I felt completely depleted after practice this morning, like the Jolly Green Giant had picked me up and rung me out like a facecloth. My clothes were soaked, my legs rubbery.
So I wasn’t thrilled when, after a long wait for the stupid streetcar, I wasn’t able to board because no one was moving back (there was plenty of room). Out of blue, I heard a clear voice ring out, no-nonsense and authoritative: “All passengers please move to the back of the streetcar to accommodate those boarding!” And like a herd of sleepy sheep, people DID move back and I was able to get on.
The guy boarding behind me nudged my arm and said “Nice going!” And that’s when I realised that the authoritative voice was me! In my exhaustion and frustration I had totally conjured up my Yoga Teacher Voice, the same one I use when I direct 25 students in a gymnasium to stand-up-and-come-to-the-top-of-your-mat-Samasthiti. I was barely aware, I was so clobbered by practice.
I was sweating BUCKETS today. I know I shouldn’t be complaining. It’s not even close to being *really* hot or humid yet, but I was DYING in there this morning. If this is a foreshadowing of the State-of-the-Shala in summer, I’ll need to adjust to the heavy, dense heat and anticipate VERY sweaty practices. I should have drank a few more glasses of water before I hit the mat. I’m already anticipating the purchase of a new ‘Shala uniform’ that is more heat-friendly. Thank goodness I’m losing this extra weight because I’ll probably be in tiny shorts and a sports bra by August, modesty be damned.
I had another Space Cadet Day. I’m going to blame the heat because it makes me feel better. I skipped Purvottanasana, but didn’t remember it until I was on the streetcar home. Inexplicably, I skipped Marichyasana B, my favourite pose (though lately it’s been feeling wonky on the right side). I went back and picked it up and repeated C, because I knew R would be on my case if I didn’t. I was kind of dreading that repeat, but it actually felt great on the second try.
Marichyasana D was tough today - no wrist bind there. Supta Kurmasana was fun! R waited for me to bind and cross my ankles on my own, then she rearranged my legs and let me come up mostly on my own (and then my sweaty legs slid down my sweaty arms, making any kind of graceful exit impossible).
Predictably, my arms and shoulders are tired today. I was really getting lazy with my lift-ups and jumpbacks. My right shoulder is very twingy - not sure what’s going with that. It’s not really pain, but a soreness on the front inside edge of the deltoid. It feels deep. If anyone has ideas, please comment.
Teacher R decided that today would be a perfect day for Urdhva Dhanurasana Bootcamp! She parked herself next to my mat as I was setting up for backbends. The first one was agony and the next two were a bit better, but still difficult. Backbend #4 had me walking my hands in and engaging my legs until I was shaking, R let me come down to the floor for a rest (that was merciful: usually I rest my head on the floor and come right back up). The last backbend was insanely difficult, but in a different way. I was just working very, very hard. I walked my hands in for what felt like miles (but was very likely centimetres).
It’s lucky I don’t spend too much time thinking about how hard this practice is when I’m not doing it. If I did that, I’d probably *never* be able to coax myself to the Shala six days a week. Instead, I remind myself about the parts I like: the amazing energy of the room, the confident support of the teachers, quietly chanting the opening and closing chants, squishes in forward bends, favourite adjustments and taking rest at the end.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Astanga
My incredible stretch of Good Transit Karma ended this morning with a no-show streetcar on the way to the Shala. I briefly considered just going home and practising there, but finally decided to put on my Big Girl Ashtangi Pants and hoof it to the Shala. I had to walk FAST! (later on in the day, the subway shut down entirely and I was left fuming on a train, late for an appointment in the west end. Ug, transit!)
I made it just under the wire and I’m glad I did. It was supposed to be a led Primary this morning, but after the led sun salutations, R told us: “Go on, Mysore style.” For a moment, we all just stood there, looking at her like she was speaking to us in Swahili. I was mentally prepared for led, so I had to completely shift gears. I had a genuine ‘space cadet moment’ when I nearly forgot Ardha Baddha Padma Padottanasana and Tiriangmukhaikapada Pachimottansana, but then I was back on track.
