To practice or not to practice – even the most devoted yogini asks herself this once a month.
Here in Pune, women on their period are given a different, more restful sequence to follow. So they will do all the standing and seated asanas and the twists with the rest of the class. When the class goes into inversions (which is what we practice towards the end of the session), the menstruating ladies go into either forward bends or restful supine positions.
When I was in Mysore last year I found out that in the Ashtanga tradition, women are allowed 3 rest days while on their period and these days are called the ‘Ladies’ Holiday’.
Now that we know that two very old traditions of yoga recommend rest during this time, it’s worth dwelling on why. I’m sure I’ve talked about it in a previous blog, but the most obvious reason is that inversions force the flow of blood to go against the natural course, which may lead to unhealthy periods. Also, when you start to integrate bandhas with your asanas, the mula bandha opposes the flow of blood again.
Mensturation is also the time when a woman’s body regenerates and gets ready to procreate again. This ability to procreate is held holy and revered in many cultures. This is a time for a woman to slow down and give time and space to her body, spiritually and physically.
When I first started practicing yoga, I admit I thought not practicing when you’re menstruating was just a myth. And so I practiced all the time. A lot of us can get away with intense challenging practice sessions even while we’re on our period. However, your body will change and it’s important to be attuned to these changes. Your flexibility levels vary day to day, as does your stamina and state of mind. As your body and your practice change you can expect that one day you may just want to relax during your period. Listen to your body, don’t just obey your mind.
How did I make peace with easing up on my practice? I decided to take it the Iyengar way. During my self practice I spent a lot of time in Supta Baddhakonasana and in various forward bends. I did a lot of hip openers because I find that feels good. I worked on my Hanumanasana as well. My back feels relaxed and flexible and I still feel like I did a good practice.
On to other related topics. Lately I’ve started looking into having a zero-waste period. As many readers may know, sanitary napkins and tampons are non biodegradable or recyclable and end up in landfills. There are reams online about TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) but my primary interest in a zero-waste period is the environment. Pads and tampons started to feel like the deep-fried, coated in refined sugar, unhygienic sweet that I didn’t even want to look at. I discovered alternatives. Here’s a video that will shed more light on this:
And if you’re interested in getting your own set of re-usable pads, you can get them at the link below. The reason I like this organisation is because they are involved with lots of rural initiatives.
Today was the first day I had an early morning session. I’ve become used to waking up around 7, so 5 am was a challenge (funny how easy it is to get into the habit of waking up late). I got ready quickly and hurried to the class. As usual the class was full, even at that early hour. Besides the yoga classes, I continue to read voraciously, and these days I’m reading Indian Superfoods by Rujuta Diwekar.
Rujuta’s books are relevant to our lives and times. By advocating for local food she makes health and fitness accessible to the masses. Most of us are so busy with the mundanity of life, that we don’t have time to hunt down the best quality goji berries or chia seeds. So this book is a great resource for those who would like to eat well with the least hassle. For me it was great because I believe in simple food and wholesome health. To stay in optimum health and shape is more a function of eating simple unadulterated food, instead of exotic produce and unpronounceable ingredients lists.
I believe if you focus on quality, then the most commonly available ingredients will have you glowing like a lightbulb.
In addition to this, Rujuta has also brought to light lots of fruits and vegetables from different regions in India. It helps in us becoming curious and a bit more experimental with our food, and also inculcates a sense of awareness of the richness of what our land has to offer. From ghee to something called the ambadi fruit, her book makes local produce come alive and become tempting. This blog isn’t a summary of the book, but just a little bit of info. The book has a lot more information to offer and I would really suggest that you read Indian Superfoods. However, here is a little bit of information to pique your interest:
Ghee – It’s a myth that ghee is fattening. In fact, it is lipolytic, it breaks down fat. So if you eat ghee you’re helping in breaking down stubborn fat. Helpful advice that she gives for women: If you get skin breakouts before or with every period eat ghee at least three times a day. Plus she has a bonus recipe for how to make ghee.
Kokum – this is a fruit I haven’t had, but I had a drink made out of this at Dastkaar. Rub kokum butter on the soles of your feet right before you sleep and you will sleep deeply, regardless of how stressed and frazzled you are. Definitely on my shopping list.
