A pattern language of yoga (early draft)

Yoga :: a Pattern Language introduction

Attendees will gain:- a basic understanding of pattern languages - a basic, broad, yet deep understanding of the practice of yoga (the essentials, its essence)- an empowered desire to go home & practice -- (accessible, nourishing, self-care for all) - an ability to enter any yoga class with a heightened understanding of what is being asked for -- & an increased ability to participate safely- a safe framework in which to cultivate a deeper practice, more quickly.

For whom: This workshop is intended for persons with an interest in yoga -- an existing yoga practice or those carrying an intent to start practicing.

presented by Frances Rose

culturalengine.wordpress.com

Thursday, June 13, 13

gratitude

for this practice of yoga in my life

that have fired this practice for millenia

& to the subcontinent of India

for the countless brilliant teachers


about me

my calling in life seems to be sharing practices of union across scale & medium -- & especially it seems,

union to self, community, & earth

i practice & teach yoga as a practice of union -- one that merges

people to place, breath to spirit, body to soul, people to earth, people within, & each other


(what is) a pattern language?

essential formulas. a thing’s DNA.

that from which forms emerge.

a language of patterns rather than words. patterns are the units of the language.

a whole system that yields infinite diversity.

each pattern describes a core facet of a prime solution.


how does one usea pattern language?

we deepen any practice by building healthy ecologies of patterns

within a language


patterns are combined with one another to create a deeper, or more effective, form or expression.

using a pattern language

flow of use (generally) runs from

patterns to details

(from larger to smaller)

freely navigate between, among & beyond the patterns


framing yoga

a practice.

a personal practice. a community practice.

an ancient practice. a practice of balance


framing yoga

the body is a temple -- treat it accordingly

body position as a form of prayer


framing yoga

a union of opposing forces

the journey continues & deepens forever

radical, transcendent self- & universal love

we direct our work & our energies toward benefaction


as a path to spiritual wisdom..Yoga is...

..the yoking of all the powers of the body, mind & soul to the Divine.

.. a means to discipline the intellect,the mind, emotions, & will.

.. a poise of the soul which enables one to look at life in all aspects evenly.

.. the true union of our will with that of the Divine.


as a path to spiritual wisdom..

The work alone is our privilege -- never the fruits thereof.

Work in the name of the Lord. Abandon selfish desires.

Be not affected by success or failure.

This equipoise is called yoga.

- from the Bhagavad Gita


surrender. surrender. surrender.

two essentials (for me)

to Earth. to the practice. to oneself. to one another.

you remain the only one ultimately responsible for your body.


no pain, no hurtdo try to distinguish between psychosomatic & physical pain

lift yourself up while practicing... avoid sagging. carry a goal of togetherness & balanced support.

flexibility comes. yoga is about engagement & opening & release.

create space in your body.(don't hang out where you’re flexible -- engage & lift)

guidelines


getting out of the pose is as much the pose as the pose.

adjust & re-adjust (& then be there).

bring your practice with you off the mat.

&

remember (y)our body is interconnected

guidelines


means ‘steady & balanced’.

asanas

not a posture assumed mechanically. there's a soul force energy that drives the experience.

it finds your unique expression of that form in that moment. allow the pose to do you.


the patterns

breath

bodymind

spirit


breath

first, breathe.

then deepen the breath.

pause between breaths.

ujayi breath.

(when the breath goes, so does the practice).


body

navel toward spine

shoulders up, back, & down

tuck the tail

chin slightly down

root through the 4 corners of the feet (or hands)

engage the core


spirit

there's a soul force energy that drives the experience & finds

your unique expression of any form in any moment.

spirit moves. spirit guides.


mind

just the breath. thanks.


cultivate balance

start with your less dominant side -- or hold those poses longer

or sit cross-legged with your opposite leg on top(or with your less common form of clasped hands)

balance in the body brings balance to the mind & emotion

balance


spirals

infinitely nesting spirals

follow the spirals. follow them out beyond your body. & reverse their directions as you change planes or

dimensions.


increasing

ever more deeply...

.. the breath

.. the pose

.. the duration

.. the focus

.. the ease


returning

ever more deeply...

that pose you were just in...

