​Hey gang! It’s Shelby here, your mid-morning Mysore teacher and General Manager. Can you all believe that we’re halfway through the summer? Where does the time go? 

This summer has been a bit challenging for me, and maybe you’ve had your own challenges as well. But I try to look at it as a time to grow, to learn about myself. 

Let me tell you my story: my bedroom has a leak, which has caused extensive water damage and mold. To make a long story short, my entire bedroom was ripped apart: part of the ceiling and walls were removed along with the entire floor. I slept on a mattress in my dining room for two weeks. Not fun!
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But what I did try to remember each morning was the word “equanimity”. Equanimity is defined as: mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. Isn’t that what we’re working on in our yoga practice? We try to keep the mind focused and calm, the breath steady, even as we move through difficult poses. Our bodies may feel uncomfortable at times, but we try to remain steady. What a great lesson for both on and off the mat: to remain equanimous in the face of adversity.
Remaining calm during difficult times is a lifelong work-in-progress. I can’t say I was always equanimous throughout my bedroom ordeal. As I can’t say that my breath is always steady and my mind is always calm in each asana. But I know that I WILL return to the steadiness when I can. Equanimity is always waiting for us: it IS our authentic self.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois once said, "Yoga is for everyone, except lazy people." From experience, I believe this to be true. Ashtanga requires a certain level of commitment to self-transformation. You must learn to practice with discipline and consistency to see and feel the results. The Mysore style of yoga is a self-facilitated practice modified for each individual practitioner with individual attention from your teacher. Coming to your mat and doing the same sequence of asanas (postures) brings you into self-awareness of your body and the deep internal workings of the mind. The mind places so many limiting beliefs on our capabilities as human beings that we believe it and abide by the mind as if the mind is totally in control. Through the practice of Ashtanga, you come to learn all about your strengths and weaknesses. By practicing with commitment, consistency, and discipline, you will develop the tools to move through the false identification of the self, and you will embody the infinite potential of the human experience.

If you are ready to stop moving through the motions of life and truly start living, Ashtanga is the practice for you. ​

​After developing a consistent daily practice of Ashtanga yoga, the practitioner may become very aware of the phases of the moon. Whatever series you are practicing, each and everyday you show up to the mat is different. We start with our sun salutations and notice that we may feel stronger than the day before. We may notice that our breath is more shallow. Whatever catches our attention about the vastness of our practice really allows us to dive deeper into why that is. There are many factors that encompass inconsistency in our daily energy levels. The influence I am expounding on in this post is one of my favorites to discuss, the moon cycle!

There are two things that science has proven and we can all agree with: 1) our bodies are made of 70% water and 2) the gravitational pull of the moon affects the tides of water on earth. Both the sun and moon affect the gravitational pull on earth. When they are in conjunction or opposition of one another, there is a powerful influence on our energy levels.

Ashtanga yoga is a practice heavily focused on moving energy throughout the body. Our breath and bhandas help us move this energy as we transition from asana to asana. The inhale we take is an energetic upward moving force that we correlate with the full moon. We try to take in a full, expansive breath that gives us great energy and can leave us emotional and excessively ungrounded when practiced on a full moon. The new moon is the opposite. It corresponds with apana, a downward force that is very grounding. This energy is greatest on the new moon leaving us less inclined to physically exert ourselves.
Diving even deeper into other happenings outside of Ashtanga yoga practice during these times, we look at the natural cycle of the earth. It is recommended that seeds are planted on the new moon when the grounding force is strongest. It allows the seed to deeply root itself into the soil. The full moon is known for a time of harvest. Produce is bountiful as it has been “growing upwards” with the help of an increasing strong gravitational pull. Statistically, there are more reports of celebrations, arrests, hospitalizations, births, etc. on full moons. You may notice when you are watching a movie that there is a glimpse of a “full moon” shown before a climactic scene. We rest on these days to help us refrain from over or under exerting or energy in our practice.

​There is much research and theory that can be studied about the moon cycle and cosmos in general. I encourage you to get curious and glimpse up at the sky as you head to your morning daily practice. What phase does the moon seem to be in or headed towards, how do you feel? Lastly, enjoy the rest we gift ourselves from or asana practice on these days. We can take advantage of these days by journaling or practicing a more internalised form of self-study. Become aware of the vastness of our beings. Notice what is above and beyond.
 
Namaste.
 
 

​            Along the eight-fold path of Ashtanga yoga is the third limb, asana. When translated from Sanskrit into English, asana means “posture”. We all typically begin on this third limb before we really breakdown and understand the first two limbs, Yamas & Niyamas. It is through asana practice that we really begin to explore the mind-body connection. As we breath and flow from posture to posture on our mat, what is our mind doing? When we marinate in an asana for five deep breaths, are we truly mentally and emotionally present? A fantastic posture to really answer these inquiries is Sirsasana A, headstand posture. To balance in this posture takes a great deal of focus, presence and engagement from head to toe, or rather from “toe to head”. Let us dive deeper into understanding the dynamics of “the king of asanas”.
In Ashtanga yoga, we take position for headstand following a chaturanga after our backbends and counter pose, forward fold. From downdog, we bring our knees to the mat and begin to find our prep with our hands, arms and head. Before we bring our head to the mat, we want to to find a supportive distance between our elbows. Come down to your forearms and grab opposite elbow. This is the standard distance we want our elbows to be apart. If you have a longer neck then we bring the elbow closer together.           
Next, interlace the fingers out in front of you and close the palms. Place the crown of the head on the mat and snuggle the head against your closed palms. Curl the toads under, lift the knees and walk the feet as close to your face as you can. Make sure to be squeezing your chest and back, drawing the shoulder blades away from the ears and pressing firmly through the forearms and palms. Once your hips are stacked over your shoulders, engage mula and uddiyana bandha, and begin to lift the feet off the mat. If your feet don’t lift, stay here for five to ten breaths building strength and flexibility.
Once lifted, point the toes as you engage your chest, back and abs. Allow the breath and full engagement of the body to continue to lift the legs until they are stacked evenly over the hips and shoulders. When you find balance and stability, strive to stay vertical for 15-20 breaths with your gaze between your brows. Slowly lower down with your legs together and take balasana, child's pose.
Sirsasana A is a complex pose and should be practiced under supervision of a qualified instructor. There are various ways to enter the pose and many helpful tips and hints to understand the proper engagement to successfully achieve the full expression of Sirsasana A. The benefits are numerous and worth the journey and patience to finding balance upside down.

 
The light in me sees & loves the light in you!
Namaste,
Kaitlyn Romei