Banana – here I have a banana before every class. Actually, in Bangalore as well. It’s a myth that bananas are fattening. They are low in fat and help in fat burning and in reducing cholesterol!
Kaju – good to combat PCOD and hypothyroidism. Prevents adult acne and improves fertility too!
Ambadi – I’ve never had this plant nor heard about it. Another item on my shopping list. If you know how to pronounce this word, do let me know. Interestingly, this local green (and other’s like it) are called ‘orphan crops’, crops that no one grows because there is no demand for them. You can make it into a sabzi and get your iron, vit B and folic acid from it. The stems of the Ambadi plant are used to make jhadoos and fabric. I wonder if they make yoga mats out of this…
Rice – prevents premature wrinkling and supports good hair growth. Need I say more?
Coconut – doesn’t contain cholesterol because it’s a plant based food. Plus it actually helps in reducing ‘central adiposity’ (fat in the middle) and so helps in ensuring a slim waist.
Aliv – used in laddoos! Great for skin, it evens out skin tone, gets rid of patches and naturally brightens the complexion. Wonder if Diwali laddoos contain this seed…
Jackfruit – low in fat and rich in fibre, so it helps in reducing cholesterol levels. Also, the fruit has a lot of anti-oxidants.
Sugar – don’t replace with jaggery as both have different properties. Jaggery adds heat to the body while sugar is a coolant.
If the above points were interesting, you should go out and get a copy of Indian Superfoods. It does give you food for thought and even if you’re unable to apply everything she talks about into your life, it still helps to be aware of what we are eating and what are the food choices that are available to us.
My copy of Indian Superfoods by Rujuta Diwekar.
I’ve written about fenugreek or methi, another spice I consider a superfood in this blog. Because it’s available readily in Indian kitchens, you might find the post useful.
I had a 7 am class this morning and boy was it jam packed! I think the practice hall can accommodate about 25 people comfortably but we crammed in about 50 people. We were told to keep our mats right next to each other. To adjust and to understand. In life and on the mat.
My self practice was in the evening today and it was simply AMAAAAAAAZING!!!! I had been avoiding practicing back bends for a while. I’ve analysed why in my head several times, however will take reams and reams of blog posts to get into why. Anyways, what I really like about the self practice sessions here is that the students come and practice with unwavering dedication, even though there are no teachers to help out or to guide. I come across so many people who say that they need to join a class else they slack off. Until now I understood this as a lack of inspiration to work out, to dance, to practice yoga etc. However, when I look around at the self practice room and see people practicing intensely, I have a new found respect for those who maintain a regular fitness regime. For myself, yoga isn’t a fitness regime. I’ll risk sounding clichéd, but it’s like brushing my teeth. It sets the pace of my days, it makes me feel balanced, it helps me focus and express myself. Yoga simply defines my days.
Soup of the Day: Tomato and Carrot
Today also marks the momentous occasion of me buying my very first Iyengar yoga shorts. There is a local man here (a Mr. Vasanth), who along with his wife makes yoga shorts and tees and props too. I’m going to upload his contact details here so that all who are interested can contact him. They customize the shorts as well, so I’ve asked for plain black. Until then I will make do with the blue tie and dyed ones I chose from amongst the ones he had.
And finally my first weekend in Pune has arrived! Anuja and I are going out for a meal so that we can let our hair down and set the tone for the weekend. I have two complete days to work this exhaustion out of my system (maybe going out tonight isn’t in line with that goal…). Anyways, girls who work hard need to play hard too.
Also, we watched ‘Hush’ last night. Completely forgettable.
Soup of the Day: Ghia soup. I’m telling you, a hostess after my own heart.
I’m not sure whether it’s the my cold or it’s the intense practice here, but by the end of each practice session I’m EXHAUSTED. This level of exhaustion is new to me. In Bangalore I’m up super early and I have loads of energy to teach morning AND evening AND to do my self practice AND to write AND go to work. Here I’m too tired to even eat sometimes and I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. This morning I woke up at 6, but lazed around in bed because I had to be at the institute only by 10.30 AM. These small luxuries will only be available this month to me, I reasoned.
