It IS very calming.  And my malas are being used ~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_prayer_beads


This first weekend was also really nice.  My roommate, Kim, invited me to join her and some of her massage therapists friends to go to an Improv show last night at a very intimate theatre.  It was INCREDIBLY FUNNY (just like "Whose Line Is It Anyway") and now I can say I have done Laughing Yoga, too!  It was the perfect release for a very focused week. 

So I must go to bed.  It's almost 10PM and 3:45AM will come around pretty fast.  I'm shutting down the computer for the week, so I'll be in touch again next weekend.

Have a lovely week ~ stay in the moment ~ and enjoy the journey.

With Love,
Diana