Arjuna and his brothers, the 5 Pandavas

Last week talked about Krishna, this week Arjuna and the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita or Song of God is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna about right and wrong, and takes place on a battlefield.

War doesn’t seem very yogic, but we’re going to explore how this setting is actually appropriate and represents the inner world of every being as they often struggle with themselves to come to terms with what their own highest and best potential is in life.

Centering – focus on the five pandava brothers, the five principles in comfortable seated position. Talk briefly about cosmic headrest in the chariot to briefly introduce skull loop.

Tadasana/Utanasana/Downdog – engage the five principles in each pose, Arjuna is one of the five virtuous Pandava brothers, all heroic half gods.

Plank, knee to nose six times each leg, 12 for years in exile, childs pose for last year in hiding. The Pandavas are tricked by their cousins, the evil half demon Kauravas, into gambling away their kingdom for 13 years.

SN – HL/Warrior I/Parvottanasna/Warrior Seal – Krishna is Arjuna’s brother in law and his chariot driver, but Arjuna doesn’t know that Arjuna is actually the 8th avatar of Vishnu. Arjuna tells Krishna he wants to give up the fight rather than kill his relatives.

SN – HL/Parsvakonasana/Warrior II/Reverse Warrior – Krishna reveals himself as the 8th Avatar of Vishnu, an embodiment of the divine and demands that Arjuna fight.

SN – HL/Utkatasana Twist/Ardha Uttanasana/Warrior III – Arjuna decides to fight

Dhanurasana/Ardha Dhanurasana – eyes closed, Arjuna practiced in the dark. Used skill at festival to win the hand of his wife Draupadi. Her father the king suspended a wooden fish high above a pool of oil. The fish rotated around and the archers had to hit it in the eye looking only at the reflection to aim. Arjuna won this contest and claimed her as his bride, though he was in disguise at the time because it was his 13th year of hiding.

High Lunge/Twist/Revolved – on the 13th day of battle. Arjunas son Abhimanya is killed in chariot battle by the evil king Jayadratha’s forces. They violate the rules of warfare by luring him into a trap, disarming him, smashing the wheels of his chariot, and crushing his skull when they get him on the ground. He fights valiantly killing many Kaurava warriors before he is slain.

Padottanasana/Star – Arjuna tries to confront Jayadratha, but he hides behind his army. Krishna summons the nightfall, calling on forces of stars and moon to darken the sky.

Trikonasana/Ardha Chandrasana - Krishna finishes using his yoga powers to invoke the darkness so the days battle will end and Jayadratha will be lured out.

Urdhva Dhanurasana (right leg then left leg up) – Arjuna shoots his celestial arrow at Jayadratha when he comes out of hiding, believing that night has fallen and he is safe. Remember that Arjuna practiced shooting in the dark…oops, Jayadratha didn't know about that. So Arjuna is very angry at Jayadratha and passionate about avenging his son's death. Krishna encourages Arjuna to use his passion and anger instead of renouncing it and to break the traditional rules of engagement in battle, just as Jayadratha did to them when his forces killed Ambhimanya. So too, we want to transform our emotions and passions into a force for good, and not be bound by any rules as we pursue what's in the best interest of ourselves, our family, and our community.

Supta Padangustasana – leg extended

Savasana

Next week – talk about ujayi breath work toward Supta Virasana in restorative class with many twists.

Success!/Concerns: The students I spoke with really enjoyed the story and message of confronting difficulty. We'll continue with our discussion of the Gita. The class has consistently been around 24 students for the past several weeks with many more returning students. Also, they are communicating that they are remembering principles we discussed in previous classes and I'm seeing regular students developing by applying loops and principles. No injuries or conditions mentioned before class. Very inspiring.

One thing I would have changed with the sequence is that Warrior Seal was too early in the sequence. I should have put that in the second or third sun salutation so they could warm up the shoulders a little. A couple students remarked that it was really cold this morning and they really felt that opening. I showed them how to apply the principles in tadasana to relieve any residual discomfort they felt from this opening after class.