Wednesday, 1/27’s class at Moving Mantra Yoga Studio was a refreshing return to teacher training. Cyndi Bulka started this session’s classes with a bend towards core strengthening. Today a guest teacher taught a vigorous warm up segment for the abdominal muscles. This was interesting and will be further explored when she starts her own classes. The balance pose segment of today’s class was of most interest as this was immediately applicable (and easiest to remember) for my other mat classes. Cyndi warmed us up with strong, centering (Hara) breaths, Half Moon, & Forward and Back Bend Poses. We moved into Warrior Lunges, side stepping Victory Poses, and vertical arm extensions, alternating from side to side for strength and balance.
The chair yoga class at The Cypress of Raleigh was sparsely attended due to a scheduling conflict. The fortunate student received a focused lesson on foot (4 points of contact per foot) and breath awareness. We explored the Sitting Mountain Pose as a “re-booting” of one’s posture. Adding (and obeying) the 90 degree rules for the feet, shins, thighs, back, elbows and chins allowed us to shift our focus to improved breathing. We consciously flared our nostrils while inhaling, drawing our shoulders down and in. She was able to expand her chest and dramatically increase her air intake. This lead to fuller mobility with the stretch as she was able to sustain a long exhale through her mouth. We played with three of the four Swimming Medley Series poses. Maintaining focus on drawing the shoulder blades inward allowed for a controlled, fuller range of motion of the shoulders. This was very fulfilling for both of us to enjoy her improved posture and strength.
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