November theme: Karuna (Compassion coupled with Devoted Action)

Theme for last month, October, was Maitri (loving kindness and friendliness). This, of course, is a ubiquitous message transcending time-so, be it November or sometime in the future, slow down and ask how you can nurture more maitri, becoming a kinder and more compassionate (karuna) individual.

This month we’ll be looking at karuna, “compassion coupled with devoted action” (BKS Iyengar, Light on Yoga), kicking off with a themed yogasasna class themed around cultivating compassion.

Please read the Health and Safety information (scroll down) and/or in YouTube video description

There is always something new to learn in our spiritual practice (sadhana) – OFF the mat especially; please remember that! On the mat too; we practice Surya Namaskar daily, yes, but every day – every movement linked with breath – is UNIQUE.
Each is a vinyasa (to move in a special way!). Each is rooted in devotion, bhakti, and thus we move with intention, with awareness, with fresh eyes – every interaction, every moment. So, if you’ve watched the above before, approach the video with new eyes this time. And share with me what you learned, what you enjoyed, and any observations which perhaps you might not have witnessed before.
Thank you for watching and stay posted for more vids on coming off buprenorphine and the journey of recovery – how we need to talk more about addiction, about recovery and the healing path that is Yoga
#KEEPFIGHTINGFORLOVE

Latest videos on YogasanawithRah channel – stay posted for upcoming vids on Compassion (Karuna) and share your thoughts as a comment below

Heath & Safety’s
– Please do not practice if your are pregnant in your first 12 weeks; and your first eight weeks after giving birth, and make sure to have clearance from your doctor before practicing, please.
– Practice Ahimsa, non-harming, the first of the Yamas (universal moralities); non-harming to yourself, to others, to the world and to animals. So don’t do anything which will cause you or anyone else harm. Listen to your body, how it feels today; and if you feel any new, sharp or shooting pain, come out of what you are doing and take balasana (child’s pose) or savasana (corpse)–these are still active asanas, you are still breathing!

**Props and Health and Safety notes on some of the asanas in these videos:**
Adho Mukha Savasana
– Use blocks under your hands in Adho Mukha Savasana to help create length and space.
– If your heels don’t reach the mat it doesn’t matter, just bend your knees and keep heels lifted. Daily practice will see you progress.
– Cautions: Back and neck injuries – please do not practice inversions (AMS is an inversion.) Further cautions: Avoid inversions if you have high blood pressure.
– Contraindications for Adho Mukha Savasana include hypertension, stroke and heart disease – take it easy (move gently) when coming into the asana and don’t hold for too long.
– For tight hamstrings, bend you knees and lift up your heels in Adho Mukha Savasana (Downward Facing Dog);

Forward folds
– For tight hamstrings, lower back issues or just feeling stiff, you can soften your knees (keeping them slightly bent) for forward folds including Uttanasana in the Namaskar sequence and Dangling (Ragdoll/Baddha Hasta Uttanasana) in warm up sequence.
BEGINNERS sq NOTE: Bend your knees and hold back of your ankles until you can work towards placing your hands flat on the mat (or on blocks) next to your feet.

Cross-legged seated asanas
– Use a folded cloth/eye pillow/folded belt between your knees in cross legged seated asanas (i.e. sukhasana, easy pose) for extra padding. Caution: knees, ankles, hips
– Place blocks/pillow/bolster under your sitting bones to elevate your hips higher than your knees for your dhyana (meditation).