Today I had my self practice session first. I got there early and spoke to a few other first time students. And then it was time to quiz Mr. Pandurang for all everything he could tell me. Who was this Pandurang Rao and how was he so intimately connected to the institute? What was his story? I decided to start asking him in Hindi about how long he’s been here. He peered up at me from behind his thick glasses in surprise. After a few questions we fell into an easy conversation. He told me that Prashaant, Geeta and he used to practice with Guruji in the early 60s, in the house in the city, which is where the family used to stay then. The loyal students at the time felt that Mr. Iyengar should have a place of his own to teach and practice in, similar to how he had studios all across the world. Mr. Pandurang was a part of the original group of people who toiled hard to secure and create the space the world knows as RIMYI. The opening was in 1975. Pandurang speaks in the same low voice and neither his face nor his voice have any expression. “What year where born?” he asked me abruptly.
“1982,” I replied.
“Hmmm…abh dekho, yeh 1975 se hai. Aap thoda time do. Yahaan ke barre mein bahaut hai seekhne ko.” And with that our tete a tete came to an end because I had to go for my self practice session.
My self practice today went a lot better than yesterday, partly because I vegetated the morning away, conserving my energy for the session. Here I encountered another luxury, the luxury of practicing with no time limits. At home we all have time constraints. Having what seems like all the time in the world and all the tools at your disposal, can put you in your happy place. However, it can be overwhelming too.
Room where my led class happens. Pink ropes, what more could a girl want?
My led class was in the evening today and I met a Korean student while crossing the road and we chatted all the way to the institute. After changing into the ‘uniform’ (more on this later), we trudged up three flights of stairs to the Women’s class. Twice a week the institute has a women’s only session and I get to take the Friday eve women’s class. The teacher is a bundle of energy. She keeps a nonstop banter going through the class. And she keeps her sharp eyes on everyone. The caught me looking at the floor and shrilled, “BANGALORE!!! Keep your eyes open! Always! You are with me! You are with the class! You are with YOURSELF!!!”
It’s my turn to be at the receiving end I thought to myself as my mouth curled up into a smile and I nodded lightly.
While doing the Trikonasana: “BANGALORE!!! Look straight at me! You are in my class! Stay in my class! Stay with us! What are you looking at the ceiling for?!”
Next time, she caught me glancing at the clock and she bellowed, “Why do your eyes always go up?!!! TRANCE mein chali jaati hai (giggles). Trance mein jaana hai par meri class mein nahin. In this class just go into the Trikonasana.”
During Sirsasana she bellowed, “BANGALORE!!! Again! Be with the class!!! Come to the centre of the room, place your mat HERE and now face that way and now up you go”
During the Sarvangasana: “BANGA-, wait what’s your name?”
Me: Pragya
Teacher: “Ek to itna lamba naam leke aa jaati hai. Look! Your blankets are uneven! Make the even end on one side and odd end on the other side. Yes, like that.”
As we filed out of class, I said my customary thank you to which she said a simple: Good.
Hmmm, go figure.
I walked home and sat to pen down the day. As I tied together some lose ends at work, Anuja (provider of the hot soups) and I made plans for the weekend. I want to see the sights and sounds of Pune. See different facets of the city. She’s proving to be a great storehouse of info…and she’s following this blog too :).
But first we’ve decided to watch a scary film on Netflix tonight. Turns out, both of us love scary movies, but prefer watching them with people.
The first day is always a day of exploration and learning.
My first class was on the second floor and we went through the standing asanas. However, because it was the Intermediate class we were expected to know how to do the Sirsasana, Halasana and Sarvangasana. In my class in Bangalore we did the Sarvangasana and Halasana with the help of chairs, however, here the only props we used were thick mats under our shoulders.
