Yoga with Ann Lapo
Transformational Work with Roger Eischens
and the power of High Energy Yoga
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* In Memory of Roger
    (1941-2004)
Ann in Warrior 1
My teacher, Roger Eischens, founded the High Energy Yoga system after many years of teaching the Iyengar tradition and study with the Iyengars in India. Through his use of "transformational work" -- a system that uses touch feedback and a recognition of the uniqueness of each individual, Roger's gift to this world was his ability to teach each person how to better access the energy available to the body through very individualized yoga techniques. Although he never wrote a book, made a video, or had a line of yoga clothes, Roger humbly devoted himself to better his students' understanding of his yoga methods. And Roger's great therapeutic yoga techniques have helped many people find renewed health and higher energy.

After almost a dozen years of study with Roger, I found myself in great need of his system of transformational work as I'd developed chronic pain in my right leg in the calf area and right ankle. So much so, that I had trouble standing for more than a few minutes without intense pain in my leg, felt out of balance, and as a yoga teacher, was unable to demonstrate some of the standing poses that I truly love.  With Roger's help, and then my continued practice with his work, I can happily say that I'm now pain free with lots of great energy!

The series that you'll see below occurred in Spring, 2004. Thank you, Roger, for your great work and lovingkindness.

And many thanks to Julie Turner, JT Photography, for the great pictures.
1:  Work at the wall:
Since I couldn't stand without pain, we did lots of work sitting with my feet on the wall to try to find the spots that I could activate that would open up the energy in my body and free the pain that I had in my calf and ankle. After placing a block between my feet, Roger is directing me to press into the outside edge of the back of the heel as I also press into a spot just under my big toe mound. I'm also attempting to keep my protruding right ankle away from the block that's between my feet!.  My knees are bent enough for my calves to lift slightly off the ground. Then he put a sandbag on my shins. "Press up with your inner shins," he said. And then I'm also pressing down through my thighs (just above the knee--notice where I'm indicating with my hands). -- Lots of spots to try to stimulate with this "inner movement"  but, ah.....the pain started to go away.
5:  More work in Side Warrior
My "bad" leg in back. Can I activate those same points? What happens to the arch in the foot, the shape of my protruding ankle? And most of all, does that leg stay pain free  and energized? Well, we found out that this was really tough! In fact, I spent some months avoiding the attempt at doing this pose on this side, I was so out of balance. The leg needed to heal. I spent much time working on Roger's other recommendations and finally I was able to find Warrior pose on this side pain free!
6:  An attempt at balance. Work at the wall with Half Moon pose:
I'm working really hard here with my  "bad" foot on the ground.  Notice the really collapsed arch on that foot. And I have a big protruding ankle (that's difficult to see in the picture, but really gets in the way!) Even though it aint pretty (yet), I can start to balance on that side, stimulate the essential "inner energy" and stand pain free!
Roger's work
not-so-pretty downdog
2:  "What happens in Mountain Pose?" Big pain in my calf, first of all. But now Roger is helping me to find those same spots on my foot and leg to stimulate the energy, releasing me from pain.
3:  A not-so-pretty Downward-facing Dog...This will probably never get me on the cover of my favorite yoga magazine,, but it sure worked to restore my energy and release the pain that had plagued me for months. In fact this version of down-dog -- up against the wall so I could find the backs of my heels, press the spots Roger recommended for me while taking weight off that painful leg -- was the absolute best in helping me heal. 
4:  Work in "Side Warrior"
So now we'll try working on a standing pose with my "bad" leg in front. Since I really couldn't put weight on that foot without a big block in energy and more chronic pain,  Roger asked me to lift up my heel a tiny bit -- about enough to put a piece of paper under it. I have a very flat foot, collapsed arch on that side, but with Roger's help, again I was able to activate the necessary points on my foot and leg to stand with power and strength and most of all, without pain! Thank you Roger!