I’ve just been deliberating about what to entitle this post so that it would accurately describe the yoga class I did with Berkeley, California teacher, Donald Moyer, and maybe capture some of what I got out of it.
What I experienced was more than doing asanas under the instruction of a skilled, gracious teacher. A light went on for me about what the “Iyengar method” offers students when taught by a refined teacher, or perhaps by the old Master himself.
Maybe I’m just thick or a late bloomer, but I guess it’s never to late, even for old yoginis.
Here’s the pathway to the insight I received:
Donald gave the class of students I joined with yesterday much instruction addressing the gleno-humeral joint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenohumeral_joint) and connecting that area of the shoulder girdle with the various arm muscles and tendons.
I discovered some misuse patterns and chronic tension in my shoulders that, on the one hand shocked me, and on the other hand, gave me a taste of the kind of release that ultimately gives the fragrance of body/mind freedom.
How does Donald convey the Iyengar magic? By offering subtle, yet practical anatomical instruction that the students practice in maybe 15 different poses during a class session. Donald a long time practitioner, 40 years, I believe, conveys his teaching with great respect for his students, and a style that is lighthearted and firm at the same time.
I felt so fortunate to be able to enjoy the lovely community of Donald’s class, even for just two hours, and it reminded me that we yoga teachers give a great gift in creating that sort of ambience and potential for connection.
The only “problem” for me now is deconstructing my approach even in simple poses like Tadasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, and Virabhadrasana 2. Back to the drawing board, as they say, for another year or so 🙂