Post the class we had a break of 30 minutes after which the hall on the first floor was free for self practice. During this time we are allowed the use of the hall and all the props to further our practice. Since I wasn’t sure of what to expect, I decided to repeat what we had done in the led class and take my time with the asanas. Since I’m working on my Hanumanasana, I built up to that as well. Unfortunately, by this time (after almost 4 hours of practice) I was completely depleted of energy and didn’t give the practice my 100%. However, tomorrow my self practice and led class have a gap, so I think I’ll be able to use my time much more judiciously tomorrow.
Once I got home I searched for a good spot for wifi reception. The flora and fauna and the monsoons ensure the wifi signal is weak. However, good karma came to my rescue and my sister’s friend (who lives in the house next door)n offered me her wifi and the use of this space:
She happens to be a designer with a flair for interiors and this is her office. So for the entire month, this is what my workstation looks like. My desk is right next to hers, so I’ve got good company too. And hot homemade soup in the evenings (today it’s pumpkin soup). I I will be designing plans and blogging from here.
As for my pratice schedule, here it is for your reference:
Unfortunately my allergies have flared up. Leaving your house can be a messy affair for a homebody like me. I think of my house in my absence and I simply can’t tolerate the thought of a messy house left to it’s own devices. I need my house to be spic and span in my absence so that a thin film of dust is all I really have to deal with on my return. So for the past two weeks I’ve been cleaning along with packing and my nose has paid the price dearly. However, I managed to clear the table tops and the counters and ensure that things were in their rightful places before I went to sleep last night. And once settled in comfortably I Skyped late into the night with a friend of mine, excitedly catching up on all the old and what it feels like to be on the brink of the new.
I woke up early today and did a quick practice after which I showered and drove myself to a friend’s place to entrust him with the care of my car for the next few weeks, and to partake of whatever breakfast he could offer an excited yogi just about to embark on a great adventure. I still remember that the last time I came back after a long trip, the battery of my car fought a slow death leaving me stranded many a time. This time I wasn’t going to take chances, specially not with breakfast.
I managed to catch a few minutes of sleep on the plane before we landed, but airplane don’t really count by way of making you feel rested. The opposite, yes. I deplaned to find out that there was a transportation strike in Pune and therefore couldn’t get a pre-paid taxi to my accommodation. Ola shared cab to the rescue.
My accommodation is a room nestled in a culvert near RIMYI. I have a clean, freshly painted room all to myself. The kitchen is easily accessible and I spent a little while getting to know my hostess over a mug of (much needed) hot green tea. Turns out that the house is situated on Sudheer Pawar Path, and Sudheer Pawar was my hostess’s uncle! He was an officer of the Indian Air Force who crash landed due to a malfunctioning airplane and the government named the road in his honor. Add a bit of history to anything, and you increase my wonder for it manifold.
My hostess was kind enough to provide me some paranthas for lunch and after a quick rest I decided to go exploring. My hostess gave me clear and concise directions and I reached the institute in no time. The evening timings of the institute are 4-6 pm and I was a bit early. I made enquiries with the guard who told me that I should come at 4 and not to worry as there won’t be much of a crowd. I remembered the mad rush at KPJAYI and wanted to make sure. Finally he told me that there is only one day of the year when there is a rush (I forget which one) and after that since there are no new admissions, there is no rush. I did notice that there was a board on the gate which said that the admissions are closed until May 2017. And here’s where I felt grateful that I had somehow beat the queues.
I decided to explore a bit more and wandered a bit further down the road where a random lady walking next to me started lamenting about the transport strike. And she didn’t trust Ola. Not sure what she was planning to do. I bought myself a toothbrush, toothpaste and a coffee and answered some messages until it was time to head to the institute.
I decided to ask for the legendary Mr. Pandurang Rao at the institute and see if I could register today, since I was already there, instead of having to wait until tomorrow. I know these guys are sticklers for rules and I wasn’t sure I would be entertained. However, I was! Mr. Rao handed me the registration form and once I’d filled it out he drew up my schedule on a pink post it…only to ask me once again how long I’ve been practicing and then relapsed into deep thought. Then he decided to make a phone call and spoke to the person on the other end about ‘the student from Bangalore’. The conversation was in Marathi, so even though I heard it all, I couldn’t understand it. He came back and asked me ‘Can you do the Sirsasana?’ I said yes and he then took a while to figure out whether to put me in the Intermediate or the Senior class. Finally, the Intermediate it is and I have to report to the Ist floor tomorrow morning at 7 am.
