Earth Below, Sky Above, Peace Within: Teaching Yoga on the Grassy Knoll: Kihei, HI: November 16, 2020

Our outdoor yoga studio: the grassy knoll of the Kihei Surfrider Resort.

According to Instagram or Facebook, notably dubious news sources, the grassy area outside the Kihei Surfside Resort in Maui, Hawaii is a “knoll”. That’s what is says, anyway, when you insert your location into  your social media post. 

A knoll, according to Webster’s dictionary, is defined as a “small hill”. One synonym for a knoll is a “rise”.

If I had to choose a word for it, I’d say “perfection”.

This morning was a test- run to see how a yoga class there might look. I wanted to see what it felt like in my heart. With the help of three willing participants, who showed up at the behest of my text, the experiment revealed instant results. When yogis come together, something magical happens. Energetically, inspiration travels heart to heart; an invisible, yet visceral nudge to flourish and thrive. A reminder that we’re not alone, and a knowing that we all are here to help each other.   That’s why online yoga classes feel different than zoom, why zoom feels different that live, and why live feels so amazing.

Don’t get me wrong, I love yoga in all its offerings. But I can’t let this moment pass without a big mahalo to Melissa, Kelly, and Miyako. Thank you, thank you. You bring a whole new layer of faith and belief to this mantra in the Taittrya Upanishad

Together may we be proected
Together may we be nourished 
Together may we work with great energy
May our journey together be brilliant and effective
May there be no bad feelings between us
Peace Peace Peace

So it’s officially a Monday morning, 7:30AM, outside, oceanfront, socially distanced yoga class. It says so right here in this blog.

Here’s our sequence ths morning:

Sit
Breath meditation

 Supine ankle and hip circles
Supine tree with side stretch
Rock and roll supine twist

Sukasana cat and cow
Forward fold and side stretch
Seated twist with neck/trapezius release

All fours cat and cow and big circles

Marching downdog with side release
Downdog
Plank
Sphinx or Seal
Downdog

Balance dog with wrist stretch
Side plank
Vinyasa

Downdog
IT band stretch 
Side plank variation with strength option
Vinyasa

 Child’s pose
Wrist stretch
Grounded twist

 Downdog
Twisted stretch
Lunge
Low lunge with psoas stretch
Side angle with prayer twist
Warrior II dance
Peaceful warrior
Trikonsansa
Peaceful warrior
Low lunge
Hamstring stretch
Pigeon with gratitude meditation

 Bridge or wheel x 2
Supine twist

Savasana

Sit
Heart beam meditation
Namaste

 Health, Love and Rock N Roll