Altered Perspective
Intermediate III
A 'Point of View’ or ‘A Frame of Mind’ or ‘A Standpoint’ is the same as our perspective. In this power yoga class, Tracey challenges your viewpoint with an eyes-open practice based on free flowing movement around your mat. It gives a lot of attention to shoulders, heart openers, hips and forward folds. Offer yourself the gift of seeing something differently today!
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Thank you, Tracey!
So lovely to find this class again. Thank you. Namaste.
With gratitude Tracy from across the big pond in England, I thank you for your free guidance in a well planned yoga class.
Your energy flowed through and touched me.
With a smiling heart
from Melita xx
Hi Tracey,
I love your classes!! I'm curious but I noticed that in your classes you emphatize to keep the eyes open or close, is it for a special reason? I usually close the eyes during the journey. Thanks and regards ;)
Great class, thank you very much!
Tracey, I need more classes from you. I love them all. Whenever I need the exercise but also something to nourish my soul, I turn to your lessons.
Hi Mario ~ thank-you for your kind message. Exercise and soul nourishment is at the top of my list too. Glad you throw down your mat and join me and maybe one day I will see you on the mat in Victoria or on retreat somewhere in this big wide world of ours.
Namaste
Thank you so much. That was exactly what I needed.
Challenging and rewarding
Interesting to note how Tracy so solidly and swiftly integrates yogic philosophy into practice. After all, that's why I am hitting the mat. It hit me hard, as my eyes crossed slightly and I viewed three pair of prayer hands, how many different ways we can see our world, yet I am fixed on one way. I'm floored with the realization of how conditioned I am. So, I wonder, if I start to play more with my body, I might find the place that exists without conditioning? Freedom perhaps? Ah, but there I go searching. Ha! I am deeply grateful for free access to this idea, this class, this practice.
When squatting, I note that I am leaning way forward and if I attempt to hold a little more solidly with core and lift a bit with my heart, I topple over backward. So, in order to maintain balance, I need to really lean forward, almost rounding my back. Are there any shifts I can play with or any progressive poses I can practice to sit comfortably in malasana (I am not sure this is correct name of pose, but I mean squatting with butt low and hands in prayer with elbows pressing against inner thigh.)? Is it a post that is "supposed to be" comfortable and not a lot of energy to hold?
Thanks
Hi, you are absolutely right in the name of the posture. Thank-you for your kind words, and I love that you have discovered a little bit more about yourself. It's a wonderful journey of self-exploration and curiosity so keep up the playful and willing side of your practice.
In regards to the balance in malasana I would suggest a block placed under your butt so you can broaden the sit bones and settle into the space. Steady the anchor and lift from the pelvic floor area, and at the same time draw the lower, outer ribs in initiating a deeper core connection. You can use the block for a few weeks, to settle into the hip flexors and soften the hips and initiate a deeper connection in balance and strength. Hope that helps.
Tracy, whoa, the pelvic floor and rib connection just created an entire new body awareness experience in this posture. Not only am I (practically, almost, kinda) doing it, I'm not falling. An ENTIRE shift of energy, a different way of being in my body. Which is exactly what I need right now. My gratitude is filled with joy!
I always love Tracey's classes, she talks soo beautifully through all poses. Curious though, in this class why you kept making us aware of our eyes being open? One thing I know about myself, I spend a lot of time in a class with my eyes closed when possible. This was something I had to keep myself aware of keeping my eyes open. They wanted to be closed, I wanted t go inward to my place of comfort.
Thank you Tracey
Hi Janet, thank-you for your question. It really brings up the theme of the class which is to shift our perspective. We spend a lot of time with our heads down, eyes closed and moving through life in a rather habitual way. I wanted to offer the eyes open alternative so that we can still steady our mind and keep our practice even when life seems to distract us. Keep practicing both ways, eyes open and eyes closed.
Another great practice with Tracey. Perfect pace, instruction and some newer stretches that helped shake some unknown tension loose. Thanks, Tracey!
I loved it!
I really appreciated this class. My back, heart and throat feel much more open afterwards.
