Yin

Woke up at 6 this morning because that when I seemed programmed to wake up these days - nothing changes it, including going to bed late. I know better than to feel all special just because I'm an early riser (I used to - I got over it). Really, all it takes is a month of winter sloth for me to revert back to my evil sleeping-past-eight ways (check the archives if you don't believe me). Still, it's nice to have an early start to the day.

And it was so nice not to have to be anyplace early this morning - I could fluff around all I wanted. So I checked my email and read RSS feeds while the water boiled for tea. I took the dog out. Then I unrolled the Manduka, pulled out my motley collection of props and did Yin Yoga for two hours. Two hours! That's a lot of yoga! The time flew by.

It was good. Deep and meditative (sometimes too meditative - I caught myself studying a hangnail more than once). And at times, it was really tough - holding Pigeon pose for 5 minutes? Ouch! I loved the way the hip openers were followed by more hip openers and still more hip openers and then...Wait!....We're not finished yet! *More* hip openers. I definitely felt it while I was doing it.

But this Yin practice is a bit like eating a great salad: Tastes great. The flavours and textures are satisfying and it can be a rich, engrossing experience. But five minutes after it's finished, I'm all “Hey, did I just eat something?!”

Hey, did I do yoga today?

I dashed off mid-morning to teach a class and as I was biking home, I had to keep reminding myself that yes, I *did* do yoga today.

No backbend photo today. My Urdhva Dhanurasana is Out of Order.

Yin

I came home from work with a headache that was not a migraine, but certainly migraine-like. I felt wretched. It was so painful that all I could do was lay down with a cold cloth over my eyes and wait for the pain killers to kick in. When they finally did, I climbed into bed and slept like the dead for three hours. No one can accuse me of not getting enough sleep these days. Sleeping is my new hobby.

Even when napping, I dream vividly. Today, I dreamt that I could suddenly, magically and without any effort at all come into Kapotanasana and take my heels (I can't. I know. I've tried it.). I was so excited about this that I asked someone (in my dream) to use a camera to film my Kapotanasana because I couldn't believe I was actually doing it. Then I woke up.

Today, I didn't even make a pretense that I was going to do Astanga. I just unrolled my mat and settled in for an hour of Yin Yoga. I tried the Yin Liver sequence on the Sarah Power's Insight Yoga DVD. I *love* it. It's much gentler than the Yin Kidney sequence, which has backbends that go on for an eternity. Yin Liver focuses on hip openers and forward bends. These are things I like, so I was a happy camper with my blocks and bolster, a pot of hot tea, a cozy blanket and an eye pillow for Savasana. It felt like a yoga vacation.

I like Yin Yoga when I'm doing it, but when I finish, it feels like I didn't do anything at all. I miss that sweaty, blissed out glow that I get from Astanga. Must be the endorphins.

It's been a while since I offered a 70s Yoga Glamour Shot. I accidentally scanned this upside down, but I like the way that Lyn Marshall looks like Super Woman in her red unitard. All she needs is a cape.

Hatha

I was full of god intentions and maybe a bit on autopilot. I unrolled my mat, laid out my Mysore rug and set everything up. I put the kettle on for tea (I love to drink green tea as I practice), put on my yoga garb. I was all ready to go, literally standing on the mat when the dog walked to the door resolutely. She needed to go out.

So I pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and took her to the park. While we were walking around, I was overcome by a wave of exhaustion so profound, I could have napped on a park bench. I found my second wind and walked home, but I knew that I wouldn't be practising. Instead, I sank into the couch and fell fast asleep, slept deeply until it was time to peel myself off the couch and ride out to teach my next class.

Bottom line, I'm still sick as a dog and it's beginning to really piss me off. I think I'm a *little* bit better, but my head still feels like it will explode every time I do a forward bend, which eliminates much of the Primary Series. I did a brief hatha practice tonight and modified all the forward bends. I'm planning on Yin Yoga tomorrow and I'll see how I feel on Saturday. Until this head cold passes, I'm going to go easy on myself.

Hatha

Today was a big holiday here with a stat holiday for most, lots of barbeques and fireworks. The dog spent much of the day hiding in the closet, shaking like a leaf.

 I worked in the morning, napped in the afternoon and went out for really fabulous Indian food in the evening. I didn't go to any fireworks this year. The big displays were all cancelled due to the city strike.

Practice got pushed off into the evening. I had a terrible headache so I opted for a gentle Hatha practice with no sun salutations and no standing forward bends.

My horrible cold is finally fading. I'm hoping I'll be back to full strength by the weekend.

Astanga

I hate this head cold. HATE. It makes my skull feel like a helium balloon. The congestion isn't too bad, but I've had an off-and-on headache for days.

I'm concerned that this could progress into a sinus infection so I'm totally rocking the neti pot this week. I'm using a formula of sea salt, baking soda, GSE (grapefruit seed extract) and raw apple cider vinegar. Three times a day. So far, so good. If it doesn't clear up by Thursday, I'll go visit my doctor.

Energetically, I'm feeling much better today. I'm back to my regular practice - 90 minutes of Astanga, full Primary Series and I felt strong. I thought my balancing poses would be 'off', but they were fine - even Sirsasana. The sinus pressure made forward bends unpleasant (unbearable, at times), but shoulderstand felt great for some reason. I was able to bind in Supta K, which is a very good sign.

I took a long walk after my practice. It's been about a week since the dog and I went to the Big Park. I noticed that the day lilies are finally blooming. Hooray! It's my favourite time of year!

Hatha

I had another napping marathon this afternoon. This cold is taking a lot out of me and I just want it to be over. I don't like resting, but rest I did. I had a thoroughly boring day, but my body is healing, I hope.

I did a 30 minute Hatha practice in the evening - a series of standing poses and a few floor poses. My head was aching, but it felt good to be on the mat.

There are some changes on the horizon. I'm almost afraid to get too attached to any routine, because it's sure to shift very soon. Until I'm over the cold, I’m putting the nix on morning practices, but I'm hoping that I'll feel well enough tomorrrow to return to my Astanga practice in the afternoon.

Today's verse from the Bhagavad Gita (translation from Santosha.com):

"One who has control over the mind
Is tranquil in heat and cold,
In pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonor;
And is ever steadfast with the Supreme Self. "

And in wet and dry. It's going to pour tomorrow and I'll be walking around in the weather all morning. Good times.

Hatha

I tried to sleep in this morning, managed to hang in all the way till 7 a.m. It's freaky how quickly I've adjusted to an early schedule. Getting up at 7 felt decadent. No yoga when I woke up - just tea.

We had a rough plan sketched out for the day. Each year on Pride Sunday, there's a really lovely multi-faith service on one of the stages. I attended last year and was very moved, so we decided to go that, then play it by ear (maybe not the parade, but definitely hanging out and listening to some music). We went to the café for brunch and I was half-way through my banana pancakes when the skies opened up.

Downpour!

It rained off and on the rest of the day. I ended up going home and napping. I slept deeply; I was just exhausted. I guess the lack of sleep along with my cold finally caught up with me - it was for the best.

I just finished a half-hour Hatha practice, a 'stress relief' sequence I used to do daily years ago. It felt comfortable and safe, like visiting an old friend. I don't use props in my Astanga practice, but tonight I used a wood block to make the poses less about effort and more about ease. I completely relaxed into the forward folds, resting my head on the block, used the block for a supported bridge pose. It was exactly what I needed.