Retirement, Hawaii, next year's retreat?

Hi all!

Hawaii was absolutely amazing, my favorite retreat yet :) and Kalani was so easy, though next time there will be more vegan options at all meals, and I'm definitely diving with the Mantas!

Lisa took amazing pictures if you'd like to see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lmpicard/collections/72157619779026962/

And she wrote a sweet review for her blog:

http://lisapicard.blogspot.com/2009/06/chefs-and-yogis.html

My last classes in San Francisco will be July 19th, and I'll be teaching my usual schedule at Grace Cathedral, Yoga Tree, and James Howell Studio until then. Afterwards, you can find me in Brooklyn!

For next year, I'd love to go ahead and start planning another retreat, so if you're interested PLEASE let me know immediately about it, and if you have preferences. I'm inclined towards going back to Kalani, as it's set up so perfectly, but if you know of another destination that wouldn't be prohibitively expensive, let me know!

biglove,
jamie

I'm on vacation June 7th-19th, so no classes :)

I'm going to be taking my summer vacation from June 7th-June 19th, so there won't be classes at James Howell Studio or at Grace Cathedral during that time.

Last Advanced Class at James Howell with be this Saturday morning, 8am, and classes will resume Saturday June 20th.

Last Grace Cathedral Yoga class will be this Wednesday, and classes will resume Wednesday June 24th.

Enjoy the break, and I'll see you soon!

peace,
jamie

FINAL 6am class sequence, from this morning

photo from Kevin's practice class at Mission Yoga

So, school's begun to require a great deal more work. Final semester, thesis, advanced logic seminar, and so forth. I'm reducing my schedule yet again, no more Tuesday 6am, but Adrienne has been organizing early morning open practice sessions at James Howell Studio, and I strongly encourage you to get together for yoga, or to deepen your home practice, and to begin exploring all the other wonderful yoga teachers that San Francisco has to offer.

Or DEEPEN YOUR HOME PRACTICE!!!

My schedule at James Howell Studio, Advanced Class by donation, will be:

Saturday and Sunday mornings, 8am.

Nothing else will change :)

And, this was the practice from this morning:


Movement Series, 30m:

Siddhasana, pelvic circles
Cat Rolls, from pelvis
Bhadrasana, snaking sidebends
Down Dog, alt. knee bends
Dog Vinyasa
Uttanasana, alt. knee bends
Simple Jatara P.
Eka Pada Setu Bandha Sarvangasana core Vinyasa
Mandalanamaskar (inspired by Shiva Rea)


Inhalation Focus, 30m:

Down Dog
Sphinx
Heart Stretch
Bhujangasana
Supta Virasana
Child's Pose
Three-Legged Dog R
Pigeon I R
Three-Legged Dog R
Sirsasana, Hanuman Pigeon R
Child's Pose (and then repeat set to the left)
Ustrasana
Child's Pose
Headstand Scorpion
Three-Legged Dog R (lighten left hand)
Low Lunge R (then repeat both to the left)
Ganda Bherundasana


Exhalation Focus, 30m:

At wall, block on crown, elbows touching
At wall, block sliding upwards
At wall, block forward, set elbows, raise
Down Dog, partner grounding sacrum
Pincha Mayurasana, partner assist for balance

Surrender, 30m:

Upavistha Konasana, with head support 5m
Diamond, with head support 5m
Paschimottonasana, with head support 5m
Reclining twist with thighs crossed 5m each side
Savasana

DO try this at home!

Advanced Class, James Howell Studio, 1/25/09

(the sky, walking to class this morning)

today's class was quite similar to yesterday's, though the pacing was somewhat more vigorous, and we did more pranayama and less core. i was originally aiming towards Setu Bandhasana and Ganda Bherundasana, but we stopped with Mandalasana instead.

If i got any of this out of order, or skipped anything, please comment!

Siddhasana
Kapalabhati with single-hand Muladhara Mudra
Bhastrika, Muladhara Mudra
Arm rotations with spinal undulations
Hip rotations
Pelvic circles
Down Dog, alternate knee/hip rolls
Balasana
Bhadrasana, snaking sidebends
Down Dog
Uttanasana, hip rolls
Tadasana/Uttanasana vinyasa from foundation
(adding some lateral movement)
Sidebend vinyasa from legs
Dharma Mittra-inspired rapid rotations
Nauli
Mayurasana
Balasana

