Yoga Teachers – Teaching Poses We Cannot Yet Do?

April 9

Do we need to be able to do every yoga pose that we teach?

* One teacher said that she mostly avoids teaching the poses that she cannot do. Though she does sprinkle them in occasionally.
* Another said that it is all a process.
* From another teacher, “I fluctuate between hiding from my students what I can’t do and fully revealing to them my version of the pose in progress whatever that may look like.
* My thoughts: being challenged in poses, then figuring out how to do them – will make us better teachers. We’ll develop the precious skills to communicate what we have learned.

Chakra Warm Up:

   Rub hands together, creating warmth
   Place palms over eyes
   Move hands down to throat
   Heart center
   Solar plexus
   Navel
   Pubis
   Top of thighs
   towards knees
   OM

Sukhasana Warm Up:
    Fingers interlaced, palms press front, then up
    Tricep stretch: right elbow up, left elbow down at side, fingers still interlaced but palms face in towards body
    Side bend, left
    Extend arms forward, cat back
    Tricep stretch, left elbow up and side bend right
    Return to vertical, release arms down
    Right arm winds up and swings across body to left knee for vertical twist to left. Second time through, winds up to release right elbow to outside of left knee, turn your spine/chest to fold over left knee – left fingertips on floor support turn.
    Forward bend, walk arms forward
    Walk back up to vertical
    Rep 2nd side

All Fours:
    Bird Dog Plus
       Right leg back
       Small circles with right leg
       Keep circling right leg, add left arm extension
       Circles with arm and leg

Lunges:
   Deep lunges alternating with Parsvott

Surya Namaskar: a la Sondra Loring
   including toe work for DD to UD toe roll over

Standing Poses
   Vira 1
   Parivritta Parsvakonasana
   Vira 1
   Trik Prep
   Rev. Trik with top arm in Gomukha variation (Tricep stretch from Warm Up – left arm up first time with right foot forward)
   Rev Warrior, extend arms
   Trik
   Parsvakonasana
   Visvamittrasana
   Eka Pada Koundinyasana
   DD
   2nd side, end in Child’s pose

Hip Opening & Fun Stuff:
   Baddha Konasana
   Mulabhandasana
   Hold heels for Upward Upavista Konasana
   Ankle to Knee pose, attempting to get there without using hands

Savasana