I had an unremarkable practice and I was feeling tired afterward. I went home and took a bath, had a quick, blissful little nap. And then I was back on a train, travelling to Shala North for a floaty jumpback workshop.
It was a lot a fun! At one point, I looked around me and was overcome by a sense of happiness. I realised that there was no place else I would rather be at that moment, surrounded by the smiling faces of fellow ashtangis, laughing as we experimented with Bakasana B (I actually landed it once, before I fell over, giggling), cheering each other on. It’s a nice little community up there at Shala North and I was delighted to be part of it for a few hours. They always make me feel very welcome. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
I jotted a few things down and if there’s a huge demand, I’ll transcribe some of it. The main thing I walked away with was a sense that floaty jumpbacks don’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things - the vinyasa is the whole point. You can float through space like a hovercraft, but if you’re not breathing and correctly linking your breath with the movement, then it’s INCORRECT. By the same token, if you can barely lift up and walk your feet back to step into plank, but your inhalations and exhalations are right on the money, you’re golden!
In a nutshell: Breath, learn the vinyasa. The strength will come with practice.
In the spirit of this, DR offered a handful of approaches to the jumping through and back, ranging from ‘stepping back’ to floating like a hovership. Arkie Yogini recently posted a YouTube video by Dave Garrigues which demonstrates this approach nicely. This is definitely something to watch if you’re new to Astanga and struggling to get your brain wrapped around jumpbacks.
DR also popped my bubble about the much-coveted straight-leg jumpthrough. I always thought that this was the thing to do, if you could do it. But no, according to him, it’s more challenging and strength-building to jump through with crossed ankles (but this is not saying that any jumpthrough or back looked difficult for DR - dude seriously defies gravity!).
I had lots of fun with some of the exercises. We did a tripod headstand, legs in Bakasana then lifted our heads up, jumped back. I remember trying this years ago and struggling with it, but this time it was easy for me. It gave me hope that eventually, my exit from Supta Kurmasana will be less sloppy. I also discovered that with my back pushed to a wall and Bandhas engaged, I can float up (with bent knees) into a handstand. I finally *get* how that’s possible.
I’m not sure how much of this stuff is replicable or directly applicable to my practice right now, but it’s good to know what’s possible and the whole point was to explore the muscle memory and specific actions necessary to lift up and jump back. I had a few fabulous jumpbacks during the course of the class (which became fewer and far between as I grew tired).
I made it just under the wire and I’m glad I did. It was supposed to be a led Primary this morning, but after the led sun salutations, R told us: “Go on, Mysore style.” For a moment, we all just stood there, looking at her like she was speaking to us in Swahili. I was mentally prepared for led, so I had to completely shift gears. I had a genuine ‘space cadet moment’ when I nearly forgot Ardha Baddha Padma Padottanasana and Tiriangmukhaikapada Pachimottansana, but then I was back on track.
I had an unremarkable practice and I was feeling tired afterward. I went home and took a bath, had a quick, blissful little nap. And then I was back on a train, travelling to Shala North for a floaty jumpback workshop.
It was a lot a fun! At one point, I looked around me and was overcome by a sense of happiness. I realised that there was no place else I would rather be at that moment, surrounded by the smiling faces of fellow ashtangis, laughing as we experimented with Bakasana B (I actually landed it once, before I fell over, giggling), cheering each other on. It’s a nice little community up there at Shala North and I was delighted to be part of it for a few hours. They always make me feel very welcome. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
I jotted a few things down and if there’s a huge demand, I’ll transcribe some of it. The main thing I walked away with was a sense that floaty jumpbacks don’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things - the vinyasa is the whole point. You can float through space like a hovercraft, but if you’re not breathing and correctly linking your breath with the movement, then it’s INCORRECT. By the same token, if you can barely lift up and walk your feet back to step into plank, but your inhalations and exhalations are right on the money, you’re golden!
In a nutshell: Breath, learn the vinyasa. The strength will come with practice.
In the spirit of this, DR offered a handful of approaches to the jumping through and back, ranging from ‘stepping back’ to floating like a hovership. Arkie Yogini recently posted a YouTube video by Dave Garrigues which demonstrates this approach nicely. This is definitely something to watch if you’re new to Astanga and struggling to get your brain wrapped around jumpbacks.