Hatha Salutation
Hatha Salutation with Shiva Rea-inspired Mandalanamaskar
Suryanamaskar A (Ashtanga-inspired)
Samakonasana Handstand jumpings
Prasarita Pad. III
Star Arch
Runner, neck release
Reverse Warrior into Revolving Runner (R/L)
Star Arch
Runner, neck release
Hanumanasana I-II (R/L)
Star Arch
Prasarita Pad. III
Chatturanga Vinyasa
Standing Tittibhasana
Tittibhasana (arm balance)
Kurmasana
Tittibhasana
Bakasana
Prasarita Pad. III
Stupa Pose
Samakonasana

Runner into Janu Sirsasana I (soft)
Cradle Stretch
Leg-Behind-Shoulder Twist
Eka Pada Sirsasana
Paschimottonasana (soft)
Navasana (whole set, then other side)

Halasana
Salamba Sarvangasana I
Karnapidasana
Parvrtta Halasana
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Matsyasana
Urdhva Dhanurasana I (with rocking)
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Supta Baddha Konasana (abdominal breathing)
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Matsyasana
Urdhva Dhanurasana
Tadasana
Tadasana Mandalasana variation
Pristhasana
Urdhva Dhanurasana
Chakra Bandhasana
Sirsasana
Vrshikhasana in Sirsasana
(or Sirsapadasana)
Mandalasana

Open Practice Period

Twist
Nadi Sodhana
Savasana / Restorative pose
Kapalabhati
Simhasana

Namaste,
Jamie

Vinyasa Sequence from Advanced Class, Saturday 1/24/09

(We should take new pictures; I'm leaving soon, and I'd love to have the memories!)

Just a quick notation of the basic sequence, as a record for folks who were there, perhaps as a guide to practice.

Connecting movements left out :) and if i missed anything please comment...

Siddhasana
Arm rotation waves
Hip rotations
Seated pelvic circles
Down Dog alternate leg hip rolls
Bhadrasana snaking side bends (from crown)
Cat rolls snaking from base

Ana Forrest-inspired hip stretch curls
Jatara Parivartanasana I-II
Rolling like a ball
Nauli
Standing side vinyasa (from base)
Dharma Mittra-inspired vigorous rotations

Hatha salutation
Hatha salutation with Shiva Rea-inpired Mandalanamaskar

Series from Star, with backbend/psoas stretch:
Runner (softening neck)
Reverse Warrior
Vashisthasana
Hanumanasana I-II (on the right)
Stupa
Samakonasana
Hanumanasana I-II (on the left)
Star with arch
Reversal of Samakonasana
Standing Tittibhasana
Tittibhasana (arm balance)
Kurmasana (and bind)
Tittibhasana

Halasana
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Matsyasana
Rolling like a ball
Chakrasana
Sirsasana I
Vrishikhasana in Sirsasana
Chakra Bandhasana
Dropbacks

Open Practice Time

Shift to Abdominal Breathing:
Supta Baddha Konasana
Ardha Apanasana
Simple Reclining Twist
Savasana

Nadi Sodhana
Kapalabhati
Simhasana

Namaste!
Jamie

Grace Cathedral Yoga 1997-2009 facebook group

Just a quick note:

I created a facebook group for the Grace Cathedral Yoga class. I'm feeling a bit nostalgic on this beautiful sunny HOT San Francisco day, thinking about all the folks that have passed through, and so if you're into community sites, say 'hi'!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59568301024&ref=mf

peace,
jamie

Final Schedule / Last Six Months

Hi all,

Hope you're enjoying the sun :) I'm making official those changes I've been talking with y'all about for a while now. Starting directly...

Gold's, I'm going to retire. Last class at Gold's will be THIS Tuesday, 4pm, Jan 18. I will have a sub for the following week, and I'm recommending Chad Stose for the class, so if you know his classes and have feedback, let Pam know that you'd enjoy having him on at Gold's.

NOTHING changes at Grace Cathedral or Yoga Tree, or with the Yoga Tree Teacher Training. My last Training starts at the end of February.

James Howell Studio, big changes:

going to keep ONE 6am class: Tuesday mornings, 6-8am, as usual this Tuesday (Jan 20, 2009)

adding back the old Sat 8am class: Saturday mornings, 8-10:15am, starts this coming Saturday (Jan 24, 2009)

Sunday stays the same: Sunday mornings, 8-11am or thereabouts

Noam will adjust my website to reflect this soon :)

Also, lots of folks have been interested in using James Howell for group practice sessions (when i'm not there), so if you're interested in that you could join my facebook group for early morning yoga at james howell.

And, my going-away party will be in Hawaii :)

Namaste,
Jamie