Monday, November 2, 2009

Hatha

No Astanga today.

My low back is feeling cranky this morning and my mind was very scattered (I woke up on a the 'wrong side of the bed', I guess). After my meditation, I went for a walk and then opted for an easier yoga practice, Lunar Flow #1, 45 minutes with Lisa. This was a good choice, the perfect thing to soothe my back. I'm feeling a bit better.

I've tried the 20 minute and 30 minute versions of this one. This class added a few poses and expanded the 'moon salutations'. The practice started in Savasana and moved into a supine twist. The gentle moon salutations consisted of low lunges, down dog and cobra. Eka Pada Raj Kapotanasana (Pigeon; which I modified into a bound twist), was followed by Ardha Matsyendrasa (Half Lord of the Fishes), followed by lots of forward bends and a shoulderstand sequence at the end.

I have a feeling that the 60 minute version will prove to be a favourite. I'm saving it for a special occasion (like the next time I having a rotten day and need to be pampered with easy yoga).

Pet peeve: The instructor, Lisa, calls Karna Pidasana 'Deaf Man's Pose'. This just sounds WRONG. Politically incorrect, sexist, weird...something. I flinch every time she says it.

For the record, Karna Pidasana is translated as 'squeeze the ears pose' or sometimes, 'ear pressure pose'.

Anyway, there are no Deaf guys in this pose.

So I'm having an odd day. I don't feel like I 'fit' in my body. I had to pause my morning meditation to add air to the Mobile Meditator because I didn't feel like there was enough height to support my low back. Then I changed my mind and released some of the air. I felt like Goldilocks, trying to get it 'just right' (but at least it's adjustable, if I'm going to be all quirky about it).

Then, walking to the subway after my noon class, I felt like I was flopping around in my body, like it didn't belong to me. I spied my reflection in a glass surface and I looked as gangly and awkward as I felt.

No more classes today, thank goodness. Just a guitar lesson and ice hockey. You know, activities that require NO hand-eye co-ordination and body-awareness whatsoever. *eyeroll*

5 comments:

Michelle said...

Your schedule seems so... full. No wonder your back is cranky. I would be cranky just thinking about all I had to do in a day if I were you.
Maybe I am just lazy. No, that's not it. I guess I am not you.
Maybe you need a holiday? Or maybe I need to do more. Hmmm?

Jen Stevenson said...

Blame it on the Full Moon!

Kaivalya said...

@Michelle
You're right - I would be bored and lethargic if I was just sitting around. That said, I probably *do* need a least one day a week that I sit around and read a good book. That day is usually Sunday, so Mondays are a shock :-)

@Jen
Oh my goodness, you're SO right! I can blame it on the moon day (I didn't notice it was a moon day until late evening.

I wonder if the little kids in my afternoon class will be bat-shit-crazy again like they were last month? *eyeroll*

Jen Stevenson said...

I'm totally affected by the full moon. For two days prior as the full moon is evolving I do not sleep well. I'm very restless and wake often. I also notice my balance it off (more so than normal). It's interesting how in tune you get with your body thru the practice of yoga.

Kaivalya said...

@Jen
I think this is the primary benefit of the 'moon days' - cultivating awareness of the connection between ourselves and the natural cycles. I used to be a 'moon day' skeptic, but I do believe that energies shift around these times. Not enough to skip my own practice though - for me, consistency is the key to maintaining a regular practice.