DR also popped my bubble about the much-coveted straight-leg jumpthrough. I always thought that this was the thing to do, if you could do it. But no, according to him, it’s more challenging and strength-building to jump through with crossed ankles (but this is not saying that any jumpthrough or back looked difficult for DR - dude seriously defies gravity!).
I had lots of fun with some of the exercises. We did a tripod headstand, legs in Bakasana then lifted our heads up, jumped back. I remember trying this years ago and struggling with it, but this time it was easy for me. It gave me hope that eventually, my exit from Supta Kurmasana will be less sloppy. I also discovered that with my back pushed to a wall and Bandhas engaged, I can float up (with bent knees) into a handstand. I finally *get* how that’s possible.
I’m not sure how much of this stuff is replicable or directly applicable to my practice right now, but it’s good to know what’s possible and the whole point was to explore the muscle memory and specific actions necessary to lift up and jump back. I had a few fabulous jumpbacks during the course of the class (which became fewer and far between as I grew tired).
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Restorative
Last night was so much fun! This was the last chapter of my extended birthday celebrations. I managed to get tipsy on one just one Caesar, which is fairly typical; I’m the cheapest of drunks! We were at a student pub, but a nice one with good, inexpensive food. The place got louder and louder as the night went on. It was so great seeing my friends! I laughed until my ribs hurt. There were some priceless moments in there.
Vodka is like a truth serum with me and I was totally wearing my heart on my sleeve. I’m afraid I revealed a little too much, which will certainly be fodder for much ribbing later on! I’m bracing myself :-D
On the way home, I stopped by the drugstore for allergy meds and also picked up some more Epsom salts on sale. So there I was, 1 a.m., staggering down the street with 8 kilograms of the stuff draped off of me. I looked like a bag lady!
It was so nice to sleep in this morning! I stuck to my resolve to take it easy on myself. I took a long epsom salt bath, then lolled around on my mat in restorative yoga poses for an hour. I was all blissed out, I needed the rest! Tomorrow will be intense, with led Primary in the morning and a workshop at Shala North for most of the afternoon.
It’s been raining all day here. I’ve been camped out in my window seat, eating chocolate cookies from the Market and drinking chai, but the sun just peeked out and it’s clearing. I think I’ll walk Princess Fur to the Big Park this afternoon. I’m feeling restless and we both need to stretch our legs.
Vodka is like a truth serum with me and I was totally wearing my heart on my sleeve. I’m afraid I revealed a little too much, which will certainly be fodder for much ribbing later on! I’m bracing myself :-D
On the way home, I stopped by the drugstore for allergy meds and also picked up some more Epsom salts on sale. So there I was, 1 a.m., staggering down the street with 8 kilograms of the stuff draped off of me. I looked like a bag lady!
It was so nice to sleep in this morning! I stuck to my resolve to take it easy on myself. I took a long epsom salt bath, then lolled around on my mat in restorative yoga poses for an hour. I was all blissed out, I needed the rest! Tomorrow will be intense, with led Primary in the morning and a workshop at Shala North for most of the afternoon.
It’s been raining all day here. I’ve been camped out in my window seat, eating chocolate cookies from the Market and drinking chai, but the sun just peeked out and it’s clearing. I think I’ll walk Princess Fur to the Big Park this afternoon. I’m feeling restless and we both need to stretch our legs.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Astanga
Happy Friday, and to all those ‘criminals’ who practised on the Moon Day *innoncent look*, Happy Six Day Week! :-D
This is probably ‘safe for work’ as long as incense is allowed. Seen in the Shala waiting area this morning:
I’ve had a stretch of extremely Good Transit Karma recently. This morning, I left for the Shala ten minutes late, but arrived ten minutes early. The minute I stepped onto the subway platform: SUBWAY! The minute I cleared the last few steps to the street: STREETCAR! This *never* happens, but it’s been going on for days. Frankly, this frightens me because I know that a follow-up stretch of Bad Transit Karma will surely follow. I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
Practice was good this morning. I kept my expectations low because I was feeling tired. I told myself: “Don’t be a hero, Kai. Just do the Primary Express.” And I mostly stuck to that. When I got to Supta Kurmasana, Teacher P was standing at the top of my mat, watching. As I moved into it, I couldn’t see his face, but I could practically *feel* his eyebrows raise skeptically. So I explained what I was trying to do.
