Standing Strong Workshop Notes

Standing postures are among the most strength and character building in Hatha yoga.  In my latest workshop, Standing Strong II, we reviewed the essential elements of standing poses.  These are:  Establishing your foundation(placement of feet), engaging your core and finding your alignment.  Following these 3 elements, we add the arms and drishti (directed gaze).  

We practiced basic standing postures using these elements to guide us into each one.  I reminded the students that every body is different and that it is not about how a pose looks, but more about how it feels in your body.  We practiced Vrksanasa (Tree), the ultimate symbol of strength, Virabhadrasana (Warrior) poses, Parivrrta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle), and balancing poses such as Natarajasana (Dancer), Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III) and Ardha Chandrasana (Half moon).  As I always like to do in workshops, we used props such as the wall, a chair and blocks in interesting ways to help us find proper alignment and to support the body as needed.
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Each of my guided meditations is carefully crafted with the workshop’s theme in mind.  This particular visualization meditation wrapped the participants in a beautiful blue light and took them on a walk through a valley to a huge oak tree.  Students absorbed the tree’s strength and energy through its roots.  They then poured any negative energy or thoughts into a nearby creek, leaving them feeling lighter and radiating with strength. ​

In her final evaluation, one student said,  “I like the workshops because you always include a balance of learning materials, yoga practice with excellent cues, meditation, and inspirational quotes.”  Wherever you are in your yoga journey, join me on your mat soon!