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yoga journal final 12/12

      Going into this  semester, I had 0 expectations due to the Covid-19 pandemic changing the way what we consider a normal lifestyle. I was very nervous learning and adapting to an all online course after taking a year off working at Disney World and being used to attending classes in person. As a former student athlete, I thought this class would get me back into a routine for school and overall health. I was expecting to have yoga practices everytime we met for class. However, I was caught off guard on how much more I was actually taking in the class.     Over the course of this year, I've learned that Eastern yoga is very  different to Western yoga. A way I would put it as is Western yoga is the bread while Eastern yoga is the cheese, meat, seasoning inside the bread with the chips on the side. Western yoga has more of a physical aspect practice. Many people in America follow this style as it focuses on the health and fitness of the person. However, they will do these practic
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yoga Journal 6

   Whether physical, mental, or both, y oga is viewed by many as a healing ritual. Y oga, to us in a way, relieves stress in the body with a little pressure. I would say my practice space would be a healing ritual of yoga considering it's my bedroom. My room is my privacy and where I spend most of my time if  I'm not working. Feeling relaxed is a good way to begin the process of healing.       While doing yoga, Ill keep my space to the minimum of my music softly with the instructor's voice high. I have 2 fans running to keep circulation in my room and usually my window open except for this time of year due to allergy season is in full effect. During the practice, the instructor reminds us of our breath and be in specific postures that aid the healing process. For example, one pose I went into was standing up but bending over with my arms around my head letting it all hang while continuing to breathe in and out of the nose. This really clears my head while forgetting that my
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Yoga Journal 5

       This week we had two yoga practices in class. The first class was a Lyengar practice with Amita. The second class was an Ashtanga practice with David.  I enjoyed the opportunity to take the classes in class. I have to say I was pretty exhausted after taking it. Amita and David taught in their own personal knowledge, experience, and style that I respected.      During the first practice, Amita demonstrated each and every posture more than once. It was broken down verbally and physically to make sure we got the concept down. I really liked that since I'm not the best at the terminology and poses. She constantly reminded us to breathe and stay grounded and to reset if needed. She had short breaks in between and multiple sets within each position to explain some poses in depth. What her class showed me was that flexibly isn't my best and that I need to work on it. Davids practice exposed it even more            The second  practice with David was definitely a new yoga experi
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Yoga Journal 4

      A  ritual can be described as a practice of the spiritual body according to an article by Nervin.  He said its a "sensorium" for the person participating in yoga. With that being said, you can say a ritual changes the way the body's chemical reaction. This can be different from a normal, or every day, body change. I will try to notice this change in my next yoga practice.       I think my yoga practices can be  considered a ritual. In my opinion, Yoga to me is a form of exercise. I also think yoga is a form of recovery too, a way you can get the blood flow in your body pumping. The way it makes your body stretch and strengthens the parts of the muscles you don't visibly see, which makes your performances and training better!      I  often wander off in trains of thought and easily get sidetracked/distracted. When I do my yoga practices, I try my best to focus on the poses and the instructor's words. To help me, I often tend to close my eyes, focus, or work o
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Yoga Journal 3

     M y yoga class this week was thought by Diane Polli via Zoom.  The class was an hour and thirty minutes long. This was such a big  difference compared to what I am used to. It was also different in how the instructor, Diane, wasn't doing the yoga along with us. However, she was very descriptive on how to do them.     At first, I could do the postures well. Midway  through however fatigue set in and I really couldn't do much of the poses towards the end. Balance and stretchability aren't my strong suits. I feel yoga is definitely framed as more than just an exercise. It is a great stress-relieving and mind-clearing thing to do. If I focus on my breaths well enough I get a very happy mindset which not many things help me get that.      Yoga is preferred over running or doing Zumba because it provides benefits that neither of the other two physical activities offers. Running helps clear my mind somedays but I never feel great after running. Running is very uncomfortable f
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Yoga Journal 2

       This week, I retook the Essential Flow Yoga from last week because I felt like I could do better with it. Along with that, I also did another one called "Body & Mind Unwind" that was with Alex Silver-Fagan also on the Nike app.  Combined, since I took them back-to-back, took about 55 minutes. The focus was on recovery, mobility, and breathwork.       Doing the practices at home, it is difficult to have an authentic sacred space to practice in. I noticed in both videos I've done, they had an open space with minimal things in the background, like an empty studio with big windows and had a mat. In my room, I don't have that much space but enough to do the poses. I usually do it with no lights on and the window open for natural light to make it feel more "sacred" for me. The pose I had the most trouble with supra denotive (I don't know if that's how its spelled but) where your knees and elbows are on the mat and lift your hips up really openin
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Yoga Journal 1

  Today was my first yoga class and it was on the Nike Training app. It was a beginner's course called "Essential Flow" that anyone could attend whether you're just starting out or a pro. The studio in the video was very bright with natural lighting white backdrop.       The yoga instructor spoke very calmly and soothingly.  The video was very quiet with just the sound of her voice and the music I was listening to. Every movement and position, she was so descriptive, and went through them multiple times with alternate positions. She made the positions and movements easy to understand how to do. The most important thing she kept telling me was to keep breathing through each position and motion.       I felt very relaxed afterwards but also very sore. As a former athlete, my bode really thanked me for doing something physical again. I know the more I go on through this class and these yoga courses, the more Ill be able to do theses poses and less sore.
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