a young illustration of the practice of yoga from a pattern language perspective

1. Yoga :: a Pattern Language introduction
presented by Frances Rose
culturalengine.wordpress.com
Attendees will gain:
- a basic understanding of pattern languages
- a basic, broad, yet deep understanding of the practice of yoga (the essentials, its essence)
- an empowered desire to go home & practice -- (accessible, nourishing, self-care for all)
- an ability to enter any yoga class with a heightened understanding of what is being
asked for -- & an increased ability to participate safely
- a safe framework in which to cultivate a deeper practice, more quickly.
For whom:
This workshop is intended for persons with an interest in yoga -- an existing yoga practice
or those carrying an intent to start practicing.
Thursday, June 13, 13

2. gratitude
for this practice of yoga in my life
for the countless brilliant teachers
that have fired this practice for millenia
& to the subcontinent of India
Thursday, June 13, 13

3. about me
i practice & teach yoga
as a practice of union -- one that merges
people to place, breath to spirit, body to soul,
people to earth, people within, & each other
my calling in life seems to be sharing
practices of union across scale &
medium -- & especially it seems,
union to self, community, & earth
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4. (what is) a pattern language?
essential formulas. a thing’s DNA.
that from which forms emerge.
a whole system that yields infinite diversity.
a language of patterns rather than words.
patterns are the units of the language.
each pattern describes a core facet of a prime solution.
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5. how does one use
a pattern language?
we deepen any practice by building
healthy ecologies of patterns
within a language
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6. using a pattern language
patterns are combined with one another to create
a deeper, or more effective, form or expression.
flow of use (generally) runs from
patterns to details
(from larger to smaller)
freely navigate between, among & beyond the patterns
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7. framing yoga
a practice.
a personal practice.
a community practice.
an ancient practice.
a practice of balance
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8. framing yoga
the body is a temple -- treat it accordingly
body position as a form of prayer
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9. framing yoga
the journey continues & deepens forever
we direct our work & our energies toward benefaction
radical, transcendent self- & universal love
a union of opposing forces
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10. as a path to spiritual wisdom..
Yoga is...
..the yoking of all the powers
of the body, mind & soul to the Divine.
.. a means to discipline the intellect,
the mind, emotions, & will.
.. a poise of the soul which enables one
to look at life in all aspects evenly.
.. the true union of our will
with that of the Divine.
Thursday, June 13, 13

11. as a path to spiritual wisdom..
The work alone is our privilege -- never the fruits thereof.
Work in the name of the Lord. Abandon selfish desires.
Be not affected by success or failure.
This equipoise is called yoga.
- from the Bhagavad Gita
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12. two essentials (for me)
surrender. surrender. surrender.
to Earth. to the practice.
to oneself. to one another.
you remain the only one
ultimately responsible for your body.
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13. guidelines
no pain, no hurt
do try to distinguish between psychosomatic & physical pain
lift yourself up while practicing... avoid sagging.
carry a goal of togetherness & balanced support.
flexibility comes.
yoga is about engagement & opening & release.
create space in your body.
(don't hang out where you’re flexible -- engage & lift)
Thursday, June 13, 13

14. guidelines
getting out of the pose is as much the pose as the pose.
adjust & re-adjust (& then be there).
bring your practice with you off the mat.
&
remember (y)our body is interconnected
Thursday, June 13, 13

15. asanas
means ‘steady & balanced’.
not a posture assumed mechanically.
there's a soul force energy
that drives the experience.
it finds your unique expression
of that form in that moment.
allow the pose to do you.
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16. the patterns
spirit
mind
body
breath
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17. breath
first, breathe.
then deepen the breath.
ujayi breath.
pause between breaths.
(when the breath goes, so does the practice).
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18. body
root through the 4 corners of the feet (or hands)
navel toward spine
tuck the tail
chin slightly down
engage the core
shoulders up, back, & down
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19. spirit
there's a soul force energy
that drives the experience & finds
your unique expression
of any form in any moment.
spirit moves. spirit guides.
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20. mind
just the breath. thanks.
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21. balance
cultivate balance
start with your less dominant side -- or hold those poses longer
or sit cross-legged with your opposite leg on top
(or with your less common form of clasped hands)
balance in the body brings balance to the mind & emotion
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22. spirals
infinitely nesting spirals
follow the spirals. follow them out beyond your body.
& reverse their directions as you change planes or
dimensions.
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23. increasing
ever more deeply...
.. the breath
.. the pose
.. the duration
.. the focus
.. the ease
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24. returning
ever more deeply...
that pose you were just in...
.. do the other side
.. & then return to it
.. again & again
.. the body remembers & teaches
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25. adjust & readjust
breathe yourself more deeply into the pose
use whatever alignment points you know
little by little. closer & closer.
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26. union of opposites
if something feels off in the body,
ask yourself where is its other side?
we go up to go down
work from core out -- & from the outside in
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27. round trips
pairs with ‘union of opposites’
& ‘a gentle ricochet’
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28. a gentle ricochet
go further than you need to, then come back
the waves of going & coming.. action & reaction
after a twist come back to neutral & beyond
there is a bounce. a very gentle ricochet.
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29. use the body
use fingers & hands to
- hook, move, anchor, direct,
tap, turn, massage, twist,
listen, paint, follow, & guide
mouth
make sounds that
deepen your practice.
release through sound.
Thursday, June 13, 13

