Subject: Re: Kovalam
From: "Maura Daley" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 18:44:06 -0600

A few months maybe? I was young - I started when I was 19. But I was the farthest thing from in-shape or flexible, trust me. I was training for a marathon and looking for a cross training option. Honestly, the best thing to do is to do it consistently. I think I was doing it 4-5 times a week when I started because it was such an awesome challenge. That made it easier to remember the pose sequence and build the strength that I needed. The best advice for beginners is to really focus on the breathing - long inhales and exhales - and the bandhas - those weird muscles that are basically your stomach muscles. It’s not about upper body strength. It’s about using your bandhas and connecting movement with breath. I used my upper body strength for years and I’m just now learning about bandha strength. It makes the practice much lighter and helps with the “float." Floating through a jump through is the same thing - using your bandhas and a long inhale. And making sure your hips are high enough to make it through. You’re actually jumping up and forward. I used to get tangled up and would thump down for awhile till one day I just did it. 

> On Nov 13, 2014, at 6:33 PM, Hunter Biden <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> How long did it take you before you could really do the primary series or for that matter execute a proper jump through or float? I feel like I'll never get there! 
> 
> RHB
> 202.333.1880
> 
> On Nov 12, 2014, at 1:26 PM, Maura Daley <[email-masked] <mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
> 
>> And I don’t know what mat you’re practicing on, but the Manduka PRO is fantastic. I have literally used mine since 1999. It’s indestructible. 
>> 
>> http://www.manduka.com/us/shop/categories/products/mats/manduka-pro/ <http://www.manduka.com/us/shop/categories/products/mats/manduka-pro/>
>> 
>> You can get it online but most studios carry Manduka products as well.
>> 
>> 
>>> On Nov 10, 2014, at 10:40 AM, Hunter Biden <[email-masked] <mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Doing an Ashtanga workshop this weekend! With this guy:  
>>> (www.davidgarrigues.com <http://www.davidgarrigues.com/>)
>>> 
>>> R. Hunter Biden
>>> Rosemont Seneca Partners
>>> Washington D.C.
>>> 202-333-1880
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Oct 19, 2014, at 5:47 AM, Maura Daley <[email-masked] <mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Here's the link to the workshop with Lino:
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.linomiele.com/?pagina=kovalam.php <http://www.linomiele.com/?pagina=kovalam.php>
>>> 
>>