Most sensational Kukkutasana B ever? Plus 25 Laws of Self practice for Ashtangi mums AND Ashtanga Yoga, Pregnancy, Birth & Motherhood

"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes." Walter White Whitman

The trouble with going all preachy and holier than thou (see previous post)is that all too soon you have to eat your words somewhat.

I just saw this kukkutasana B video from Jessica Walden and was suitably astonished.

...great Youtube info notes too

"This is a 30 second demonstration of this asana from Advanced A. I bring the awareness to my middle back to find the lift (as opposed to focusing on getting my bottom off the floor), and relax my stomach muscles. I also push into the hands and lift as much as I can out of the shoulders while continuing to lift and round my back to access uddiyana bandha (tucking and lifting the lower belly in towards the spine as if my navel is pushing up to the ceiling). To come out of the asana, I keep pushing up, my bottom lifts and I come into handstand. The handstand is not traditional but is helpful if you are trying to maintain the lift throughout the entire asana. That is why I only practice this version during home practice, not at the Shala. I know, I am a very "Bad Lady".

I've tended to get myself into kukkutasana B variation with a bit of a wiggle, hooking first one knee and then levering up the other, it works but always seems a bit of a dodgy approach, this though is sensational.

And Jessica has living room tutorials, she talks about "shifting the attention to the middle part of the back to see if that helps the lift, your bottom sort of comes along for the ride".  I found that interesting because Norman Sjoman was telling me to shift my focus further down my back in headstand, handstands etc., I'd tended to tighten my shoulders, and it does makes a difference, I've been exploring that in karandavasana too.

Here are two of Jessica's tutorials

great work from Jessica's cameraman







And seeing as I mentioned it, I can't resist her karandavasana video if only for the first 20 seconds.

Take a look at Jessica's Youtube channel, some wonderful understated videos, a nice one on bandhas and this one, her 25 laws of Self-practice, because two minutes in I decided I was a little in awe of Jessica Walden.

from the Youtube notes

Published on Aug 30, 2012
Because of a back injury, I started filming my practice in order to work out what my bad habits were....but the kids and dog made my self-practice more than I could have ever hoped. This movie is 15 minutes (!!!) so make some popcorn and relax.

Bit of a google search and it turns out that Jessica is a student of Tim Miller's and is authorised level 2 Ashtanga. She has an article that seems to go with the above video

Here's some bio (my highlight)

Jessica started a daily Ashtanga Yoga practice with David and Simi Roche in 1994 while
 studying as an Exchange Student at the University of Adelaide in Australia. She moved
 to Encinitas in 2004 to study with Tim Miller. Over the last 12 years she has made 
several trips to Mysore, India, to study with Guruji, Sharath and Saraswati and has been
 granted a Teaching Authorization Certificate from the KPJAYI in Mysore. Because of my other career commitments, she teaches in selectively and has taught at Simi Roche’s studio, Tim jessicaMiller’s Ashtanga Yoga Center, Jois Encinitas, Creativity and Personal Mastery Course in San Francisco, Quality Assurance International, Next Generation Gym (Adelaide, Australia), and has assisted Sharath at KPJAY Mysore. More than anything, Jessica prefers to remain a student of this amazing and essential yoga, and I continues 
to practice it daily in Encinitas, California. (photo by: Michelle Haymoz Photography)

and the  link to the article

Ashtanga Yoga, Pregnancy, Birth & Motherhood

"The benefits of yoga are endless and for women who want to have children. Yoga can be such an incredible practice for all stages of a woman’s life; before conceiving, during pregnancy, during labor and as a mother with children. There are as many yoga and baby stories as there are babies. I am honored to share my experience as a yoga practitioner during pregnancy, during labor, after giving birth and raising children. Yoga means “union” of body and mind but also the union of every aspect of your life during all stages of life. The practice is a true gift as is motherhood...." Continue reading...


UPDATE: New website offered by Lu Duong with interviews containing interviews with Authorised and Certified Ashtanga teachers, it's along the lines of the Guruji book. First interview is with Jessica.

http://www.ashtangaparampara.org/interviews.html

http://www.ashtangaparampara.org/interviews.html