30. ... & props
adding external resistance to these postures opens more
doorways through which we may understand the practice
you may find the opening of your life with a
boulder underfoot... or up in a tree, in a garden,
or in a lazy boy chair
clothes as prop
a loose skirt can be drawn gently around the body infinitely
in a twist, adjusting the body as if it were pulling an infinite
string. remember to breathe. or it could look like a pant leg
helping to hold a spiral
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31. a class practice. a ‘sangha’.
- choose styles & teachers you love.
- one class a week? awesome. try two.
- two classes a week? awesome. try three.
- four classes a week? awesome. here, you may fly.
a daily practice
unlimited monthlies in Philly go for around $100. try it.
invest. added bonus if you divert those same funds from an
unhealthy habit now into yoga - a whole new world.
Thursday, June 13, 13

32. let the living soil hold it
grow a deeper, shared yogic culture
the more of us with shared passion & wisdom in common,
the more it serves our larger communities of practice
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33. home practice strategies
- warm the core. then the hips. work your way out
from the center -- & then work from the tips back
- remember the core -- & communities of practice
- practice awareness of stronger & weaker sides.
work to balance them.
- a class practice feeds a home practice feeds a class
practice
- restoration
- consider yoga pose polycultures - combinations of
asanas that deepen the practice by feeding one
another
Thursday, June 13, 13

34. help is underneath you
earth-supported postures
you may find the opening of your life
with a rock underfoot
use the support of the earth to lighten your load.
ease the pressure put upon the muscles & bones.
relax into your breath & the postures.
Thursday, June 13, 13

35. (the greatest, easiest) home practice:
legs up the wall
(can be done in bed. & under a blanket!)
legs straight up
legs wide
legs butterflied
legs pigeoned
roll over twist
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36. a daily practice
do one pose
'my practice is complete for the day'
(distinct from 'i didn't practice today')
a home practice feeds a class practice
feeds a home practice
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37. metaphysical polyculture
yoga postures with what…??
- music
- sitting
- reading
- talking
- eating
- loving
- sleeping
- note-taking
- what else?
- how many at once?
- & which combinations work particularly well for you?
Thursday, June 13, 13

38. your body is a garden
& a universe
feed it earth, air, water & fire
Thursday, June 13, 13

39. stay in yoga poses
How long to stay in the postures?
generally, stay in yoga poses
&, i carry a personal goal of 3
‘i want to come out’
once twice
thrice
- out -
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40. healing injuries
go slow & listen to your body
strengthen areas around the injured area
patience, breath & compassion
breathe
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41. sivasana
returning to a new self & a new body.
acknowledging change & transformation.
& giving that experience both time,
& subtle attention
(try sleeping in it)
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42. om
aaaaaa uuuuu mmmmmm
creation sound of the universe
the sound of the universe (finding itself)
imagine the sound traveling up your chakras,
growing from the root up through & out your crown
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43. meditation
the knower, the knowledge, & the known
become one
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44. two simple meditations
begin with a deep inhale....
& then:
* exhale * * surrender *
* inhale *
* exhale *
* release *
* inhale *
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* gratitude *
* return *

45. paired in the body with the...
* exhale * * surrender *
* feet *
* inhale *
* heart *
* exhale *
* release *
* crown *
* inhale *
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* gratitude *
* return *
* 3rd eye *

46. & flowing into...
* exhale *
* ease *
* inhale * * patience *
* exhale *
* trust *
* inhale * * allowance *
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47. our practice today
breath
roll arms & head
tadasana
arms wide
arms up
standing twists
om
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48. feedback
yoga is an exchange of energies & forces.
offer teachers accounts of your experience in their class.
this grows the practice & the exchange.
i strive to improve the display of this information.
do you have constructive ideas to share?
frances.subbiondo@gmail.com
Thursday, June 13, 13

49. thank you
&
namasté
(the light in me bows to
& honors the light within you)
culturalengine.wordpress.com
www.slideshare.net/FrancesPlectranthus
Thursday, June 13, 13