The Breathing Body with Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten
Angela and Victor are the coolest, most wild yoga teachers I know. The natural world deeply informs their yoga, so that when you begin to sit, or breathe, or do an asana with them, you have already been transported to an exotic place.
"The whole body breathes," says Angela, "like fish in the ocean." "Yoga asanas are containers, which is fine, but don't lose sight of the bigness of the content".
"Our breath is our constant companion, a lover, who has picked us up from the moment we're born, until the moment we leave."
She tells us to find a partner. Mine was Cyndi Lee. I think Cyndi is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I was a bit intimidated to adjust her. I mean, she's Cyndi Lee!
Angela tells our partners to lie down. I cup Cyndi's heels, give a traction like pull, to release her legs out of her hip sockets. I rotated her heels inward, outward. Angela had us direct our breath to the outer body, which, she says, represents the feminine, the receptive.
She then has us sitting down, waving our arms like eels in the ocean, or like fans at a Grateful Dead concert. She demonstrates Downward Dog, and she undulates and writhes like a snake.
We all do playful, animal like Downward Dogs. Mine was a little arthritic, but certainly game.
When you practice yoga with Victor and Angela, you get in touch with your inner ape, and are all the richer for it.
Photo Credit: Todd Semo
Angela Farmer has been teaching yoga for over 35 years. After traveling to India and studying with B.K.S. Iyengar, she began exploring her own approach to yoga. In 1984, she and Victor Van Kooten joined their teachings to develop a unique style that focuses on the feminine as a way to find peace and compassion. Angela has produced two videos, The Feminine Unfolding and A Flow Class with Angela.