Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tiny things that are VERY SAD

*throatclearing*

Well, hello there!

Yes, I'm still here, barely enduring the Cold and Ugly Season in the Great White North. To be honest, I haven't felt very inspired to write lately. It's probably due to a combination of seaonal ennui, boring practices and, oh yes, 'blogosphere controversy'. Last week, everyone was abuzz with a certain certified teacher and her (un)reality show.

I'm almost embarrassed to 'fess up to my reaction to that entire debacle, but here it is: I sat in my window seat and wept. There are a few different ways to interpret this behaviour:
~I'm a bit depressed
~I'm overly attached to the practice and my own idealistic conception of it

or (and this is my favourite!)

~teensy-weensie-tiny-yoga short are just VERY SAD.

*sniffle*

Take your pick. ;-) Moving on...

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I have been practising! Here's a rundown of the past...wow, has it really been a week? Yes it has.

Wednesday: I attended Peanut's Bikram's class. I wasn't feeling particularly energetic, so I was kind of 'going through the motions'. I don't imagine for a minute that Peanut doesn't notice stuff like that. And halfway through the class, he made a little speech about how it's possible to 'do the poses without *really* doing the poses'. It wasn't aimed at me specifically, I'm sure, but I got the message all the same: "If you can, you must!"

Thursday: In a nod to the Moon Day, I did my Primary-only practice. It was okay.

Friday: Moon Day. I didn't practice at all. I think this may be the first Moon Day in about two years that I've not done any yoga. I'm beginning to like this whole 'taking days off thing'. :-D

Saturday: I practised Primary and my Intermediate. I had an ordinary, but good practice.

Sunday: Day off! I didn't even take time to stretch my hamstrings (and boy, did I ever feel it on Monday!)

Monday: I attended Almond's Bikram's class in the morning. I really enjoy Almond's classes and I've missed going to them, so this was a treat. I like the way he cruises through the dialogue. His efficiency in teaching is one of the things that helped me break out of the 'futzing habit', both in Bikrams and my Astanga practice.

Tuesday (that's today!): Back to Astanga, I practised Primary and my Intermediate poses. My left hamstring was a bit sensitive, but I had a good, futz-free practice.

********************
In general, I'm feeling better about my practices these days and Astanga is starting to feel like a place of comfort and healing again.

For the past month, I've been practising Astanga four times a week and Bikram's two, adding up to a six-day week in combination. Starting this week, I've decided to add on an Astanga practice on Friday to bring my Astanga week up to five days (continuing to practice Bikrams one day per week).

I'm also working towards a more consistent Astanga practice with fewer breaks. Toward this end, I'm going to try to go to my weekly Bikram class on Monday, so I can practice Astanga 5 days in a row.

And here's some good news: My shoulder is healing!

Evelyn asked if I was icing the shoulder. I do own one of those fancy-schmancy velcro ice/compression packs but to be perfectly honest, I haven't been very diligent about using it. It's so cold here, the last thing I feel like doing is curling up in the window seat with an icy ice pack resting on my shoulder. But all of my non-ice-related activity/inactivity seems to be working for me.

Last week, I upgraded my Granny Vinyasas to include the transition from Upward Dog to Downward Dog. This was a big trigger point for pain when I first injured my shoulder, but there's no pain as I move through it now!

Also: I grabbed my wrist on the right side of Marichyasana C today and I'm binding to fingers in Marichyasana D (and close to getting the wrist on the left side).

And the biggest news of all: I'm doing three Urdhva Dhanurasana in my daily practice. Even better, today I walked my hands in! I walked in once in the second backbend and twice in the third. This is HUGE!

I'm pretty excited, because this means that I can begin to work towards regaining flexibility in these backbends. My shoulder was mostly pain free (there was a bit of sensation pushing up). I was able to straighten my arms and my breathing was smooth and consistent.

********************
Finally, here's a random photograph of manhole cover on a subway platform.


Wow. I feel SO much better now!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

10 comments:

D said...

Glad to hear that you're healing. The shoulders are used so much in Ashtanga, the practice is just not the same without them!

As for the recent controversy, I'm putting my money on the teensy weensy shorts as an explanation for your reaction ;)

Arturo said...

Dear Kai
Your random pics are artistic, including the one about your guitar in need of repair.

Chez that referred studio, I saw a guy practicing in bathing suit, not unlike in a Bikram's room, but then it can be hot in that tropical area.

hugs
Arturo

Unknown said...

What's with hating on the tiny shorts? I happen to like wearing short shorts for practice. I also tend to see a fair amount of labia and/or male genitalia when I teach or practice at the studio, and you know what? I've never given it a second thought. Who cares? It's just the human body, nothing to fear.

Kaivalya said...

Hey people, the quip about the teensy shorts was JOKE!

But now that you mention it, Megan, I think it's probably best NOT to let your labia 'flap in the breeze', if only to honour the eyeballs of the people you practice with (though no one's suppose to notice that stuff anyway if they're keeping a good Driste).

--begin lighthearted kidding around--
Okay, I just wrote the word 'labia' on my blog. See? I told you that teensy shorts were the end of civilized society as we know it! ;-)
--end lighthearted kidding around--

Grimmly said...

I finally understand why drishti was introduced when Ashtanga came west, been bugging me all year.

Christine said...

Wow...definitely don't miss living up north this time of year...you're description brought it all back.

Sending you sun and warmth from Florida!! :)

hang in there...summer's coming...

Yogini said...

Good to hear about your healing shoulders!

I have to say for the longest time I was uncomfortable watching men in short shorts demonstrating camel pose and kapotasana. I think I'm slowly getting used to it now. Or maybe it's just because I haven't had to see any demos lately.

Ragdoll said...

Meagn, I admire your neutrality in the face of your students' genitalia. I'd have thought it's pretty much basic yoga etiquette to make sure that's not an issue your teacher has to deal with!

Good to see your recovery and practice coming on so far, Kaivalya, and thank you for continuing to blog about it.

V said...

I don't fear anyone's labia but don't necessarily want to see it (or hairy balls for that matter).

Signed, V at Kai's service, always happy to lower the tone of any blog.

sereneflavor said...

Dear God, I have now filed images that I did not want in my hardrive. No body part should flap in the breeze ever! Yes, there is nothing to fear but I'm grateful for the sturdy loyal support of my bra, and gentle but firm embrace of my lycra pants.