Yoga for the Dancer
Yoga For The Dancer
The Various Yoga Disciplines
By Cathy DeLoney
As you awaken each morning, consciously relax and take deep breaths. Before getting out of bed, take a moment to stretch, because this gets the blood and oxygen circulating and firing up your muscles. If you wake up easily and happily in the morning, use that time for meditation or prayer. If you tend to be sluggish in the mornings, it is best to do some breathing exercises and postures before meditation. It’s important that you do your physical yoga program to vitalize your body and fortify your mind.
The White Lotus Foundation began with the opening of the Center for Yoga in Los Angeles in 1967, on Sunset Boulevard. The Center grew from Ganga White’s year long study at an intensive residential training at the Sivananda Ashram. White, Billy Bahr and Radha McGowan were the original team, assisted by Ganga’s brother Stan. There were no start-up funds, so each continued working their jobs. The Center was located in a former beauty school, with business and living quarters, so the staff could live on-site, creating a warm and homey atmosphere. White had attained a high level of mastery of the asanas (exercises) and his lecture-demonstrations given around town brought students into filled classes. Originally classes were offered for donations only, but when packed classes repeatedly had only a few dollars in the donation bowl, they realized it was time for a change. The Foundation grew through the barter system as well. The Center would have closed very quickly if it were not for a few helpful supporters.
The Center grew quickly and after the first six months, they outgrew the first quarters. White found a warehouse that would be perfect, but the owner didn’t want to rent it to “a group of Hindu hippies”. After a favorable front page article on the Center came out in the Los Angeles Times, the owner relented. The staff worked very hard day and night cleaning the warehouse. They found that the facility had once been a dance hall and uncovered wonderful hardwood floors. A yoga deck was built on the roof, and the standing-room- only classes were booming. This was the turbulent sixties, and yoga was exploding and setting roots in America. White became vice- president of the Sivananda Organization, and the Center was host to a constant stream of yoga luminaries. Yogis, Swamis, Rimpaches, Tibetans and spiritual leaders from many traditions were regular speakers at the Center.
In 1968, White organized and led one of the first yoga teacher training programs in America, titled The In-Depth Yoga and Teacher Training. In 1969, he organized a national tour, giving yoga lectures/demonstrations at universities, new age churches and centers. The Foundation opened centers in Washington D.C. and later in San Francisco. In 1970, he opened the Yoga Farm Retreat in Grass Valley, California. In the early ‘70s, tours were conducted to Europe and study groups were taken to India. White was often featured in TV interviews, stories and in Hollywood films. The foundation became independent and broke its direct ties with India and the Sivananda organization. There were some problems involving the head Swami in America, and the center wanted to disassociate itself. White Lotus decided to become dedicated to the development of the total human being and to elucidating a free, open and contemporary approach to yoga. More next month, here’s to your dancing health!
Seated Side Stretch Sequence
This sideways stretch counters stiffness in the back and welcomes a loose fluidity in to the body. The twisted version releases the lower back. The posture stretches the inner thighs, tones the legs, opens the hips and stimulates blood flow in the pelvic region. This pose also tones the liver, spleen and kidneys. The arms are stretched and toned. Keep the knees straight even if you don’t go very far down to the legs or floor. Dancer Magazine and I disclaim any liabilities or loss in connection with the exercises and advice herein.
1. Sit with your legs open to the side as wide as you can comfortably.
2. Turn and face your right leg, stretching toward your foot. Hold 10-20 counts.
3. Turn your shoulders front and reach with your left arm stretching overhead toward your right foot. Hold 10-20 counts. Repeat numbers 2 and 3 to the left leg.
4. Stretch both arms forward trying to lay your trunk on the floor. Hold 10-20 counts. Relax and repeat the whole sequence.