January 14th 2025 - Day 9 - 50th Birthday Celebrations

I woke up today in a state of cellular vibrancy - my favourite way to feel when I wake up in the morning, as all the imprints left by the classes so far accumulate in my body. I even got an extra 20 minutes sleep as my music friend held off until after 6am.

Today a classic Geetaji backbend class was played on the big screens for us to practice along with, as if we were in the class with her. For those who had never been taught by Geeta, it gave an amazing insight into her unique approach and for those who had been taught by her, it felt in some ways, as if she had never been away - I found I went into autopilot as the strength of her verbal instructions, simply compel you to follow. The class got straight to the point - we'd finished Sirsasana and moved onto backbends within minutes of starting the class. We had loads of time to practice dropping back to Urdhva Dhanurasana from Tadasana both from the perpective of assisting and doing.

After class I went off to get x-rays of my spine which meant I didn't get the notes down while they were fresh in my mind, so just the bare bones today.

I popped out this evening to get some shopping and each place I visited I was given a small sweet treat as part of the continuing festvities.

January 14th 2025 – Day 9 – Session 1 - 50th Birthday Celebrations – Class recording with Geetaji

• Swastikasana for invocation – Release the eyes backward and then downwards so that they look towards the chest. Release the root of the tongue. Feel the life force more in the heart region and exist in there – like a cave – and be in that quiet space so that nothing can disturb you.

• AMVirasana / AMSvanasana – Releasing the trapezius and shoulder blades away from the neck.

• Uttanasana

• Sirsasana – Shoulder blades, trapezius well lifted, Even those on the rope have to lift the shoulder blades and trapezius upward to build up the strength there. Don’t just let that skin hang down there. Dorsal spine into the body. First you have to learn to ascend the whole inner leg upward and later you learn that the inner leg goes upward, except from the inner knee to the groin which draws downward.

• Urdhva Mukha Svanasana – Hands back by the floating ribs, palms well open, check that the elbow and wrist are in one line. And then go up - Lift the side ribs, widen the clavicles, roll the shoulders back, arms straight like AMVrksasana. Long hold.

• Supta Tadasana – Hold the outer edges of the mat to adjust the shoulder blades and turn the palms to face the ceiling. Arches of the feet absolutely open.

• Bend the legs, place the palms near to the shoulders (not close together near to the ears). Palms well open and lift up into Urdhva Dhanurasana – 4 short attempts. Shoulders, shoulder blades, back ribs into the body.

• On 5th – 8th go walking the feet in and opening the armpit. Raise the feet and go higher! PUMP the buttocks!

• On 9-10th go – Walk the hands in closer. Be on the legs side to walk in with the palms. See that the knees don’t roll out, roll the knees from outer to inner.

• Tadasana – Fingers interlocked behind to roll the shoulders and then release palms to the back of the thighs. Shoulder blades, back ribs in, bend the knees and lift the sternum chest upwards.

• 2nd repeat those that could dropped back from Tadasana to Urdhva Dhanurasana

• 3rd repeat – Take the head back and though you were looking at the buttocks.

• Here she split the class into 3 groups: 1) Those that could already do 2) Those that were almost there and 3) Those that were not able. We looked closely at how she helped someone who was afraid, bringing her body closer to theirs with repeated instructions for them to lift the back ribs, lift the sternum chest “Come close to me! Close to me! Close to me!”. Then we observed how she observed students, tailoring the help to what they needed, in some cases taking her hands under the shoulders and rolling them under holding the shoulder from below, drawing the skin and supporting the shoulder blades as they dropped back.

• Abhi stopped the recording and we helped each other to drop back – supporting the sacrum, back ribs and shoulder blades as needed, making sure that the student was grounded on their legs to drop back. Helper making sure they kept their balance by staying close to the person they were helping, one foot forward between their legs, one foot back in a stable, balanced stance. Raya pointed out that when I was dropping back, I should not lift my toes because this takes the shin back and the action of the shins is to move forwards.

• AMVirasana

• Prone Savasana - She called this Adho Mukha Savasana confusing a lot of us into lifting up for dog pose. Turn the toes in, widen front ribs, widen the buttock region. See that the dorsal does not poke up.

• Sarvangasana – Be tall, open the bottom of the breast region, abdomen long.

• Savasana – Widen the abdomen and the sides of the navel, especially those that had the fear, at least here open everything out and widen.