Astanga

Grumpy. I think I had some version of the ‘Monday Blues’ this morning, or maybe the ‘Gray February Blues’. It’s darkish and somber out, very cold, and scant snow on the ground to dress things up. The problem with a ‘break from routine’ is the 'going back to the routine’ part. I was all used to my daily round of Astanga and work, then I took a couple days off and now look at me: whinging.

Technically, today is a holiday but time stops for no yoga teacher. My classes were running. I was surprised to notice how empty the city centre was as I travelled through this morning. This is a relatively new holiday to us and in the first year, it seemed that most businesses were open. Not today. It felt like a Sunday.

My practice was full Primary with 5 Intermediate poses. I used the cork blocks, giving myself a bit more height to work with for lift-ups. I was amazed to find the bind in Supta Kurmasana. I was sure my Valentines indulgences (capped off by cheesecake last night) would limit me in that pose.

I was also surprised to find that I was sore in my hips and my forearms today. I know I worked hard in the YogaDownload class I did yesterday, but I guess I worked some areas that aren’t covered by my Astanga practice.

I found a new vintage yoga book at the used bookstore yesterday: Yoga for Health and Beauty by Joan Gould. This one is great - British, with lots of photos of women in bouffant hair-dos sprawled on persian rugs, practising asana. Hee, hee! I need to start posting 70’s Yoga pics again.