.. do the other side

.. & then return to it

.. again & again

.. the body remembers & teaches


adjust & readjust

breathe yourself more deeply into the pose

use whatever alignment points you know

little by little. closer & closer.


if something feels off in the body, ask yourself where is its other side?

union of opposites

we go up to go down

work from core out -- & from the outside in


round trips

pairs with ‘union of opposites’

& ‘a gentle ricochet’


a gentle ricochet

go further than you need to, then come back

the waves of going & coming.. action & reaction

after a twist come back to neutral & beyond

there is a bounce. a very gentle ricochet.


use the body

use fingers & hands to- hook, move, anchor, direct,

tap, turn, massage, twist, listen, paint, follow, & guide

mouthmake sounds that

deepen your practice. release through sound.


... & props

you may find the opening of your life with a boulder underfoot... or up in a tree, in a garden,

or in a lazy boy chair

adding external resistance to these postures opens more doorways through which we may understand the practice

clothes as propa loose skirt can be drawn gently around the body infinitely in a twist, adjusting the body as if it were pulling an infinite string. remember to breathe. or it could look like a pant leg

helping to hold a spiral


a class practice. a ‘sangha’.- choose styles & teachers you love.

- one class a week? awesome. try two.

- two classes a week? awesome. try three.

- four classes a week? awesome. here, you may fly.

a daily practiceunlimited monthlies in Philly go for around $100. try it.

invest. added bonus if you divert those same funds from an unhealthy habit now into yoga - a whole new world.


let the living soil hold it

grow a deeper, shared yogic culture

the more of us with shared passion & wisdom in common, the more it serves our larger communities of practice


home practice strategies- warm the core. then the hips. work your way out from the center -- & then work from the tips back- remember the core -- & communities of practice- practice awareness of stronger & weaker sides. work to balance them.- a class practice feeds a home practice feeds a class practice- restoration- consider yoga pose polycultures - combinations of asanas that deepen the practice by feeding one another


earth-supported postures

help is underneath you

you may find the opening of your life with a rock underfoot

use the support of the earth to lighten your load.ease the pressure put upon the muscles & bones.

relax into your breath & the postures.


(the greatest, easiest) home practice:legs up the wall

(can be done in bed. & under a blanket!)

legs straight up

legs wide

legs butterflied

legs pigeoned

roll over twist


a daily practice

do one pose 'my practice is complete for the day'

(distinct from 'i didn't practice today')

a home practice feeds a class practice feeds a home practice


yoga postures with what…??

metaphysical polyculture

- music- sitting- reading- talking- eating- loving- sleeping- note-taking- what else?- how many at once?- & which combinations work particularly well for you?


feed it earth, air, water & fire

your body is a garden & a universe


stay in yoga poses

How long to stay in the postures?

generally, stay in yoga poses

&, i carry a personal goal of 3‘i want to come out’

once twicethrice - out -


healing injuries

go slow & listen to your body

strengthen areas around the injured area

patience, breath & compassion

breathe


sivasana

returning to a new self & a new body.

acknowledging change & transformation.

& giving that experience both time,& subtle attention

(try sleeping in it)


om

aaaaaa uuuuu mmmmmm

imagine the sound traveling up your chakras,growing from the root up through & out your crown

the sound of the universe (finding itself)

creation sound of the universe


meditation

the knower, the knowledge, & the known

become one


* surrender *

* gratitude *

* release *

* return *

* exhale *

* inhale *

* exhale *

* inhale *

begin with a deep inhale....& then:

two simple meditations


* feet *

* heart *

* crown *

* 3rd eye *

* surrender *

* gratitude *

* release *

* return *

* exhale *

* inhale *

* exhale *

* inhale *

paired in the body with the...


* ease *

* patience *

* trust *

* allowance *

* exhale *

* inhale *

* exhale *

* inhale *

& flowing into...


our practice today

breath roll arms & head

tadasanaarms widearms up

standing twistsom


yoga is an exchange of energies & forces.

feedback

offer teachers accounts of your experience in their class. this grows the practice & the exchange.

i strive to improve the display of this information.

[email protected]

do you have constructive ideas to share?


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

thank you

namasté&

(the light in me bows to & honors the light within you)

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A pattern language of yoga (early draft)

Spiritual

Transcript of A pattern language of yoga (early draft)