Vinyasa

It's getting way too cold to practice (or, particularly, to teach) yoga outdoors. I taught an outdoor class this morning, then did my own practice. Brrrrrr! I checked the Environment Canada website and found out it was 10C (50F) out. I did manage to find a sunny spot, but still! Layers!

I did the 45 minute version of the Core Yoga #1 class with Dawnelle. This is the class with the fun Virabhadrasana III ('airplane') to Standing Splits transition. I think I definitely prefer the 45 minute version to the 60 minute one. The 30 minute version is actually great too - very intense.

I spent my afternoon eating Death by Chocolate cookies, drinking tea and knitting, then I biked to the GF's house and watched 'Slaughter House 5' on TVO.

I'm being lazy and milking it for all it's worth. Next week, it's going to get a bit crazy. Ice hockey starts, I start back up with my guitar lessons. Then, the next week, the rest of my class kick in: VERY crazy.

I'm trying to fit in all then naps and leisure I still can. Because once it starts, I suspect that I won't be coming up for air until the holidays.

Tomorrow: more lazy. Stay tuned!

Vinyasa

Up early, checked email, went for a walk, did my practice after a bit of shuffling around and procrastinating.

I did the 60 minute version of YogaDownload Core #1. Interesting, this longer version of this class is actually *less* intense than the 30 minute version, with more time spent in the poses (read: longer holds). I sweated less but worked harder. The poses were more or less the same, with some extras like Parivritta Trikonasana and Prasarita Padottanasana C. The seated abdominal sequence was repeated a second time. I'm going to make a prediction: the 45 minute version of this class will provide the perfect 'middle way' between these two extremes and it will prove my favourite.

I'm feeling dull and sleepy today, just a bit moody. I didn't really have 'fun' in my practice today, but it wasn't the postures or sequence, it was definitely just me.

On my way to the grocery store earlier, I was mulling it over, trying to figure out why I'm so *tired*. Then I realised: I'm teaching. A lot. Right. So it's an adjustment.

Also: Gray, cool weather almost always puts me in a more mellow mood. Not in a bad way - it's a great day to sit by the window and read a book. And maybe take a nap.

Vinyasa

I did *not* want to do yoga. Today was one of 'those' days. No particular reason. Maybe I was lazy. Yes, I think that's it. Some of the lethargy I was feeling yesterday carried over into today. I had 10 hours of sleep last night, so I'm not sure where it's coming from, but my energy is definitely low.

I didn't practice in the morning. I planned to do an afternoon practice after teaching my noon class. Nope! Lunch killed that idea. Then I was distracted installing an update for my iPod. I live and die by my iPod Touch, so this kept me happily occupied with geekiness for a couple of hours. Then it was time for tea. Then, oops!, I was running out of time! How did *that* happen?

(insert innocent look)

I wasn't feeling motivated enough to do Astanga (To be honest, I've been struck by a bit of Astanga burn-out lately). So I poked around on YogaDownload and found a Vinyasa-style class I hadn't tried yet: Core #1 with Dawnelle, 30 minutes. Absolutely loved it!

I would like to start reviewing these classes on the YogaDownload site. For now, here are a few observations about the 30 minute version of the class:

I appreciated the brief period of seated pranayama in the very beginning. It wasn't fancy - just basic diaphragmatic breathing, but it brought a certain calm and focus to the practice. I often start my own classes this way. Dawnelle's classes always have a strong flow component. There are no sun salutations per se, because the whole class is a sun salutation. This particular class focused on developing core strength.

The cues all revolved around the theme, with frequent reminders to 'engage the core' and 'observe the engagement of the core' in the poses. If you replaced the word 'core' with 'bandhas', you would have a great prep class for Astanga. That's what I did: each time I heard 'core', I engaged Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha.

My favourite part of the class was the transition from 'Airplane' (Virabhadrasana III with arms back along the sides) to 'Standing Splits'. I also found the Utthita Trikonasana variation challenging. I'm looking forward to trying the longer versions of this class (45 minute and 60 minutes).

If you're curious about this class, you can download the 20 minute version for free.