I really enjoyed today's 9am hatha class. The teacher was Nathalie, she was from Quebec, and reminded me of my sister-in-law, who goes by the same name and has the same French Canadian accent.
Nathalie taught an excellent class, and I was just in the right mindframe to receive it. We did a bunch of standing poses - Warrior One, Warrior Two, Triangle, Crescent Moon, Standing Splits, and Forward Bend - and we did a bunch of seated poses - Forward Fold, Side Twists, and more. I also appreciated the time we spent in mediation. A good five minutes before shavasana, and I felt my whole nervous system slowing down.
Whenever I do Warrior Two, it always reminds me of my very first yoga teacher, Anita, whom I met when I was studying at the University of Alberta. I first came to yoga on my mom's recommendation. She said that she enjoyed yoga back in the 1970's, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. For a couple of years, I took a class with Anita every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm. I am really lucky to have found such a wonderful teacher for the genesis of my practice. Looking back now, I believe she taught a hatha class, with plenty of iyengar influence, as we used chairs, straps, and blocks as props, and proper allignment was emphasized.
When we did Warrior Two, Anita told us to hold our Warrior with strength, and to look beyond our arms with a fierce gaze, as though we were proud warriors fending off combat. That imagery has always stuck with me! I started doing yoga with Anita in January 1997, long before yoga became mainstream popular. Right from the get go, it inspired me immensely, and I've never looked back!
After yoga I strolled to grocery store to buy groceries, including ingredients to make lentil soup, and nice bouquet of yellow flowers. A nice Sunday indeed!
Nathalie taught an excellent class, and I was just in the right mindframe to receive it. We did a bunch of standing poses - Warrior One, Warrior Two, Triangle, Crescent Moon, Standing Splits, and Forward Bend - and we did a bunch of seated poses - Forward Fold, Side Twists, and more. I also appreciated the time we spent in mediation. A good five minutes before shavasana, and I felt my whole nervous system slowing down.
Whenever I do Warrior Two, it always reminds me of my very first yoga teacher, Anita, whom I met when I was studying at the University of Alberta. I first came to yoga on my mom's recommendation. She said that she enjoyed yoga back in the 1970's, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. For a couple of years, I took a class with Anita every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm. I am really lucky to have found such a wonderful teacher for the genesis of my practice. Looking back now, I believe she taught a hatha class, with plenty of iyengar influence, as we used chairs, straps, and blocks as props, and proper allignment was emphasized.
When we did Warrior Two, Anita told us to hold our Warrior with strength, and to look beyond our arms with a fierce gaze, as though we were proud warriors fending off combat. That imagery has always stuck with me! I started doing yoga with Anita in January 1997, long before yoga became mainstream popular. Right from the get go, it inspired me immensely, and I've never looked back!
After yoga I strolled to grocery store to buy groceries, including ingredients to make lentil soup, and nice bouquet of yellow flowers. A nice Sunday indeed!
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