Rishikesh – Days 6 & 7

Posted on October 15, 2012 by ctyoga
I’m lagging a little bit with the updates on the TTC – but here i am again…between silent walks, ashtanga vinyasa practice, adjustments, waking up at 5.30am and whatnot, i have nonetheless managed to squeeze in an hr to recap on days 6 & 7 – and if the internet connection is good enough, the i’ll even upload some pix…why not? 
 
So on day 6 getting up was hard, I can’t seem to go to bed before 11.30pm – after meditation, Miyuki & I read and I’ve also got the nightly calls from my father and mother respectively J In Pranayama class we started chanting the mantra Om a few times (up to 21 times) as well as learning 2 mantras: Sahanau Bhunaktu and Patanjali’s one. Getting the correct pronounciation, intonation and pitch is not always easy, especially because Sanskrit might be foreign to some of us. In sirsasana, after A & B, I now attempt C – I need to strengthen my shoulders and arms for this…Kamal has given us some amazing exercises, but they are TOUGH…perhaps not at first, but because we have to add 2 extra breaths each day (we’re up to 18 breaths in each posture today) then it’s gets harder and hard…at the end, your arms are dead. Correcting old habits might be hard, but slowly it will all come together…just need to keep at it. On this night, we had to meditation on our own by staring into the flame of a candle – Tatraka it’s called.  Staring at the outer form without blinking for as long as possible – i had never done this before. It’s harder than it sounds…i couldn’t stop blinking, my eyes were burning! Tears form, but that’s a good thing, it’s cleansing…let the tears fall, keep staring into the flame, and don’t blink for as long as possible – then when you can’t keep your eyes open anymore, close your eyes and visualize the flame in your third eye.
 
Day 7 – personal practice is improving, more aware of my alignment, breath, ribs in, shoulders open, rolling them up and back, pelvis tucked under, belly tucked in. On this day, we did a group meditation where we all stared at the flame of a candle for intervals of 5mins – it was impossible, at least for me, to keep my eyes wide open for 5 whole mins…i must admit that i did get better, there no way was i even close to 1min! Please have a go, and let me know how you did! I want to know how you guys feel whilst doing it and whether you found it easy or hard! 
 
Here are a few pix i took yesterday on our silent walk to the temple and whilst shopping in Lakshman Jhula 🙂
 
 
 
 
 

About ctyoga

Christiane has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. Her yogic journey began in 2000 as a student of Swami Nirmal (now at the Satyananda Centre in London) at the Fitness First gym in Kensal Rise, London. She experienced various teachers in different Fitness Firsts in Central London and around Clapham Junction before changing gyms and meeting Alexa Kho at LA FItness in Piccadilly Circus, London. Christiane attended Alexa's Anusara classes as well as her workshops. In January 2011 she enrolls in a 200hr Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training course with Rebecca Ffrench at YogaLondon. Vinyasa Flow is a modern form of yoga that comes from Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and follows Sri K Pattabhi Jois. She quickly become passionate of this discipline and wants to deepen her knowledge; this brings her to meet and attend many workshops with Stewart Gilchrist, Shiva Rea, John Scott, Danny Paradise...all very famous teachers around the world. Being in the presence of such teachers is a significant experience for Christiane, in terms of her yogic journey, personal transformation and growth as well as understanding of yoga. After 11years in London, she moves to Milan to deepen and continue her journey. In Milan she teaches privately (1:1 and group classes) as well as in various yoga and dance centers. Milan is where her love for Ashtanga Vinyasa deepens and grows, bringing her to attend workshops with Lino Miele, Sharath Jois and most recently Kino MacGregor...all original students of Guruji, Sri K Pattabhi Jois. All of this culminates with a long awaited and long overdue trip to India, the birthplace of Yoga. Here Christiane deepens her practice and knowledge of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga by doing a 200hr Ashtanga Vinyasa TTC with Yogi Kamal Singh at Tattvaa Yogashala in Rishikesh India. After the monthlong course, her travels take her around India practicing with various other world renown teachers, namely with Sri V. Sheshadri in Mysore and with Rolf and Marci Naujokat in Goa. In 2013 Christiane decides to embark on yet another yoga adventure, this time in Aerial Yoga! The course was divided into two weekends: level I in April and level II in June, after which she becomes a qualified Aerial Yoga teacher. Teacher and student of yoga, writer, adventurous soul, creative mind, curious world traveler & lover of the outdoors. Current HQ: Milan, Italy.
This entry was posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a comment