East Sac Yoga

Yes! This is an excellent way to practice “legs up the wall”—- with just 1 other addition: secure a yoga strap at mid-thigh. The strap holds your legs in place, preventing them from v’ing out to the sides, so that your leg muscles can completely relax.

Why add weight when the whole point is to let go?

In Viparita Karani — Legs-Up-the-Wall —
the practice invites release.

Letting go.
Stillness.
Quietness.

So a sandbag across the soles may sound counterintuitive.

But the reason is simple:
The feet have nothing to press into.

In standing poses,
the soles talk to the floor.

Pressure here.
Balance there.

A constant stream of information
the nervous system relies on.

When the body is inverted,
that stream changes.

The feet are in the air.

The brain keeps checking:
Where are they?
Are they safe?

So the legs may not fully let go —
not because the student is not trying,
but because the body has not yet received

the signal that says:
You can.

A sandbag across the soles
gives the feet something steady to feel.

Not restraint.
Reference.

A quiet, even weight that tells the body:
You are held.
You are here.
You can stop checking now.

This is not about forcing stillness.
It is about removing the reason
the body could not be still in the first place.

The quadriceps soften.
The ankles release.

The weight of the sandbag —
often around 2 kg to start —
replaces the weight of effort.

Then the pose deepens.
The mind,
having nothing more to solve,
turns inward.

So the next time you are in Viparita Karani
and the legs will not settle,

ask yourself:
What would happen
if something else held me?

⚠️ Skip the sandbag if you have ankle or foot injuries, circulatory concerns, or are pregnant. Learn new prop work under a qualified teacher.

💬 What is one prop that changed your practice — not because it made the pose easier, but because it let you stay longer and see more?

🧘 Curious to learn how props are used in Iyengar Yoga?
Comment JOIN CLASS and we’ll share the class details.

The Chakras Workshop #2 has been rescheduled to 7/25/26.

Hello FB followers,
I wanted everyone here to know what is up with me/ East Sac Yoga -- regarding a recent life-altering experience. So below, I've edited a copy of the email I sent last week to my most current ongoing students.

I appreciate all of you whether you've never attended one of my classes or not! Yoga as a practice and and art continues to amaze me. When I received inspiration to pursue teacher training through Ananda School of Yoga & Meditation at an All-Day Meditation, I never dreamed of where it would take me: all that I would learn, and come to appreciate. Every year that passes, I am more and more grateful that I followed that crystal clear message. And this, this... well... just caps it off. Perhaps I will now learn to not be surprised any more!

**********************************************
Dear Students,
On the way home from our camping trip Friday afternoon (6/5), I was on the receiving end of a horrible accident. My husband, Tim, and I were stopping for gas near Santa Rosa. While Tim was pumping the gas, I had opened the hatchback to put some food back in the cooler and grab a cold drink.

I heard Tim hollering loudly and next thing I knew a car was ramming into me, pinning me to the back of our car. The pain was excruciating as the car continued forward -- rather than backing off. We saw the video today and it lasted about 5-7 seconds, with clear forward momentum on our parked car.

As horrible as it was, it could have been much worse. I'm so grateful that only my left femur bone is broken. No damage to right leg, pelvis or spine. Gratefully, the sheriff was on the scene within 2 minutes or so, and the ambulance shortly thereafter.

I was admitted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Surgery was the next day: a rod with 4 screws. Next came OT / PT. I credit my success with PT thus far to years of practicing yoga as it has helped tremendously with the body mechanics involved in getting around in a full length leg brace. And of course, pranayama has been key to dealing with pain and other challenges of the situation. I was not released from the hospital until 6/11 -- mostly because I needed to get my RBC and related labs elevated. Gratefully, that resolved well.

I'll just share a bit more about my experience. Since surgery could not take place until Saturday, I could only lay my back. So I was in shavasana all of Friday night. I'm not sure how much I actually slept. However, I practiced pranayama, meditation, and yoga nidra, alternating throughout the night. For much of the time I was in a deep, blissful "state" of yoga nidra. I was also deeply tapped into gratitude: for modern Western medicine, the love and support of family and friends, and the miracle that the rest of my body seems to be unharmed.

Recovery will take some time and I appreciate your patience. Below are the plans I'm arranging for regular classes and the upcoming second Chakras Workshop.

REGULAR ONGOING Classes
I spoke with Tracy Grimes this evening and she is able to sub for me Tuesday evenings at LR for at least the month of June. I have messages out to see about getting a sub for Thursdays as well, and will keep you updated.

I plan to resume teaching just as soon as possible. Initially, I will primarily give verbal instructions, demoing when possible and/or asking students to demo while I give instructions. I taught this way a few years ago when my wrist was broken -- inspired many years ago by a fellow instructor who taught children while she remained seated with a broken leg!

CHAKRAS Workshop #2
At this point, I anticipate running the workshop as originally planned. As with the regular ongoing classes, I will give verbal instructions orally and will possibly have students demo as needed. The rest of the program is mostly all by oral instruction / yoga nidra facilitation, etc. I'm confident that this workshop will be every bit as valuable as the first -- and perhaps even better. 🙂 You need not have attended the first to join the second workshop -- and a few spaces are still available.

Again thank you for your patience and understanding. I am getting stronger every day -- not only in body, but also mind & spirit. t's hard to believe how much has shifted in such a short time.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

And let's keep practicing!

In gratitude,
Sandi

Experience the Chakras - https://mailchi.mp/3fea47e4c68a/httpseastsacyogapunchpasscomclasses19398427-17463539