3/12/26 Live Session Recording (Module 7)

I realized I have a lot to work on with Aparigraha (Non-Attachment). I really enjoyed this discussion, it made me look at some things that I've been avoiding dealing with. I believe that because of this class, I've been able to put something down that's no longer serving me. At one time it did what I needed it to do, but I'm in a different place now. And I've been holding onto it tightly because it's been part of my life since I was 13 years old, and it got me through a lot of tough times.

Also, there is a part of my story that I'm really attached to. I was misdiagnosed several times by mental health professionals, and as I've been openly talking about it I've realized what a common issue this is. I don't want to cling so tightly to my story or create my identity based on what happened to me in the past, but it definitely shaped who I am today and what I'm passionate about. I want to use my experience to help others, but I don't want it to define me either.

I've also realized how much "stuff" I have accumulated over the years, and at this point a lot of it has become clutter.

The movement practice was nice, I always enjoy the pauses in between. A lot of times I'll find myself having an emotional release when I slow down long enough to let myself feel. To be honest, the thought of standing in front of a room full of people guiding a yoga class scares the hell out of me. Crowds in general make me nervous, and being the focus of attention makes me even more so. I'm hoping I can grow through that as I gain more experience and confidence.  

I missed this week's class so I am writing this post for participation. I saw on the slide introducing the movement sequent that the word "playful" was mentioned, and then I saw that during this week's movement sequence, as demonstrated by Jen (who was wearing a really interesting zip-up that I liked a lot) included some alternating movements, for example waving the right arm while stepping the left, then alternating and swaying, and seeing this felt playful and fun to me. All this reminded me of the joy that I have found in yoga, especially a particular class that I go into every week, where it is pure fun and joy, you almost feel like a little kid just reveling in moving around and socialising and laughing and jumping. It's a really powerful thing that I think a lot of people are unfortunately disconnected from or don't have the capacity or the context to experience.

Yoga can be very serious and some people and classes really make it something deep and meaningful and serious, other people give off a "stern" vibe, other places offer yoga as form of exertion and almost self-discipline/self-torture (100 degrees moving around till you feel like you can't take it any more). I hope that I can continue to experience that joy and help facilitate it for other people, but I'm guessing that trauma and oppression can inhibit that joy or at the very least will mean that a facilitator will have to find a way to get people into a space where they are comfortable enough and at-home enough to experience that fun and games type feeling. Maybe Jen or one of the more experienced students/facilitators can offer advice on how to cultivate joy in yoga practice, especially in carceral settings and other places where participants may be more likely to be dealing with problems that make joy less accessible.

Aparigraha as an attitude while checking out one´s chacra system and what have our bodies been carrying around... such things shape our being in all levels. Still, one needs the quality of letting go while checking out and becoming more aware of them. If one can´t let go of what one would like to leave behind, at least one can let that be and not be attached too much. There´s a lot of challenge in that, yes. But looking deeply and one can feel gratitude about learning to know oneself better.

While facilitating, this attitude is useful in helping people to not being to attached in certain shapes. In letting go of self-criticism and unhelpful expectations and goals. Instead, one can deepen and look inwards, feel more and more, eventually feel everything that´s going on. Not passing by. But letting be, and then, letting go.

Sounds easy, but there are some kleshas on the way... But that´s why we are here together, helping each other.

Also relaxation requires letting go. And unableness of relaxing, requires acceptance and letting go of relaxation for that part that doesn´t want to relax. 🙂

How to bring chakras into a yoga class? As a theme of a class, or bringing the focus on a certain area in the body. Maybe not too soon with traumatized people?

I find it so helpful hearing people share their experiences inside of prison walls and all challenging life stories. How deep stories, thank you for your brave sharing. So grateful of having this possibility. Even that I cannot participate live, many of you folks feel already so familiar <3

The movement practice was short and sweet. It made me more focused. It remonds me that it´s so important to do asana practice even just for 5 minutes!

It makes such a difference. I loved the alternative to alternate nostril breathing, doing it with hands instead. Felt like my whole body was participating, always shifting the focus to  left or right side of the body.

Also shifting from bilateral and lateral movements must have made an impact to how balanced I felt after the practice.

I have recently got back one yoga student that benefits from using a chair in the class, and now I´m going to start showing more often options with a chair. Many older people benefit, and don´t end up hurting their knees for example.

Lots of love for the week to come! Hope I´ll catch up a bit more soon. 🙂

I am often reminding students to practice aparigraha when they come into class and their "spot" has been occupied by another student. Explaining that they might find another perspective from a different view of the space and teacher/students. I used to also compare myself to classmates/peers during my early years as a student and teacher. The area I live has a lot of yoga spaces that actually encourage that comparison, not intentionally but, certain students tend to gather and potentially exclude others just by being unattainable to certain body types or abilities. I forced myself to fit into a mold of what I perceived to be a yoga student for a long time before realizing how damaging that was to myself and others who relied on me to be authentic. 

Teaching adaptive yoga to teenagers with varying abilities has brought awareness to how attention and coordination with or without movement and, always including breath work, can be the most essential part of the yoga practice. If you expect your students to have the energy either spiritually, or physically, to complete prepared tasks, there will certainly be some disappointment. It is always better to go into any new scenario with an open mind.

Something I noticed about this movement practice is having to shift my perspective from going to the furthest point in the pose to backing off when I really need less in the moment. Yoga has always made me very curious, and is constantly challenging my abilities in every direction. It’s not just progression in a linear sense, I definitely expand with every practice and with each teachers guidance.

I loved the discussion around Aparigraha (Non-Attachment) and "when I ____ then I'll be happy." There is worthiness in every step of ourselves. I feel like I often have attachments to how I MUST show up to life, rather than excepting the ebbs and flows of life! I also feel this is letting go of the expectations I have of those around me. Of course we can have high hopes for our communities, but changing the views of transactional relationships is huge (and goes against our individualistic ways). I just moved near extended family as a 31 year old for the first time since going to college as an 18 year old. Celebrating the different ways I can show up for the family around me rather than expecting them/being attached to the ways I want them to show up has been very important. 

Thank you for a great session! I really enjoyed learning more about the Chakras as this is something I have always been interested in but did not have a lot of knowledge on. It was so interesting to me to learn about how ACE correlate with the Chakras and how they can impact them. It made me reflect that maybe that is why I have not been able to connect with Chakras, that my ACE may be impacting them. As always thank you for the knowledge! 

Thank you for discussing Chakras. They are one of my favorites and I have fallen out of the habit of paying attention to them and referring to them in class. People often hear the word Chakra and think it is some witch craft, crazy talk, so it can be hard to use them as a reference when you teach in a community space and not a studio.