Astanga

I woke up very early this morning to get my practice in before we hit the road for home. Ironic that my very first self-practice with these newly added Intermediate poses took place in a hotel that I’ll likely never see again!

I practised in the little exercise room again (my image is reflected in the mirror).

It was too cold to work up much of a sweat, but I *did* sweat, despite the air conditioning and the draft. In David Swenson’s chapter of the Guruji book (which I’m constantly amazed and inspired by - I’m SO enjoying it), he describes ‘the steam rising from the bodies of the practitioners’. It’s just a small detail from the book that has stayed in my memory, but it’s made me more aware that I can generate my own heat regardless of the conditions around me.

I was still stiff in many poses this morning. I’ve put on some chub from all of the restaurant food I’ve been eating, so the wrist bind in Mari D was gone and Supta K, though possible, was initially elusive. And everything else felt just a bit ‘off’.

But I was very focused. I worked steadily through Primary with minimal futzing and moved right into Intermediate. I didn’t repeat any of my Intermediate poses, just did my best with each one. I’m keeping the bar set very low for ‘best’ for awhile until I really learn these poses.

This is really difficult! It’s strange to be working so hard in my practice again. I haven’t felt particularly challenged with Primary in months. With the exception of one or two transitions and the poses affected by my injury, Primary is easy peasy.

The new poses are uncomfortable. They feel foreign to my body and they don’t flow naturally. After I finally finished my very, very mediocre effort in Laghu Vajrasana, I felt relieved. Then I remembered: I still had to do backbending. I think that’s when I fully realised what a long haul this is going to be. My practice is now LONG.

I did three Urdhva Dhanurasana and then surprised myself with three dropbacks (I wasn’t sure I could pull them off). After finishing, I rushed upstairs. I had just a half-hour to get cleaned up and ready to leave!

We hit the road at 8 a.m. with a full tank of gas and I drove non-stop for five-and-a-half hours. By the time we stopped for lunch, I was stiff, tired, cranky and so VERY relieved to be out of that car! I’m not used to sitting in that position for long periods and I rarely drive. My whole body was tense. I stumbled out onto the grass and started spontaneously doing lunges and my mother was amused.

Princess Fur stayed at doggie camp while we were away. She launched into a raucous greeting when I stopped by to collect her, then she proceeded to bawl me out for almost 5 minutes. The staff person observed that she’s a very quiet dog EXCEPT when she’s giving me hell! Even my mother agreed! The Princess was making an Official Complaint! She was NOT HAPPY to be left behind.

It was a long day. Twelve hours after we left Quebec City, we finally pulled into my driveway. I was so relieved! My entire body was a big knot and I was exhausted. I could hardly see straight.

I drove every bloody kilometre of that road trip (and there were approximately 1600 of them!). My mother was no help - since the last time we travelled together, she’s become uncomfortable driving on unfamiliar roads (and she’s never been a helpful navigator - I relied mainly on my iPad GPS to find my way around).

I’ve decided: next time, we’re taking the train!!!

Astanga

Today was my last chance for home practice this week - starting tomorrow, I’m practising at the Shala. I’m a bit nervous and uncertain about it. Nervous, because up to this point, my Astanga practice has been a one-woman, solo show. And uncertain because I won’t be the one ‘calling the shots’ on my practice, the teachers will.

I know a handful of my readers are non-ashtangis. You may want to visit this page which gives a decent overview of the Mysore approach to Astanga practice.

In a nutshell: a Mysore style class is a self-practice at a yoga studio (called a ’Shala’) in the company of other students and with the assistance (usually hands-on adjustments) of qualified teachers. Students move through a series of poses, usually starting with the sun salutations and additional poses are offered by the teacher over time, as the student progresses.

I’m somewhat of an ‘Astangi Rebel’. Rather than learning the series incrementally in a Shala, I taught myself from books and DVDs. From the beginning, I practised the entire Primary Series all at once. I used modifications and props (blocks, straps) in poses that were not yet accessible to me (something that would rarely be allowed in a Shala). I also spent a lot of time laying on my back thinking: “Man, this is HARD!”

Because I’m a yoga teacher in my professional life, this approach to the practice wasn’t such a leap for me. I already knew all the postures from other styles of yoga, and I had taken many studio-taught Astanga style classes. Someone who is brand-new to yoga would be wise NOT to follow my example. It’s important to work with a teacher in the beginning, because many aspects of the practice are best conveyed through physical adjustments and observation by a teacher.

That said, I remain a HUGE supporter of home practice. Very few of us have the time or money for daily led yoga classes or Mysore sessions. Yoga is most beneficial when it’s practised every day and by practising at home, you take ownership of your own experience of yoga. This process can be powerful and life-changing. I treasure my hours spent at home on the mat.

So you can understand why I’m feeling a little bit sad about uprooting my home practice, getting up in the wee hours to travel to a Shala where I don’t know the teachers or the other students. I’ll be the new kid in class. The one who learned her practice from a DVD. *gulp*

This week, I’ve been listening to Sharath’s CD, reviewing the Vinyasa counts for each posture and jotting them down in my yoga notebook. It really helps. I know all the poses, but I wasn’t sure about the counts. My practice flows more smoothly when I know the counts.

