Difficult one

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (yogialison) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:03:32 GMT

Thanks Suzzane.
As they arrive we greet each other in English and Khmer.....I apparently sound very funny when I try hello,How are you? in Khmer.

Depending on how nosiy/quiet/excited/subdued they are as they arrive...we start sitting cross legs or in child pose.

Then some abdominal breathing...then engaging the abdominals and observing how the chest moves more now that the belly moves less.

Then some gentle cat type stretches(I took some ideas for cat flows...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (Suzanne LaForest) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:32:01 GMT

YogaAlison...Please post what you are finding works for you.

My first thought was to do some things to make them feel safe, like child's pose or face-down savasana...interspersed in with other more vigorous things. Call it rest (for the whining) but also, make sure they understand it's self-nurturing. Just a thought...have no idea if it would work. But in Kripalu they do that...bursts of activity followed by resting in nurturing positions. Seems like it would help with the...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (yogialison) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:40:08 GMT

Thanks for all the cakes Lotus!!

We had green(pandan)cake here for my birthday and some sugared yam and some strange gooey sweet coconut things in lurid colours.

My classes with the Transitions girls are going well....have changed to Thursday as I have other class now on Tuesday.

The standing flow had them doing some good strong warriors and balancing...the sound track I used had songs/chants about goddesss......I talked briefly at the start of class about being...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (Greenkitchen) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:56:16 GMT

I'm with Ma...you guys are amazing.

This thread has given me some ideas about dealing with a woman that works for me. She is very talented but has low self esteem from an abusive father and then husband of 20 years. Now she is single and free but it still tied to the ex through their 13 year old daughter. I noticed that when she gets stressed or feels confronted she...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (Dancing Lotus) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:19:13 GMT

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (Sri D) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:56:52 GMT

you, Alison!

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (yogialison) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:35:50 GMT

Yes Purnayoga teaching these girls is making me think much more before speaking....I usually say way too much.

The girl who is translating is local she is on the teacher training course and spent some time living in an orphanage(and is a friend)all of this helps alot.

We have been doing some sunsalutations which they enjoy and some simple standing vinyasa flow type flows.They seem to enjoy it and repeating helps....but too many asanas or to long and they start to get...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (ma data) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:20 GMT

I am so honored to be here, part of this, part of all of you...

Namaste

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (purnayoga) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:49:04 GMT

Alison,

There are several points to your question.

Relative to language, obviously using simple words that translate well will be very helpful. This is something my teacher advised me when we were doing workshops abroad. The problem is we are so accustomed to using innuendo and slang in our communication. But it will be a good opportunity for YOU to practice yoga - the yoga of mindfulness, the yoga of clarity, the yoga of thinking before speaking, the yoga of staying out of the...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (yogialison) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:16:11 GMT

Thank you!!

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (omcasey) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:50:23 GMT

Brilliant!

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (yogabylorien) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:37:22 GMT

Alison, First of all, thank you for taking on such a worthy and difficult task. I'm so happy that these girls are getting some tools to positively inhabit their bodies. Victims of sexual abuse often have a disconnect, as you noticed... it's a survival mechanism. Their 1st and 2nd chakra energies are also very out of whack. Teach them grounding poses, such as paschimottanasana (I call this "PB&J sandwich" in kids yoga), uttanasana ("gorilla"), tadasana,...

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (Dancing Lotus) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:50:19 GMT

Alison

What a gift you are to these young women. Quite an assignment, but you wouldn't have received it if you were not ready. Only thing I can say is follow your guidance, it lead you this far, it won't let you down!

Much love and support
keeping you in my thoughts prayers and intentions!

kathleen

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (Sri D) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:18:43 GMT

Hi Alison,

If you're getting lots of hugs after class, then you are definitely "in"! It makes me smile to read what you are doing for/with these girls. Excellent! Perhaps you could incorporate some self-massage. I often do a routine of massage about the head, neck and upper back that seems to get people loose and achieve that "eyes half-closed" look, like a puppy getting rubbed on its belly.

Re: Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (drrona) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:23:16 GMT

alison,

wow.
i will think about this.
for now know that your love, support, encouragement, effort, guidance and persistence will be recognized by these girls
who need to and are learning to trust and love themselves (again or for the first time)

seems some sort of purge (emotional/physical/psychic) without getting too deep
but maybe a way to act out, release
kindly
so they can reclaim their own power.

an idea that seems pretty strong...

Difficult one

feeds@yuku.com (yogialison) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:43:21 GMT

I am teaching a group of 8 to12 girls age 14 to 18 once a week(a fellow teacher also teaches the same group once a week).

These girls are cared for and given schooling by a charity called Transitions.They are taught general life skills as well as regular shcool to help them to transition to a normal life.

All the girls are victims of human trafficking and sexual violence.One of the girls in the class was sold to a brothel for 300USD by her mother!!

These girls...