Rock Climbing

Yesterday, Davin (my fiance) and I took an Intro to Rock Climbing class. We went to Seattle Vertical World in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle.

I signed up because it was a new challenge to try and I also thought it would be an interesting thing to do along with the yoga training. As I've said, I want to explore different forms of movement.

The class was 3 hours long and most of that time was devoted to the safety protocols of climbing (how to get into the harness, tie ropes and properly belay). I was nervous at first, I thought the height would scare me. As the class went on I realized that I was more scared of belaying. Having Davin's life in my hands was slightly terrifying. But we practiced a lot before we even climbed and then did short stints climbing up a few feet while the instructors watched us.

And so my confidence grew. Davin and I ended up staying an hour after our class to practice. I was tired and hungry, but the challenge was too tempting. I manged to even get to the top of the wall, after slowing down my climb and learning to carefully calculate my moves, I was finally having fun. But I realized it didn't matter about how high I climbed, it was about how I approached the wall. Not rushing my moves, setting up properly and feeling good - those were what I would count a the biggest take-aways. I was a beginner and every movement is new to me. That was when I realized I was practicing yoga as I was climbing. When I was rushing to get to the top, I was ignoring the whole point. Slowing down, enjoying where I was (clinging to a wall 30ft up in the air) and feeling the freedom of moving my body - that is yoga. I got to use new muscles, which I am definitely feeling today, and reveal a hidden strength.

Rock climbing also demands that you check yourself and your partner before getting on the wall. Are your straps double-backed? Harness above your hips? How is your figure-eight follow-through knot, etc...? You wouldn't start an asana class by launching into a large back bend, like Wheel Pose. You would warm up the right muscles to allow the movement. With rock climbing, yours and your partner's life are in your hands. With yoga, injury prevention and ease are in your hands. Both remind us to slow down and not rush the practice. Because that is exactly what it is - a practice.

First weekend!

This past weekend was the first session in the teacher training. It was awesome!

There are a total of 27 students (the most the program will allow) and 3 teachers. Also, students of the 500hr training program come in to assist. Theresa Elliott teaches Asanas (postures), Paul Bubak, M.D. teaches Anatomy and Katheryn Payne teaches Pranayama, Philosophy and Sanskrit. Almost all 10 weekends of this program are Fri-Sunday (Fridays 10-5, Saturdays 10-7 and Sundays 10-5).

Friday we had a program overview and jumped right into asana work, exploring lateral standing postures: Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II), Parsvakonasana (Extended Side-angle pose) and Trikonasana (Triangle pose). We become very familiar with the core of the body and I must admit that I did not really understand what teachers were talking about when they said "core," "pelvic floor," and "Mulha Banda." I thought I did, but actually being able to see what muscles are involved (in our anatomy book) and how to engage the perineum, transverse abdominus and multifidi and use them to help you into postures was amazing. That already has changed the way I approach poses now.

Saturday was an introduction to Pranayama and poses that help to set the body up for Pranayama. Then on to Sankrit with an introduction of the Yoga Sutras. The last 2 hours of the day was an introduction to Anatomy. It was a long day of sitting, which was almost more demanding than a day of standing posture work.

By Sunday I was exhausted, but jazzed. I loved the feeling of being totally wiped out, but wanting to get everything I could from every moment there. The day was dedicated to the core of the body. Again, the importance of the core (knowing what it is and how to engage it) is now burned into my brain. It is not just important for yoga, but for living!

From day 1 we were observing our classmates, checking alignment and learning how to cue them into better alignment (verbally, physically, do they need props?) already putting ourselves into roles of teachers. Our class is full of wonderful people from all age rages (early 20s to 70s!), abilities and body types. Having that range is so important to be able to see how different bodies work with yoga and movement.

There are so many things that we gained from this weekend, I can't wait to go back for another. But for now I am patient as I work what I learned into my practice and continue on the journey.

