8/8/24 Live Session Recording

The power of words really stood out to me. Having it pointed out on how to say things was big. I guess I never really realized how important it was to watch what you say especially when you're speaking about how some people identify. I do need some more knowledge about sequences and which ones to use. This is something I would like to gain more knowledge about and become confident to teach to others. I have always been the student in the yoga class, and I really want to learn and absorb all the information I can to be able to teach these sequences. When someone had mentioned about stealing from us, it made me kind of take a step back and think more about this statement. I guess I never really looked at how I was stealing from myself until today. Big eye opener. I think it's great to hear other thoughts and how people see things from a different perspective. 

So enjoyed learning about Asteya and have been thinking a lot about it this past week, specifically how my distorted thought patters steal from myself. I have begun to add it into my own reframing, along with my other new favorite question, is this causing me harm? I didn't think about how profound the philosophy would be for me when I began this program and I am truly thankful for it. I am thankful for the words matter discussion and incorporating inclusive language into our practices. So often I hear the "doesn't this feel so good" when in reality I am struggling and then I feel less than or that my body is somehow faulty. Another difficult phrase for me is the "if you want a challenge..." this can be humiliating for folks who are already experiencing a challenge to something that the facilitator may assume is "easy."

I have been experimenting with sequencing, here are a few of my thoughts thus far - 

Energetic release: rubbing hands together, shaking limbs, shoulder rolls, marching, torso rotation, pranayama

Dynamic Warm-up: Easy seated, seated twists, lateral bends, supine spinal twists, cobra, half-planks

Centering: I work with people with severe mental illness (schizophrenia, psychotic disorders) and centering practices in general can be difficult when we're asking folks to "explore" or "feel" because it can be activating for those with hallucinations. Also, I have noticed when I have facilitating meditation type practices, they often get bored or distracted. I feel like I may choose this time to do a "simple" breathing practice, a reading and gentle postures that don't require inversions due to psychiatric medications posing a risk of high blood pressure. 

I really appreciated the topic this week. I hadn't considered that the concept of truth could encompass the stealing of one's truth from themselves (in all realms). As a yoga teacher, this feels especially important to remember through the language and cues used. I loved the emphasis on creating opportunities for exploration while allowing for agency to make decisions based on one's own body and how the idea of asteya factors into that. I think when it comes to the power of words, I've started to realize how importance simplicity is in cueing and teaching yoga, especially amongst populations who might not be as familiar with talking about their nervous systems or the anatomical aspects of their bodies. I have been thinking about how to cultivate and hold a space in the room for curiosity and acceptance, essentially the idea of non-stealing that experience from the self. How do we support curiosity, support exploration, support all the truths that overlap and are nuanced and messy, in the space of the yoga room? I think having this awareness is key, but something I do find intimidating in trying to hold within the idea of a container for peace, safety, security, resilience of the yoga class itself. 

What a powerful lecture. My condolences to Jen for the news about cancer within her circle of people.  I loved Tasha's words about acceptance of the moments and her comments about menopause as since going into this stage of life myself, there is no information.   Perhaps it is society's attachment to youth and our obsession with living in a particular way. Jason's words and all the questions about if we are doing the lessons right or not are also on my mind and Jen did a great job of offering reassurance. It evoked our attachment to," succeeding," in a way that is linear and concrete. The Klesha of attachment is everywhere, in every relationship, job, and home, I have had.  Even in my work now in the prison, this place evokes so much of what I am attached to it is difficult to know what is healthy appreciation as opposed to perhaps I need more work on attachment to fully be able to treat clients in the system.  I notice I assume many things about freedom and beauty.  Maybe I am viewing the world, that world in a normative, limited way.  I wish I could write more,  I am listening to the lectures, and they feed me.  I am just always rushing, writing fast, and not being present which I will work on this week. 

@young-hee-heegmail-com The words you share here read as filled with presence and purpose and a beautiful example of your writing.

The concept of asteya has been quite transformational these past few weeks. As Kristen said, the yamas and the questions it encourages us to ask and reflect on has been in my mind, noticing how harm is committed, including stealing. It has made me see some of my actions more clearly, having a framework to examine them within, and understanding the how, why, and when much more. In a world where stealing is common and normalized, an examination, understanding, and practice of asteya would benefit many. 

The reflection on cuing and facilitating goes hand in hand with this theme, as we seek to not steal from people's practice and the potential it holds. Instead of being another unsafe and triggering space, how can me wake sure facilitations can be a safe place for people to feel safe, comfort, agency, empowered, to let those guards down to even begin to connect, explore, reflect, and understand their emotions and their bodies? Getting to awareness and mindfulness allows folks to then understand what they need to support them in exploring and eventually, healing. It's a way to practice mindfulness and healing in this space so that it can be applied beyond the yoga space and mat. 

Being able to focus and concentrate enough to connect to one's self is something that is often stolen from them - as displayed by the insightful video on trauma, trauma responses are not able to focus and concentrate on the present reality, rather are still focused on the past/fear/feeling unsafe/

For my mini sequence I thought of: 

energy release - arms swinging, feet/leg raises, shake it out or jumping jacks, whatever feels good

dynamic warm up - neck rolls, shoulder rolls, lateral extensions

centering - wide leg forward fold, half lord of the flies, lotus pose 

I am catching up on forum posts by using my notes I took while watching the recording. I liked the idea of "building up the pose instead of breaking it down" and encouraging "your foot" instead of "the foot" to create more opportunity for embodiemtn and connection to self. My big takeaway with Asteya is that my CPTSD has stolen the ability to experience joy. I do not heal to figure out how to make it through the tough times. I heal so I can learn that feeling joyful is okay. 

Invitation cueing was so impactful to me. I started practicing yoga around age 12 and for the first few years while I was still getting to know the practice and my body, I thought that the goal was to attain the "perfect" pose, to be able to flow as fast as the teacher was cueing, to do chaturangas every time it was offered in a vinyasa class, to be able to shut my eyes and be perfectly concentrated during meditation, etc. Thankfully, once I started working in yoga studios around age 15, I was able to access yoga more frequently and easily and soon noticed that the other people who worked in the studio and teachers who were taking the class would often go at their own pace and not do exactly what the teacher was saying. That is when it began to click that the variations were not an "easier" version and that there is no "full expression of the pose" – only my unique expression of the pose. I finally started to realize I could simply do whatever I wanted to do and whatever felt best in my body. The bigger shift was moving to university and working at a studio where all the teachers consistently taught with a lot of invitation – it was there that I first heard a teacher say this is my own practice. At that studio, I am so grateful that several times I had the opportunity to directly pass on this teaching to others – while I worked at the desk, a few students would say things to me along the lines of "I signed up for this class but I'm scared that it'll be way too hard for me" or "would the teacher be upset if I just sat in the back and listened?" And in those moments I had the chance to remind them that it is their own practice that they can explore their practice in whatever way that looks like to them today, that there are no expectations and that yes, to sit and simply observe your breath is yoga. I have very sweet memories of those people coming back to me after class and thanking me for telling them these things.