Astanga

This morning, it took an act of discipline bordering on heroism to rouse myself from a deep, satisfying sleep, peel myself from the warm bed and turn on that bright, hurtful light. OUCH. Now that I’m whipping myself up into a froth of exhaustion every day, I’m sleeping like a baby at night and it feels great.

I unrolled my mat at 8 a.m., practised with Sharath’s led Primary. It’s a bit shorter than Beryl’s Power Yoga (full Primary with extras) because it moves quickly through the poses without added instruction or chatter. Sometimes, I like the chatter, but on days like this, I just need to move through it.

I did the closing sequence on my own. I stayed for 10 breaths in Sirsasana, in the middle of the room this time. It felt more stable and strong, which is what I hoped would come from my work against the wall over the past few days.

Gosh, I’m so tired right now, it hurts. I’m finding it really difficult to adjust to this heavy teaching schedule after almost a month of relative sloth.

Astanga

Up early this morning! It wasn’t a happy, spontaneous awakening, but having a full schedule ahead made getting out of bed far easier. I practiced the Primary Series from 7-8:30. My balance was off (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana felt impossible) and I was very stiff, but the 90 minutes flew by.

I skipped Janu Sirsasana C, as usual. Setu Bandhasana is coming along.

I’ve been feeling unstable in Sirsasana so I’ve taken it back to the wall this week to give myself something to ‘fall back’ on while I troubleshoot. I’ve been playing around with my alignment and centre of balance and feeling more stable as a result.

I’m not actually *using* the wall, but knowing it’s there gives me the confidence to try new ways of being in the pose. Nothing drastic, just a slight shift in the alignment of my legs introduces more ease and lightness. I’ll move away from the wall in a few days.

I’m in the midst of a busy teaching day, so alternating between doing a lot and doing absolutely nothing. It’s great to be back to my regularly scheduled programming! It feels comfy, in an exhausting sort of way.

Astanga

I did a late morning practice today because I was on a late schedule; didn’t wake up until after 8. Then I made some tea, and decided that post-tea would be a good time to take the dog for a walk, then I talked on the phone for a while.

By the time I finally hit the mat, the tone for my practice was already set: lots of distractions. I was distracted by my computer, the snow falling outside my windows, my bladder (all that tea!), the dog (so cute). But also: my teaching schedule, my decluttering project, my to-do list.

At some point during the seated poses, I told my mind to shut up and suddenly noticed how quiet my apartment actually is on a winter morning. I felt a deep sense of peace descend.

Still doing full Primary, Janu Sirsasana C was my only skipped pose. I’m feeling stronger! Urdhva Dhanurasana felt lighter. And for the first time this week, I found ease and enjoyment in shoulderstand.

I’m down to the nitty gritty of my decluttering project. I sorted through my jewelry today. That was a bit sad because I have so many pretty pieces (and sentimental ones), but all I seem to wear are my Superhero necklaces. Anything else just gets in the way when I’m teaching.

I’ve finished organising the last kitchen cabinet which leaves only one more task: the dreaded, scary storage space under the kitchen sink. I’m saving that one for Friday.

Astanga

Alarm clock FAIL again this morning. No candle light yoga for me! It was bright out by the time I unrolled my mat, but at least I did my practice.

I’m feeling stronger today - the vinyasas were not as taxing. I still don’t have my bind back in Supta K, but I bound to fingers in Marichyasana D. That’s promising! I need to lose my Christmas Cookie weight in order to go any further in these bound poses, I think.

At the moment, I’m still skipping Janu Sirsasana C (due to a physical issue). I’m now trying a modified Setu Bandhasana, building strength towards the full pose.

My back is a tiny bit sore in the area that cramped up yesterday, but I felt fine during practice. Whatever it was, it’s passed and I’m grateful.

I didn’t do a lot of Astanga last month. The Primary Series just seemed too impossibly long and draining. Now, because I’m committed to it, I’m not questioning, just doing. Maybe that’s the secret (don’t overthink it).

I’m in the process of reading the new Gregor Maehle book and he mentions that daily practice of the Primary Series (for a YEAR!!) is a prerequisite for practice of the Intermediate Series. The Primary Series builds endurance. I think I agree!

It will be interesting to see if my theory holds up later on in the week, when my teaching load is so much heavier. I may have to reintroduce afternoon naps into my routine!

The decluttering rounds continue. Today, I’m cleaning out the bathroom cabinets. When I finish, I’ll reward myself with a new bath pillow.

Astanga

I fought my alarm clock this morning and won, ended up sleeping in until 7:30. I just couldn’t wake up. I had a headache and I felt achy. I felt worse as I started to practice. A muscle on the right side of my back was cramping up. I’m temped to blame my QL, but it’s probably just an errant erector muscle along the spine. I wondered what happened? Did I sleep at a weird angle?

