State of the Garden
At last enough beans all at once to make a meal. Until now, the birds and I nibbled the few a day while still outside.

At last enough beans all at once to make a meal. Until now, the birds and I nibbled the few a day while still outside.

When the sun first appeared over the horizon, it was obscured by a low lying bank of clouds. As the sun came up, it gave beauty even to the clouds–illuminating and beautifying that part of our vision of the light that was clouded. When the sun rose high enough, the clouds at the horizon were scarcely noticeable in the bright light of day.
Last year I decided to bring this murti of Kuan Yin outside. I asked my neighbor if it was ok, as her parents came here from China, . My neighbor welcomed this presence in the space between our yards and also appreciated that I asked.

Vinyasa krama — the art or essence of sequencing is meant to help us align in space and time, so that we experience being and practice in the most optimal way. Last time I was with John Friend, he gave as a homework assignment, writing down Anusara sequencing principles. What I found wonderful about thinking this through, was it was not just about how to sequence a practice to reach a particular apex pose (though that is an important aspect of designing a class or practice). Here’s the list I came up with (not in any particular order and I am sure I’ve left some out):
First principle (open to grace always comes first)
Attitude, alignment, action
Open to grace, muscular energy, inner spiral, outer spiral, organic energy
Set the foundation of the pose first (for teaching and observing this also applies to looking to the foundation first)
Breath leads the way
Stabilize the periphery, move from the core
Root to rise
Major principles before applying refinements (i.e., open to grace, ME, IS, OS, OE before loops)
Sensitivity, stability, adjustment (for hands on/therapeutic adjustments)
Curvature before length (spinal alignment)
Shins in, thighs out
Initiate actions from the back body
I could blog about these for weeks and how, although they are simply articulated physical alignment principles, they would apply to actions off of the mat.