My hostess is taking us all out for dinner tonight, so I get to meet some of my housemates as well!
Those following my Facebook updates would know that I attended my first Iyengar workshop last weekend. I had been looking forward to the workshop all month. Turns out, the workshop became special for me. It was conducted by 3 senior Iyengar teachers. It was held at Belur, BKS Iyengar’s birthplace. Iyengar teachers are legendary for being strict and no nonsense. So when, at the end of the first day I came up with the idea that maybe I could do my first ever interview for the blog with one of the most famous yoga teachers in the world, I didn’t think it would actually happen. But it did! And I was kicked. Below is the interview. At the end is the link to where you can hear it on YouTube.
PB: First of all Abhijata, thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview. I know its on short notice but thank you so much.
AS: Welcome.
PB: So the first question I wanted to ask you is in your opinion what is the role of a guru. In the modern context when the practitioners have changed and the practice has changed, and you know, lifestyles and I think times have changed so now what is the role of a guru in a student’s or in a seeker’s life?
AS: I think the word guru is used very..uh… easily these days…because so many people that we see I would say are teachers, instructors…I mean it starts off with you know being..instructing a class, conducting a class, teaching a class… A guru is not somebody who teaches you a subject, a guru is somebody who teaches you about living, a guru is somebody who teaches you life. So, not everybody can get a guru, not anybody can become a guru (starts laughing).
PB: Hmmm..ok..alright..and do you agree that, you know they say that when a student is ready then the guru appears. So and…I feel that is sort of taking away responsibility from a student, like y’know you just keep on doing your work and the guru will come on their own. But do you feel for students today who are seeking something more from the practice, do you think they should go out and actively look for a guru or do you feel that they should just wait and when they are ready the guru will appear.
AS: Ah….I’ve been lucky to have had my guru (laughs again), so I don’t think it will be fair for me to answer this question because fortunately I was lucky enough to have been born in this family and to have been taught by him and by my uncle and aunt, Geetaji and Prashantji too and then Guruji became my guru. So yes, in a sense you cannot make a guru, but yes a guru appears it is true in one sense, but at the same time you can’t expect someone who is teaching you a subject to be a teacher and then somebody just comes and there the guru has appeared. I think a teacher transforms to becoming a guru, a student transforms into becoming a shishya and it doesn’t happen so easily, it’s not so easy. (starts laughing)
PB: And so that’s another question I had for you, when did your grandfather, he was your grandfather and then what was the moment when he became your guru? What was that transformational moment for you when you realized that ok this transformation has happened. It’s like a paradigm shift which happens in your life. So when did you realize that?
AS: I don’t know. Honestly I don’t know when he being my grandfather stopped and he becoming my guru emerged. When I came to Pune I just wanted to see what this yoga was about. I mean, why there are so many people from all over the world who come to my grandfather to learn…so let me see what this is all about, that’s how I started my learning in yoga. And he was teaching me asanas, and somehow it just evolved into he teaching me …
PB: life?
AS: ..so many other things (laughs).
PB: And also, so you’re one of the more younger teachers in the world of yoga, so how do you feel your teaching has evolved from the time your grandfather was teaching, from the time his guru was teaching? You know because people have also changed, so do you think your style of teaching has evolved with the times or is different from what the style of teaching of older teachers has been.
AS: Ah…I have not seen the older generation teach..you know..8 years ago I don’t know how it was but I’ve heard stories. I’ve heard stories of how my grandfather told his guru that he can’t do Hanumanasana. And his guru: Why? And my grandfather as a young boy when he told his guru that I cannot do the Hanumanasana because my langot is tight and his guru said just bring the scissors I’ll cut off your langot and you just do the Hanumansana. It’s about doing the Hanumanasana (both begin to laugh), it’s not about your clothing. So the gurus of those days I guess were like that (laughs). So…uh…I have started teaching in this age, so I have seen people, moved around people of this generation so it must have evolved in this style. But like I told you before, fortunately because I’ve seen them, I’ve seen Guruji, I’m still seeing my uncle and aunt, it is different. Because being closer to the source…I guess makes a difference.