Homework Assignment #1

From "The Anatomy Coloring Book" by Wynn Kapit/Lawrence M. Elson, this assignment was emailed to us the other week as we haven't begun the course yet (3 days and counting!). We don't have to do the coloring on every page they assigned, but a) I know I will learn better if I do and b) who can resist a coloring book!?

So far, the pages we have been assigned to pertain to anatomic planes and sections (how the body is divided), terms of position and direction (how we make reference to movements, etc in relation to the body), the systems of the body and then we dive deeper into the details of the skeleton and joint structure.

One of the reasons I am studying yoga is to better understand how the human body works. I am continually amazed by what we can do, especially now, watching the 2010 Winter Olympics. Athletes are exceeding expectations of what we thought the body was capable of and inspiring the world along the way. Yoga can help us to understand the connection of our physical structure. With that, we become more aware of what our body is telling us and asking for. This book, and the course, will help me to further develop the knowledge of which muscles, bones and joints are integrated into which poses and movements, allowing me to have a safer practice and safely direct others with theirs.

Ommm

AUM*

I have to admit that I have trouble "Oming." You know, that beautiful, universe-enhancing, joy-creating sound of Om. I get embarrassed when it comes time to chant Om, whether it is at the beginning of class or the end. What if I am louder than everyone else? What if my timing is off and I am the only one chanting? Then, inevitably, my voice cracks and falters, I lose my steam and my Om skips away from my throat, like it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Once in a blue moon I have the full feeling of the word in my body. It sends vibrations down my spine and I can hear and feel my voice filling up the room with the rich noise. In those rare moments I feel invigorated and strong. The majority of the time it is the opposite.

This is something that I have thought about a lot (read: too much). I am going to eventually have to lead other people in the chanting of Om. I will have to be the loudest one and have the confidence to not care if no one else is joining me or not. It is a tiny hurdle to overcome.

In writing this post, I realized I can't honestly give the definition of Om (or AUM). I found the following in "Light on Pranayama" by B.K.S Iyengar (this is a short passage on the pages that are devoted to AUM in this book):

*AUM (Om) conveys concepts of omnipotence and universality. It contains everything that is auspicious as well as awe-inspiring. It is a symbol of serenity and majestic power. AUM is the everlasting spirit, the highest aim. When its connotations are fully known, all longings are fulfilled. It is the surest means of salvation and the supreme help. It connotes the fullness of human life, thought and worship. It is the immortal sound. Those who enter and take refuge become immortal.

Wow. No wonder I have struggled!

About to begin, yet already started

"The central question in a warrior's training is not how we avoid uncertainty and fear, but how we relate to discomfort. How do we practice with difficulty, with our emotions, with the unpredictable encounters of an ordinary day?"

-Pema Chödrön

In a little over 3 weeks I will start a yoga teacher training program. This is something that I have dreamed about doing since I took my first class 10 years ago. At the time I fantasized that it would be a fun thing to do with my life, a better option than "working," I thought. Of course I still think it will be fun, or I wouldn't be doing it, but recently I have realized that yoga is work. The practice of yoga requires discipline and focus, but even more it requires patience and kindness. I am not only referring to the pretzel-like shapes into which we try to contort ourselves, or holding chair pose until our legs burn like fire. I speak of the mental and emotional trials we experience as we journey with yoga in our lives. When discomfort arises during practice (and life) in whatever form it may take, we must meet that sensation with kindness and patience, extending that compassion to ourselves and others.

Lately I have been experiencing some forms of discomfort in my practice. In these months, now weeks, leading up to when I begin the course and path to becoming a teacher (or I guess I've always been on it, in a sense?) I find I am anxious, excited and nervous. Anxious and excited to start something I have desired deeply for so long, but nervous because I don't know if I am ready. Do I have what it takes to be a teacher? Not just a teacher, but a good one? I have no idea what it is like to teach yoga, but I do know that all teachers are students first, and as a student I will continue trying to meet my fears and doubts with compassion.