At one point, I had to stop and come into Child’s Pose. The cramping sensation was so intense, it took my breath away. Child’s Pose turned out to be a poor choice of resting poses - it was actually more uncomfortable. The only pose that offered relief was Chaturanga. So there I was, holding my Chaturangas because they felt so lovely. Irony!

Somehow, I made it through the entire Primary Series. And now I feel fine. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

I must be coming out of my funk, because I started a monumental decluttering project. Nothing beats the winter blues like getting rid of piles of stuff. The thing is, I already live in a small space and declutter fairly regularly, so there’s not a lot to throw out. I mainly rearranged stuff in a tidier fashion.

I did pack up two huge bags full of books, making room for new books on my shelves. I cleaned out my desk, including the ‘junk drawer’ and the ‘clippings file’ (the two places where I tend to deposit stuff I don’t know what to do with).

I didn’t get rid of many clothes. My wardrobe is in a sad state, but I *do* wear everything on a regular basis. My nicest clothes are yoga clothes - for work, of course. I don’t like dressing up, so my favourite outfits tend to be shabby and worn. I wish I could care more about clothes, but I just don’t. I think I’m missing the ‘clothes-horse gene’.

But I more than make up for it with my collection of bags. I love bags! Not purses (ack!), BAGS. Knapsacks, shoulder bags, sling bags, big bags, little bags. My cousin gave me a colourful little neck bag from Mexico and I went into spasms of ecstasy. It’s perfect for my subway pass and my debit card and that’s all I tend to carry with me anyway. I’m going to ditch my wallet.

In the process of all this re-arranging, I managed to finally use my shiny new label maker. It’s embarrassing how happy this made me. I was happy as a clam, typing up tidy little white labels. I even labelled a clear bin that was quite obviously full of tea lights (you could see them!) because just IT FELT GOOD.

I am sooooo easily entertained.

Astanga

I’m so disoriented! For some reason, today feels like Monday. But yesterday felt like Saturday. I was so worried that I would wake up and completely forget that I teach at noon today, so last night I wrote the date and “Noon class!” on a yellow sticky note. I posted it to my computer so I would see it first thing in the morning.

I keep looking at it and thinking, ‘Whoa! It’s Saturday?”

I set my alarm for 6 a.m. this morning and resolved to wake at that time no matter how I felt about it (it did NOT feel good). I had trouble getting to sleep last night and that’s a sure sign that I’m sleeping too much and I’m completely out of my routine. It will take a few days to get it back, but I’ll adjust. This week is going to be so intense! I’m back to my full teaching schedule, doing WoYoPracMo, plus the weather has taken a turn for the worse and it’s bitterly cold. By next weekend, I guarantee it will *really* feel like a Saturday and I’ll be ready for it!

I practised my full Primary this morning from 7-8:30. I lit a candle and practised in near darkness until the sun came up. For some reason, I really enjoy doing that and it makes the practice slide by so smoothly, almost as if I’m doing it in a dream state.

I’m so far away from binding in Supta K right now, it’s actually funny. I know it will come back eventually but it feels so odd not to bind, like I borrowed someone else’s stiff, gummy body.

Another thing I’ve noticed: around Christmas, my left hip was really bothering me and I was experiencing some tenderness in my low back/sacrum area. The lower back pain has disappeared completely and the hip is feeling a bit better too. Practice and all is coming...and some is going away!

Astanga

Welcome to the shiny, sparkly new decade and yet another instalment of WoYoPracMo.

We went to a party for New Years. I brought a fruit plate because I couldn’t bear the thought of baking *another* batch of cookies. I’m sick of holiday food. Apparently, everyone at the party shared my angst: there was a feeding frenzy on the fruit plate. Especially the fresh mango. Grapes trump cheese plate, hurrah!

I didn’t sleep well. I’ll blame the two glasses of wine I drank. I have no tolerance for it - I was even a bit hung over in the morning. The girlfriend and I went to the Café for our traditional New Years Day brunch and I went home to practice yoga afterward.

Full Primary Series on a full stomach! Banana Pancakes, a mild hangover and an hour-and-a-half yoga practice do not play happily together in the sandbox. I felt slightly nauseous but I solidiered through it. At least I have a good excuse for not binding in Supta K: my big Buddha belly!

I’m actually sore from practising Primary yesterday, the arms and the hamstrings mostly, but also a bit of abs. I’m sure I’ll be feeling it everywhere in a few days. I’ve decided to do a daily Primary Series for WoYoPraMo. I’ve done it before, two years ago, so I know it’s do-able.