Art/Yoga Fusion: The Heart Mandala for Self Esteem

Saturday, October 18th was my first Art/Yoga Fusion Workshop.  The topic was The Heart Mandala for Self Esteem.

We started by meditating using Ahamkara Mudra. Aham in sanskrit translates to I, Ego, Self and Kara is the verb to do or make.  The word ahamkara means I-maker. Ahamkara mudra is one of the most powerful mudras for self-esteem. Holding the mudra will help you strengthen your ability to face difficulties with confidence.  This mudra reminds you to get your ego out of the way and allow your intuition to flow and trust your inner self.

We continued with Yoga Poses for Self-Esteem: Tadasana, Tree Pose, Goddess Victory Squat, Sphinx, Warrior 1 and 2, Supported Bridge, Hero, Cobra, Upward Facing Dog, Dancer, Chandra Namaskar (not in this order)

Then I gave people of number of questions to answer by writing.

The answers to these questions were used to male the individual mandalas..

People could chose a template or a blank circle.

I ended with a guided metta meditation.

That was my first workshop. Nine people attended.

It took place at The Yogi Tree in Toluca Lake.

Trying out Ashtanga - Mysore Style

Yesterday was my first day off of work and my first day of Mysore at Omkar 108.  I have wanted to go take the Mysore class for awhile but you have to commit to a month in the mornings and I have been working.

Day 1 -

A lot of Sun Salutations.  I learned Surya Namaskar A and B, forward bend holding the toes, forward bend with the hands under the feet, Triangle on both sides, Revolved Triangle, Side Angle and Revolved Side Angle, Seated Forward Bend, Meditation and Final Savasana.

In the evening a went to Yin with Star at Hot Yoga 8.  I hope with a combination of Yin and Ashtanga I can open my body. 

My flexibility isn't where I would like it to be.

Tibetan Singing Bowls - Sound Yoga

I never had heard of it before last week but today I did a meditation led by my instructor Dr. John Casey using Tibetan singing bowls.

 We met at Gwen's apartment in Venice Beach.  Dr.  Casey led an hour meditation where he placed the bowls on my chest and abdomen during different times in the mediation.  At one point I had two bowls on me but I never had three like in this picture.

 Sometimes the bowls were close to my ear.  I am not sure how close because my eyes were closed the whole time.

 I was happy he put a bowl on my heart because I am trying to get over a lot of heartbreak right now.

Head Drawing - Give it 5 years

It is weird when you go to draw.  You never know how you are going to do.  When I walk into the Bikram studio I am not sure if I am going to have a day when I am flexible and feel light or I am going to be unflexible and heavy with out any balance.  When I go to draw sometimes I am tired and distracted and I go still crank out a good drawing or I can be full of life and rested (like last night) and not hit my best.

Here is my latest picture of Kwante.  I think I was a little heavy handed with it.  It doesn't have the ethereal quality of some of my other drawings.  Rick worked with me on nose and mouth.  He didn't have any criticism about the shape of the eyes so hopefully my work with Vanderpoehl is helping me with that.  I noticed the guy drawing next to me had a less rigid drawing.  But one woman in the class came up and said I had a dead on likeness that made me feel good.

What  I did notice yesterday is that I am comfortable with the charcoal pencil in my hand.  For so many years I felt awkward holding that damned pencil.  Now I am ok with it.  I guess it is like Ted said to me yesterday at Bikram Studio City when I complained about my shoulder hurting during the poses and my knees (I didn't even talk to him about how my feet don't feel good at all) anyway he said if you practice 5 years your body will change.  I was thinking how I did practice 5 years and my body did change and I stopped and now how I have to do those five years all over again.  First that made me sad and now I realize what's 5 years of yoga - I was going to do that anyway.

It has taken me about 4 years to get comfortable with the charcoal pencil.  Maybe I will feel even better after five.

Rick Morris Class

Feel pretty good about this drawing I did in Rick's Class last night.  He said I had a good block in.   My materials suck.  I am going to buy some materials today.  I always say I am going to but I don't.

It was the first time in there that I wasn't exhausted which is a huge plus.  Atleast I think it is a plus.  Sometimes in Bikram yoga they say how you feel before you go in the room doesn't really mean anything to how you will perform in the room.  I don't know if that is they same before drawing.  I have to experiment with that.  You can feel like utter shit before Bikram and then perform well in the room or you can feel great and have a shitty class.

Drawing I think it helps to feel good.  But I haven't drawn consistently enough to be totally sure.

I went to Bikram before I drew and I ate a Trader Joe's salad in my car before the class at 3 Kicks. I guess my goal for next class is to get some good materials and a nice tackle box like a never have had and put a more serious artist face on the whole thing.

Some how my Wolf pencils don't work well for Head Drawing with Rick the way they did with Glenn Orbik.  The generals work a lot better for Tonal Drawing.