Comments on Open Class

Regarding class on March 20th, 2009...

Hello to the folks who participated in the open Restorative Yoga class at Yoga North last night (March 20th). I appreciate your participation and comments. Please feel free to offer comments, suggestions, ah-ha's, and/or questions by clicking on the "comments" link at the bottom of this post.

Thanks for trying out the Wall Hang Forward Fold. An idea I came up with at the end of class to make the Wall Hang Forward Fold more restorative is to (before you fold) place a block between the inner thighs and squeeze gently. For more support, wrap a belt around the outer thighs and press gently into the belt. If you can do both at once you will activate the adductors and the abductors (inner and outer thigh muscles) which will support you in your forward fold. Keep the block and belt in place during the forward fold.

A few people commented that once a month is not often enough for Restorative Yoga. I have been thinking about offering a weekly class or maybe a workshop or series of workshops. These would probably be registration classes instead of open classes but I would keep offering the once a month open class too. I haven't fully developed this idea and I am open to your comments and suggestions.

A question came up last night about more difficult poses than we usually do in the open class. There is interest in inversions and back bends. I would be happy to teach this but not in the open class. The set up for more difficult postures can be complicated and time consuming. This is something that I think would be a good fit for a workshop or smaller registration class.

One last comment I want to address: "I wasn't sure what to do in the forward fold. I thought once I was in a pose I should stay there but I kept having to move." I should have made it more clear at the beginning of class that in both the Wall Hang Forward Fold and in Hand to Big Toe at the wall you will find that your body opens slowly and you will have to adjust accordingly. I did see folks making adjustments as necessary and I think that is great. I'm glad you were listening to your body.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please make any comments below. Namaste.