PB: And what is a typical day in your life like? You know, when do you wake up and when do you practice?
AS: (laughs) Now my daughter has started school (laughs some more), so its changed. So I wake up, make her … pack her off to school and then my practice starts at nine. Goes on til twelve in the afternoon. And then I…two three days a week I also practice in the evening from four to six. Other two days I teach. My grandfather has said that if you are teaching a one hour class your practice that day has to be of three hours so…(both start laughing)
PB: I see, I’ll keep that in mind. (laughs). Your tips for yoga practitioners of the Iyengar tradition in terms of diet, practice and code of conduct.
AS: Practice would come first. Diet and code of conduct would follow. Practice, practice with all your heart, practice with sincerity. You know, often we cheat ourselves and we don’t know we are cheating ourselves I mean, if the going gets tough we want to go away from that. We think this is my limit, this is all I can do, that’s how the human mind thinks. And it’s very difficult to challenge that if you don’t have a good teacher. I mean, Guruji was there telling me you are escaping, you are being lazy. At that time I thought I was putting in my best and I thought I couldn’t do anything more than this but then he would say no this is nothing. So he was there, to you know, push me through that. And again, its not just about the quantity or the intensity but it’s one part of it. The point is asanas teach you about your own thinking pattern. You know, we so often want to escape, you so often want to do so much lesser than what we are truly capable of so fortunately if you have a good teacher who can identify the weakness in you and push you along then it’s good. Otherwise you have to be really observant and critical of yourself, to see what you are doing. And once your practice goes up like that, your diet will change on its own because you will realize that if you had a late lunch it’s not working well. If you’ve had a heavy lunch it’s not working well. If you’ve had spicy food it’s not working well. So that will change on its own.
PB: OK and would you like to make a comment on vegetarianism….in today’s context you know…when…
AS: Ah..I’m a born vegetarian so I don’t know the other side of it. But what I have seen my grandfather tell people is that you practice and you…
PB: Yeah I read about that in ‘Light on Yoga’ also…And code of conduct? I know it’s a very vast thing but as a practitioner is there anything you’d like to say?
AS: Code of conduct is not needed just for a practitioner, code of conduct is needed to just be a good human being (starts laughing).
PB: Alright! And tips for yoga teachers, um…wanna be yoga teachers of the Iyengar style of yoga.
AS: (laughs) The wanna be yoga teachers of the Iyengar style have to realize that a lot more has to be put in before you can become a teacher. (laughs)
PB: Yeah…
AS: because it’s very … I don’t know whether the demand is so much…of late so many people have developed this interest to become a teacher. I don’t know whether it is because of the popularity, because of the media, because of the demand, whatever it is, but we shouldn’t compromise on the quality…so we shouldn’t hurry up to become teachers. My uncle often tells in class that you do all your schooling, you go for your graduation, you go for your post graduation, you do another degree and then you teach kindergarten. So you know you cannot learn for three years and then teach a one year old in yoga. So you have to have your own abhyasa before you are ready to teach, before you are truly ready to teach…
PB: OK, alright. So that’s pretty much all the questions I have. Thank you so much.
AS: Thanks.
And here’s a link where you can listen to the interview:
It’s been close to 10 days here and my routine here is as challenging as ever. I realize that if it’s your first time here, then it does take a while to adjust and adapt. The first time I had a 4 hour practice I was incredulous … and didn’t know how to deal with it. Rather, I didn’t know how to make the most of it. When I practice at home it’s only for an hour and a half, and by the end of it I’m drained out. So the first few days here, I was always exhausted. So much so that I felt I couldn’t give the best in the asanas and always felt sloppy and ungainly throughout the practice. Mondays and Tuesdays specially, since practice on those days is almost 4 hours long, and by the time I’m done with practice its an ordeal just to walk home. My fantasies these days centre around buying an apartment next to the institute so that I can crawl home in no time and surface again only for the next class.
