Astanga-yoga (8 limbs)

1. Yamas(external disciplines): Clarify one’s relationship to the world of people and objects
Ahimsa: not harming
Satya: truthfulness
Asteya: not stealing
Brahmacarya: impeccable behavior, including sexual
Aparigraha: not being acquisitive

2. Niyamas (internal disciplines): personal principles governing the process of realization
Sauca: purification
Santosa: contentment
Tapas: intense discipline
Svadhyaya: self-study
Isvara-pranidhana: dedication tot he ideal of of pure awareness

3. Asana (sitting posture): cultivating profound physical steadiness and effortlessness in meditation
4. Pranayama (breath energy regulation): sustained observation and relaxation of all aspects of breathing, bringing about both a natural refinement of the respiratory process and body mind tranquility
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses): naturally occurring withdrawal from external sense objects as attention interiorizes
6. Dharana (concentration): locking attention on a single object/field
7. Dhyana (absorption): all mental formations relating to and object/field
8. Samadhi (integration): sustained coalescence of subject, object, and perceiving itself

Adopted from “The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali”; Hartranft, Chip. Shambbhala Classics

Paramitas

Paramitas: Transcendent Actions, The journey of exploration

1. Generosity
2. Discipline
3. Patience
4. Exertion
5. Meditation
6. Prajna

“Prajna is a way of seeing which continually dissolves any tendency to use things to get ground under our feet, a kind of bullshit detector that protects us from becoming righteous.”
-Pema Chodron

The three commitments

First: Committing to not cause harm

When the mind is wild with mockery
And filled with pride and haughty arrogance,
And when you want to show the hidden faults of others,
To bring up old dissensions or to act deceitfully,
And when you want to fish for praise
Or criticize and spoil another’s name
Or use harsh language, sparring for a fight,
It’s then that like a log you should remain.
-Shantideva

Second: Committing to take care of one another

Taking the………vow to help others implies that instead of holding our own individual territory and defending it tooth and nail, we become open to the world that we are living in. It means we are willing to take on greater responsibility, immense responsibility. In fact it means taking a big chance
– Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

We are all children of the great spirit. We all belong to Mother Earth. Our planet is in great trouble, and if we keep carrying old grudges and do not work together, we will all die.
-Chief Seattle

Third: Committing to embrace the world just as is

Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news
– Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Whatever is seen with the eyes is vividly unreal in emptiness, yet there is still form
Whatever is heard with the ears is the echo of emptiness, yet real
Good or Bad, happy or sad, all thoughts vanish into emptiness like the imprint of a bird in the sky.
– Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

5 Precepts; Thich Nhat Hanh
1. On protecting life: I will do my best to cultivate nonaggression and compassion and learn to protect life
2. On Respecting what belongs to others: Aware of the suffering caused by stealing or taking anything that belongs to others.
3. On not harming others with our sexual energy: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful or aggressive sexual energy, I vow to be faithful to my current partner and not to harm others with my sexual energy
4. On mindful speech: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech, I vow to cultivate right speech. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering
5. On protecting the body and mind: Aware of the suffering caused by alcohol, drugs, and other intoxicants, I vow to not drink liquor or use drugs

Renunciation exercises:
Notice how you feel: What does it feel like in your body to have these cravings or aggressive urges?
Notice your thinking: What sort of thoughts do these give birth to?
Notice your actions: How do you treat yourself and other people when you feel this way?

Yoga-Backbends/Chest openers

Meditation:
Intent: Emphasis on keeping the strength in the inferior scapulae, Heart center up, No compression in lower back

Asanas:
2-3 minutes each
+Hatha Surya Namaskara-2 breaths each round, 1 breath X 2
+Vinayasa- 3 rounds

Standing:
+Tadasana: Fingers interlaced, palms up- engagement of inferior scapulae, Chest up/ 10 rounds
+Uttanasana
+Prasarita Padottanasana C: fingers interlaced
+Parsvottanasana: binding with elbows, prayer, or fingers interlaced
+Uttanasana

Seated:

+ Dandasana
+ Gomukasana
+ Paschimottonasana: back breathing aids in recovery
+ Purvatanasana
+ Supta Virasana-3 rounds, 5 breaths/ Recover in Advasana: head turned, palms to the side and up, Back breathing
+ Childs Pose
+ Sarpasana: 3 rounds, 5 breaths/Recover in Advasana: head turned, palms to the side and up, Back breathing
+ Childs Pose
+ Dhanurasana: 5 Breaths, 2 rounds/ Recover in Advasna-Childs Pose
+ Paschimottonasana: Back breathing aids in recovery
+ Kandharasana
+ Matsyasana
+ Shava Udarakarshanasana (universial spinal twist)
+ Supta Pawanmuktasana (knees to chest)

Shavasana

Pawanmuktasana:shakti bandha/energy blockage

Meditation:
Intent: Diaphagmatic breathing, introduction to back breathing

Asanas
+Hatha Surynamaskara: 1round 3 breaths

2-3 minutes on all asanas:

+Marjariasana
+Vyaghrasana

Shakti bandha series:

+Rajju Karshanasana: 10 rounds
+Gatyatmak Meru Vakrasana: 10 rounds each direction
+Chakki Chalanasana:10 rounds each direction
+Nauka Sanchalanasana: 10 rounds each direction
+Namaskarasana: 10 rounds
+Vayu Nishkasana: 10 rounds
+Jathra:revolving
+Binded rolls: 10 times
+Shavasana

Hatha Class-Forward folding

Meditation:
Intent on: Diaphargmatic breathing / Ahisma=nonviolence

Asanas:
Hatha surya namaskara: 1 round 3-5 breaths each side / 3 rounds vinayasa- 1 breath, recover in samasthiti
+ all downward dog performed with knees bent: working on oppening the heart center, encourage diaphragmatic breathing

2-3 minutes on each asana:
Standing
+ Tadasana
+ Uttanasana
+ Trikonasana
+ Uttanasana
+Parsvottonasana
+ Uttanasana
Seated
3 minutes each
+ Dandasana
+ Uptavista Konasana
+ Paschimottonasana
+ Baddha Konasana
+ Janu Sirshasana
+ Paschimottanasana
+ Jathra:revolving
+ side to side and frontal binding rolls
+ shavasana