This is the 1000th post of this blog.
On June 14, 2007, I started the blog with a few assumptions:
-I would document my experience of Astanga, a style of yoga I loathed, as a learning exercise.
-I would write 365 posts documenting my experience practising the Primary Series.
-No one would read this silly thing.
Fast forward to today:
-I love Astanga yoga and believe that, practiced correctly, it's incredibly therapeutic and life changing - and I'm still at it!
-I've written 1000 entries. Each one represents a yoga practice. Not all of them were Astanga (I practise other styles on Saturdays, Moon Days and my LH) but most were.
-On average, 350 readers visit this blog every day.
Thanks to my blog, I've come to know some amazing people, both online and in person. I've made a handful of very good friends, and I've expanded my community far and wide.
Writing this blog has helped me to connect with my yoga practice in a deeper way. Yoga, and writing about it, has become a daily practice in the truest sense. I haven't missed a day of practice in almost two years and over the past year, I've been steadfast in my commitment to a 'six day' Astanga practice. I haven't skipped a day! In a funny way, the blog helps keep me accountable.
In my inbox, I have a great number of emails from people who were considering trying Astanga, or trying a more traditional Mysore Style practice. Reading this blog convinced them to reach out and ask me questions or take the leap on their own.
More than anything else, it pleases me to know that my blog has been helpful to others and, in a very small way, it has helped spread the word about Astanga vinyasa yoga.
Thank you for reading, for commenting and for being part of my 'Cybershala'!
1000 entries is pretty awesome!! :-D
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Okay, enough nostalgia. Practice report!
I had a good practice today. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Turtle was a bit finicky this morning (I ate a LOT of food yesterday). The rest of Primary was smooth and comfortable.
I've been experimenting with taking Navasana 5 times (instead of 3) as a strength builder. I wasn't enjoying it for the first couple of days, but I'm finding it easier now. I think it's probably a good thing. I've noticed that Uttita Hasta Padangusthasana C has been easier.
I skipped my 3 minute headstand yesterday, but brought it back today. It's becoming more comfortable again.
I avoided futzing in my practice today and it felt much better. Towards the end of my practice yesterday, I felt scattered and lethargic and I think the futzing was to blame (or was I futzing because I was lethargic? what came first, the futzing chicken or futzing egg?!).
Backbends were better. Deep Urdhva Dhanurasana, three solid dropbacks, and three solid standups from the futon. I left the cushion on again today because the bare futon frame was freaking me out too much. Instea, after my three standups, I took Urdhva Dhanurasana from the floor and worked on rocking forward.
I'm starting to get my head wrapped around what needs to happen for me to stand from the floor. The first part is momentum, to get the hips over the ankles. After that, it's all engagement of the legs and 'lift'. I'm still figuring out how to get this lift. Is it gravity? Is it Bandhas? Is it MAGIC? (I think it's magic!).
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