However, now I’ve started to get used to the routine. I’m actually able to make the most of the extended practice sessions. In fact, 2 hours is just about enough time for a satisfying practice…how I’m going to sustain this when I’m back in Bangalore is the stuff other blog posts are made of.
Yesterday I had my class in the evening (where I’m referred to as ‘Bangalore’, and another
Milk tea just this once 🙂
girl is called ‘USA’, oh and then there’s ‘Madam China’ in the 6 am session). It was an amazingly intense session. The class was fast paced with a focus on stretching the lower body (Janu Sirsasana, Paschimottansana, Baddhakonasana etc). Finally we did the Upavista Konasana, which is a challenging pose for me. I slowly made my way down and eased my torso onto the floor. I remember the days when I started practicing yoga and this pose was a big challenge. I wouldn’t be able to extend my back and my hip joint was stiff. As the years went by, I was still pretty reluctant to practice this pose because it didn’t come naturally at all and it was frustrating. Even now, sometimes I’m able to execute this pose well, and sometimes I feel like lead.
Yesterday I was able to ease myself down and placed my forehead on the floor. I stayed there kind of happy and satisfied with myself. There’s always an element of pleasant surprise also, because some days your body can extend and some days it just doesn’t. This reverie lasted until I heard, “BANGALORE! You’re sleeping! Extend more! Walk forward with your hands!!! That’s it, that’s good. Trance mein chali gayi thi phir se.”
And I realized that for the most part, this is how I practice. I arrange myself into a pose and then my mind says, “This is it, you’ve done well. You’re done.” And then my pose goes dead, and progress stops. Or, as the teacher said, I fall asleep. So when I was told to extend more, I had to push through the limitations of my mind (kind of still the internal dialogue) and discover if I could, in fact, go further. I realized that I could, and for that little bit of time I experienced new life. And received a bit of enlightenment.
The Halasana is a pose that we do daily in class. We use props to ensure that the spine and neck are straight. The picture is of me doing the Halasana many years ago. When my internal dialogue was loud and overpowering. I’m sure it’s improved over the years. And after this class, I know how to work in this (and in all other asanas).
Halasana (Plough Pose)
How To
Lie down straight on your back making sure your head lies on the floor.
Exhale, bend your legs at the knees and bring your knees close to your chest.
Lift your buttocks off of the floor supporting your back with your hands.
Make sure to plant your elbows firmly on the floor.
Bring your body perpendicular to the floor, until your sternum touches your chin.
Gently extend your legs out behind your head.
Keep your face and neck relaxed.
Practice with your arms stretched out behind and fingers interlocked to relive pain and cramps in fingers, hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders.
Benefits
Relieves fatigue.
Helps to calm down the mind.
Relaxes your eyes and brain.
Controls hyper tension.
Improves digestion.
Lengthens the spine and improves alignment.
Reduces insomnia and anxiety.
Relieves stress-related headaches and migraines.
Contraindications
Don’t practice during menstruation and if you have cervical spondylosis.
Ola. Not sure what she was planning to do. I bought myself a toothbrush, toothpaste and a coffee and answered some messages until it was time to head to the institute.
![POMELO_20160723084413_save[1]](https://yogawithpragya.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/pomelo_20160723084413_save1-1.jpg?w=169)
Those following my Facebook updates would know that I attended my first Iyengar workshop last weekend. I had been looking forward to the workshop all month. Turns out, the workshop became special for me. It was conducted by 3 senior Iyengar teachers. It was held at Belur, BKS Iyengar’s birthplace. Iyengar teachers are legendary for being strict and no nonsense. So when, at the end of the first day I came up with the idea that maybe I could do my first ever interview for the blog with one of the most famous yoga teachers in the world, I didn’t think it would actually happen. But it did! And I was kicked. Below is the interview. At the end is the link to where you can hear it on YouTube.![POMELO_20160724194023_save[1]](https://yogawithpragya.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/pomelo_20160724194023_save1-1.jpg)
![POMELO_20160724062252_save[1]](https://yogawithpragya.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/pomelo_20160724062252_save1-1.jpg)
![POMELO_20160724193349_save[1]](https://yogawithpragya.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/pomelo_20160724193349_save1-1.jpg?w=576)
