Yogi Got Back

Last night I learned a new way to get into triangle pose that completely rocked my yoga world.

Usually we hear, “Firm your legs, tuck your front butt cheek, and slide your arm toward the ground like you’re between two panes of glass.” Well, I don’t know about you, but my backside is a respectable three-dimensional object.

It actually feels better to slightly stick your butt back while hugging your legs into your midline (translation: inner thighs engaged and legs isometrically pulling in toward each other). Then bend to the side with your hand aiming for the inside of your front foot. Once you’re down, you can scoop your tailbone under, move your hand to the outside of your foot, and shift your torso back toward the more traditional triangle pose shape.

This whole process made my sacrum much more open and happy. Try it. You’ll like it.

Wanted: Pranayama Lessons, Tantra Style

Two weeks ago I decided to stop going to my pranayama class at 5:30 pm on Mondays; Last Monday I stayed home from work with a cold. That day the woman I usually take the train with was on the red line train that was involved in the catastrophic metro collision. Thankfully, she escaped with just a few bruises. Fortunately, I followed my instincts instead of pressing on with work and pranayama out of guilt. This morning I wrote during my extended commute on the shuttle bus between the crash site, grateful for my good health and good fortune.

There are a multitude of reasons I chose to bow out of my iyengarish pranayama class. Here’s the main scoop: I experience such bliss and spiritual connection especially in meditation and find myself slipping into the doldrums when I realize I have to spend so much time working instead of meditating, pranayama-ing, and asana-ing. So, I’m ready to focus on practices that teach me how to get the juice out of life instead of only during my moments of withdrawal. Specifically, I’m branching out from Vedanta (a philosophy intended for monks) and peering into Tantra (a philosophy I think was more intended for householders). Juicy, huh?