Kali, Shiva, and Raktabija

Used John's template from the TT manual for inversions to construct this sequence.

Told the myth of Raktabija the asura coming to conquer the city of the gods. Indra called on Shiva and Uma. He asked to awaken Kali so she could defend the city from the blood demon, who every time he was cut each drop of blood would grown into another demon, making him more powerful.

Shive released the power of Kali from Uma and she destroyed Raktabija and his demon army. She drank up the blood before it could become more demons. Once she destroyed the army she was continuing to destroy things and out of control. Shiva lay on the battlefield among the corpses in repose and when Kali stepped on him he drew her wild ecstatic destructive power out of her so she could return to her more auspicious, nurturing form.

So to in our practice we want to fiercely defend our highest and best intentions, but still ground the wild energy down when it no longer serves us so we can be at peace.

Invited student to contemplate what their city of the gods is, what that highest intention in their heart is that they would want to defend fiercely.

Everyone needs a block, a strap, a bolster, and two blankets. Starting out at the wall.

Surya Namaskar x4
-Tadasana - Volcano
-Uttanasana
-High Lunge
-Downdog - Plank
-8-point
-Cobra
-Plank - Downdog
-High Lunge
-Uttansana
-Volcano - Tadasna

Handstand - Ahdo Mukha Vrksasana
Pincha Mayurasana (hands clasped, level 1, palms pressed together, level 2)
Vrksasana - arms in Anjali Mudra and Stretchout out overhead
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Leg forward and out to side
Shoulder Opener @ Wall
Vasisthasana - Leg in kickstand/together
Wild Thing

child's pose - lift belly and fingertips to fully engage in repose
Low plank engaging core, then lower down to Belly and lay on a Blanket Roll - Abdominal restorative, talked about stuck energy in the body, anxiety and emotions and how they are natural and good instincts that can protect us, but we have to be able to discern when they don't serve us so we can release and transform it through our yoga practice.
Supta Virasana Supported on Bolster to open the knees for pigeon.
Pigeon - pressing back heel into the wall
Iguana - to open the hips for hanumanasana
Hanumanasana - use two blocks to come more upright, once settled, optional forward bend
Nadi Shodana Iin Ardha Padmasana (half lotus) careful not to retain the breath as that can kick up anxiety...let breath flow naturally. For inauspicious emotional releases remember that you are divine, you are worthy of love and you are Sri (you are beautiful).

Ardha Matsyundrasana
Setubanda Sarvangasana - lift the leg
Shoulder Stand - use two blankets
Uttansana - Shoulder stretch, hands clasped behind the back
Savasana - ground down any wild energy that isn't serving us that we've dredged up in our practice. Draw it down into the earth so the fire at the core can purify it and it can take on a more auspicious form.

Closing: A myth is an outright lie told in the service of a greater truth, and you are all of the characters.

We practice Yoga to be like Kali, fiercely defending our highest and best intentions, and to be like Shiva calmly grounding any energy that doesn't serve us so we can be at ease.

Notes: No concerns with injuries or other issues this class.

I had been helping my wife who had chicken pox this weekend, so I made sure to clean myself thoroughly before class and did not manually adjust or shake hands with anyone. I inquired and learned that there were only two people in the class who had not had it yet, so I was very careful not to make contact with them and to let them know that I had been in contact with chicken pox and had taken every possible step to prevent them from getting it. Since I do not have chicken pox the risk was supposed to be very low that I could transmit it.

After class I asked for future class suggestions. Told them I was planning to revisit their requests from last week. This class we did flow, inversions/hand balances, and pranayama. Next three classes I plan to focus a little more on each one. One student requested a longer flow sequence (moving with the breath) but with a little more technical instruction in the warmup and also more hip openers, so I'm going to incorporate those elements into the next class.