I never realized how often I close my eyes mindlessly. It was great to mindfully keep my eyes open. This practice was so well rounded. Loved it!
LOVED this practice! So unique, not only in the approach but also in some of the flows and transitions. It was quite a revelation to me to notice how often I wanted to close my eyes! Keeping them open totally changed the practice. I especially loved the binds and the wonderful twists. Thank you again Tracey :)
Humbling, both physically and mentally. Challenging to both body and mind.
Very enjoyable.
Great class!
Really liked the challenge and while I had moment wishing I could do the full back bends, I was allowing myself to be OK with my variation.
This class was so intense on the knees that I mostly felt like I was watching a video. I enjoy Tracy’s style but I wish there had been som variations for people with knee troubles. I did quite enjoy the non-knee work though!
Great stretches and nice pace.
During this class I was critiquing myself on my flexibility, strength and how I lose my breath sometimes during practice. By the end of the class, lying in savasana, I felt so open and experienced a huge release of tension, self - doubt and fear. Thankyou Tracey for this gift.
Pace is perfect for the theme. Was really able to keep mindful of perspective. Loved it, Tracy!
This is a lovely practice. Not only does my body feel open, but also my heart and mind. I needed the emphasis on perspective today, and I really noticed the effect of focusing on my fingertips while also softly taking in the big picture around me. Thank you!
Great all over stretching - heart openers, back, neck hammies! Namaste
Today was one of my most stressful days of the year. I decided to practice yoga so I can fall asleep without difficulties. And, by the end of the class, I feel a deep release and calm, being aware that nothing can hurt me - only if I give it permission. I go to bed with this overwhelming peace inside. Thank you, Tracey! Namaste.
Amazing and wonderful news for you. I'm so happy you found such a calm resolve at the end of the class, we can always trust the body and listen to the messages within. Stay with it, and honour your strength. Sending love and light
A beautiful, full-body class that stretches all areas of the body, but also stretches and focuses the mind.
After 4 crazy days of work travel, this was the perfect class to release that tension- though it was hard to keep my eyes open! Ha!
I did this class first thing in the morning on a very cold day- it took a minute for my muscles to warm up... but by the end I felt lithe, awake, and aware. Thanks!
As always, a great class from Tracey.
Great practice. Love the flow from one pose to another.
I am so touched by all of your kind words and feedback from Altered Perspective. I so enjoyed creating the flow, filming outside in the ocean air, and moving with the geese behind me :) Thank-you for rolling out your mats, and digging into your breath and your body with me. Maybe I'll meet you in one of our retreats this year! Until then keep spreading your love, your light and your peace.
Om
Tracey
Beautiful class Tracey! All of the classes in this challenge have been great. I loved the flow of this class and will revisit often! Namaste!
Great class with wonderful flow. This is my new favorite class.
Great class. Thankyou
Great class! I got a few unexpected back pops :)
On a morning I was feeling particularly frustrated and impatient, I was really glad I stuck with the class, it totally shifted my mood and reminded me to be in the moment. Thanks again for another great class.
really enjoyed this class. Tracy kept bringing the intention back to perspective.
Great Class
This made me realize how much I close my eyes to focus. Thanks for an opportunity to consider the world around me as well as my internal world. And the openings felt wonderful.
This practice helped me notice just how often I close my eyes! It was hard to keep them open throughout the whole practice.
This practice is beautiful. It was by random chance exactly what I needed tonight, and I'm glad I did it even though I wanted to do something shorter. I feel so calm and centered. A few glitches with right vs left but it hardly mattered to me. Thank you.
Goddess vibes> This is becoming one of my favourite classes! I really noticed this second time around how Tracy follows the altered perspective theme just by changing subtle things about common transitions and adding subtle variations which really do make you see things differently as you progress through familiar shapes. Also thinking this could be a good prenatal class?? Though I have never been pregnant... So maybe someone else can comment. I think I'm just getting that from the squats and like I said GODDESS VIBES! Love it.
Came back to this class after a few days off, absolutely loved it! So much packed into 40 minutes
Loved it!
Fun class to start a busy Saturday with my mind and heart open and ready to receive all that is still to come in this day!