We spent the morning focussing on the lower back using a belt tied around our hip joints to provide feedback. Predominantly using standing poses, I remember feeling a greater sense of ‘oneness’ with poses I often struggle with: Ardha Chandrasana and Sirsasana spring to mind! Removing the belts before Savasana was when I suddenly began to feel unstable, and when we broke for lunch I was definitely in need of some fresh air.

.

Still feeling rather emotional; in the afternoon, it was somewhat ironic that Kirsten explained that placing a brick between our feet whilst seated in Baddha Konasana was supposed to help you stop crying!! Now with no belt, Kirsten directed us through a series of forward bends using a chair for head support and a bolster to support the trunk. Unfortunately, I found that these poses, that my mind says should have calmed me down, made me feel very unsettled but by practising them in a concave manner I found more stability.

By the end of the workshop I was still feeling upset and uncertain about what I had just experienced, a feeling that lasted long enough for me to cancel my booking for Garth McLean’s workshop due to an overwhelming sense that it could happen again.

Another week or so, and as I kept re-examining the workshop I realised that the pivotal moment was the removal of the belt. Then, by including it in my home practice, I began to appreciate the support it had provided and how suddenly losing that support after nearly 3 hours, was the reason for the instability. To sum up, I would have to say I think it is always worth attending workshops whenever you can, as you never know what you are going to learn.

Dorset and Hampshire Iyengar Yoga

My Discoveries from Kirsten's Workshop