Swatantrya, Stretching Your Self on the Loom of Creation

Theme: we're going to talk today about Swatantrya, or Freedom. The Sankrit word has two parts swa and tan. Swa means self.

Sanskrit word Tan, which means to stretch, like fabric on a loom

So by stretching or expanding your heart over the loom of our practice we can achieve a greater awareness of our true self, the divinity that exists in all things

So this concept of Swa or Self and Tantrya or stretching, means self stretching - creating a sense of freedom and expansion in the heart. When you stretch fabric or threads over a loom you create space for a pattern to be embroidered or woven and you create space for the divine energy of the universe to flow into you.

So why weaving. Well the idea is that when your free, then you can do anything. The loom metaphor is about creating something stable out of that freedom, because we're always seeking balanced action between freedom and stability, to create the future we want.

When you're at the edge in a pose, that's the place where transformation occurs and it's the best moment to reflect on your highest and best intentions.

Seated meditation...hands anjali mudra
1. soften the heart and the outer body. Let the skin drape onto the skeleton
2. draw shoulders up towards ears and lengthen side body
3. draw the shoulderblades onto the back and bring the heads of the shoulders back
-think about something you'd like to do if you were free to do it, something in alignment with your highest and best intentions, something socially responsible.

Tadasana - shoulder loop
Uttanasana - Downdog
SN - Parsvakonasana
SN - Trikonasana
SN - High Lunge - practice stepping stance wide, then bring it back in Stability vs. freedom. Beach ball, plug arms in on second side.

Garudasana - Eagle pose - eagle is the animal that represents freedom in our country
Vasisthasana/Wild Thing - demo
Dolphin - partner at wall, dolphin free swimming through the ocean diving through the waves
Dolphin plank - hold 1 minute
Pincha Mayurasana - hold 1 minute, hold your highest intention in your heart. what would you do if you could do anything, if no one and no thing was holding you back. Whatever limitations you perceive melt away and you found the flexibility to weave your desires into your current being and existence. Maybe the limitations aren't really there. Maybe they're just in your mind and the way you are viewing your circumstances.

Gomukhasana - arms behind back
Ardha Matsyendrasana - half lord of fishes
Purvottanasana - tabletop, hold 1 minute
Spine supported on bolster or block/Savasana

Closing: We practice yoga to stretch our consciousness and being over the loom of our practice, so we can weave the destiny we choose.

Concerns: Student at beginning of class asked about Sciatica and said had some hamstring pain. I explained that I wasn't an expert on the condition of sciatica, but told her that it was caused by compression of a nerve by tight muscles. Since the specific pain and tingling she was presently experiencing was in her hamstring, I showed her some hamsting stretches to do at home that should be able to help her relieve tight muscles (sciatica or otherwise). I'm going to do more research on sciatica and if I see that student again, I'll be sure to see if that helped and offer more help if possible.

Success!: Students engaged and interactive during class. Requested hip openers, headstands, and more inversions for future classes so I will integrate these things into the class over the next month.