In preparation for my Shala week, I woke up very early and did a self-led practice. I did the full Primary Series with the first five Intermediate postures, three backbends and the finishing poses. It took me exactly 90 minutes from Surya Namaskara A to Savasana. Not bad!

When I practised self-led on Thursday, I fumbled around a bit, almost forgetting poses. Not today. Everything flowed very smoothly. I had a good, sweaty practice, binding everything that binds and doing lift-ups (without the blocks) for each vinyasa.

Tomorrow, I hit the road!

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Lately, I’ve been a bit obsessed with David Newman’s recording of the Hanuman Chalisa, ‘Leap of Faith’. I heard David perform at the Yoga Show last year and jotted down his name in my notebook, but didn’t investigate further until recently. I bought his Kirtan album ‘Lotus Feet’ and liked it so much, I sprung for ‘Leap of Faith’ on a whim. This recording of the Chalisa is so lovely: melodic, rhythmic and repetitive in a really good way. It’s been on repeat play since I bought it.

On my way home from teaching in the west end today, I stopped to return a DVD and decided to wander down to my favourite India shop. Oddly enough, we have a really great little Indian import place right here in the neighbourhood (most of them are clustered in Little India in the east end).

The Ganesha-in-the-window I had been jonesing over was gone. Sold! *heartbreak* He was too big and expensive anyway. But I wandered into the store to see if they had anything new and spotted a beautiful brass Hanuman. Often, the detailing on these little statues is very shabby, but this one was fantastic. The shopkeeper and I had some fun haggling over the price.

Hanuman has now joined my spiritual posse, sharing the altar with Shiva and the small plastic travel Ganesh (who’s filling in while I look for a nicer brass statue).


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And finally, it’s time for...
The Internet Asks: Interesting Searches in My Access Stats

(The searches are in bold, my responses below)

who is the travelling ashtangi
Oh, that would be Skippetty! Four countries in five weeks and now she’s temporarily settled in Amsterdam, which is so full of awesome that I’m jealous! (and in Amsterdam, Mysore practice starts at 6 p.m. instead of 6 a.m. Decadent!)

how do you know you are an intermediate ashtangi
1) your practices get really long
2) you’re suddenly doing a LOT of backbending
3) then exhaustion sets in *snore*

right nutrition for ashtangis
CUPCAKES!

Astanga

I managed to sneak in a practice this morning, with Aunt Flow practically pounding the door as I finished the closing sequence (sans inversions). The temperature was 18C today, bright and sunny - incredibly, record-breakingly balmy for this time of year. But instead of romping around outside in the park with Princess Fur, I was hunkered down indoors, feeling broken.

Yuck.

Now I’m feeling a *bit* better: camped out with a pile of books and DVDs (more on this in a moment) and a honkin’ bag of Hershey’s chocolate kisses. :-D

Today, I wanted to practice the Primary Series entirely self-led. Usually, I practice with an audio recording because it helps to keep me focused. Well, I was astounded by how focused I could be without that crutch. In fact, I worked *much* harder in some poses, since I had the extra time to get into them. And I sweated. A lot! Another surprise!

My self-led Primary Series, without the inversions, took about 75 minutes, which included a break to photograph Urdhva Paschimottanasana and Setu Bandhasana. I remembered all the poses (another concern of mine, should I decide to practice at the Shala) and their names, the drishtes and most of the vinyasa transitions between poses too.

Today, I contacted Shala Central regarding a one-week trial in their Mysore room. I’d like to start on Monday, if possible. This would give me a week to experience it before diving into a full month in April, if that’s what I decide to do.

In the meantime, I have three days of Lady’s Holiday to endure (Sorry, ‘Red Tent’ enthusiasts: I find no joy in this female ritual). Last week, I conducted a serious search of my city library’s DVD collection and placed a hold on every single promising DVD. Three have already arrived. For my viewing pleasure tonight:

Sean Corne: Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Yoga Burn: Rodney Yee

and the enticingly titled:
Advanced Yoga with Rodney Yee

The last DVD carries this colourful WARNING! label:


Nothing, and I mean NOTHING makes me want to crack open a DVD with gusto like a good cautionary label. Bring it ON! :-D

WARNING!

If I’m feeling better tomorrow, I’ll probably give one of these a shot for my practice. Probably not the WARNING! practice, though. At least not for a day or so. ;-)

Referrer Thursday

This week, I’m sending some love Arturo’s way.

I’ve been following Arturo’s blog, Cronyogitect, for so long, I’ve kind of forgotten when I started reading, but it’s been at least three years. Back when I was practising CRON seriously along with Astanga, Arturo’s writing provided a rich source of inspiration and information for me.

I’ve really enjoyed following his adventures in China over the past year. His photographs make me want to visit that country someday! His accounts of daily life there are a fascinating glimpse into the experience of an expat living and working in China. Here’s a tidbit:

“what struck me first was that there where people everywhere! and cafes, and shops and a bank, and tire repair places, all around. and despite the hustle and bustle of the city all around, it does not feel noisy in the apartment, not like my old apartment in San Francisco on Market Street where i heard the ratatat of the trolleys and the clanging of the tethers of bus of line 21, which tended to lose their connection daily while making a right turn. but certainly there is the similar life there was in San Fran right outside the building. “