In a dry, level voice, he said: “Usually it’s better to wait until you can reliably get both legs behind your head.”
Well, yeah. I suppose that’s how a *sensible* person would go about it, but I’m impatient! ;-)
I don’t think he was annoyed, more just thinking that once again, I’m getting *way* ahead of myself and I just need to slow the heck down. He helped me into the pose (I needed assistance with the bind because I was well out of Kurmasana) and crossed my ankles for me, really tight this time. Then he helped me lift up: “Keep your ankles crossed!”
It was AWESOME!
I lifted up and tried to nail the exit. Not bad! At least I’m doing the vinyasa correctly. R is right - keeping my head up in Bakasana makes it MUCH easier to get my legs in place and lift. Still can’t get my hips to float for the jumpback though. I think this will come as I continue to develop my vinyasa jumpbacks.
I’ll keep working on opening my hips and bringing my legs behind my head until I can do it on my own. When it’s foolproof, I’ll start doing it at the Shala. I don’t think P will have any objection as long as I can get there on my own. At this point, the juiciest part of my practice is Bhujapidasana through the Supta K exit. It doesn’t feel impossible to me anymore and I’m enjoying tweaking it along.
If I’m going to be forever mired in the Primary Series, I’m going to make it a GREAT Primary Series and enjoy it!
Parsvottanasna-leg-width update: Today, I tried 3 feet, since Teacher P was ‘on duty.’ He seemed happy with that. Given my druthers, I like this distance; it works for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My weekend social calendar is full and the fun starts tonight: Dinner with the posse and maybe drinks somewhere afterward. I can stay out late and live dangerously because there will be no illicit Astanga practice on Saturday! I need to rest. I’ll probably do some Yin or Hatha to round out my week. I’m in workshops all weekend, so I need to conserve my energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Princess Fur likes to use my lap as her own personal hammock. She’s literally ‘draped’ over my leg in this photo. Minutes before, she had her head hanging toward the floor and she was snoring!
This is probably ‘safe for work’ as long as incense is allowed. Seen in the Shala waiting area this morning:
The Buddha is happy to see you!
I’ve had a stretch of extremely Good Transit Karma recently. This morning, I left for the Shala ten minutes late, but arrived ten minutes early. The minute I stepped onto the subway platform: SUBWAY! The minute I cleared the last few steps to the street: STREETCAR! This *never* happens, but it’s been going on for days. Frankly, this frightens me because I know that a follow-up stretch of Bad Transit Karma will surely follow. I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
Practice was good this morning. I kept my expectations low because I was feeling tired. I told myself: “Don’t be a hero, Kai. Just do the Primary Express.” And I mostly stuck to that. When I got to Supta Kurmasana, Teacher P was standing at the top of my mat, watching. As I moved into it, I couldn’t see his face, but I could practically *feel* his eyebrows raise skeptically. So I explained what I was trying to do.
In a dry, level voice, he said: “Usually it’s better to wait until you can reliably get both legs behind your head.”
Well, yeah. I suppose that’s how a *sensible* person would go about it, but I’m impatient! ;-)
I don’t think he was annoyed, more just thinking that once again, I’m getting *way* ahead of myself and I just need to slow the heck down. He helped me into the pose (I needed assistance with the bind because I was well out of Kurmasana) and crossed my ankles for me, really tight this time. Then he helped me lift up: “Keep your ankles crossed!”
It was AWESOME!
I lifted up and tried to nail the exit. Not bad! At least I’m doing the vinyasa correctly. R is right - keeping my head up in Bakasana makes it MUCH easier to get my legs in place and lift. Still can’t get my hips to float for the jumpback though. I think this will come as I continue to develop my vinyasa jumpbacks.
I’ll keep working on opening my hips and bringing my legs behind my head until I can do it on my own. When it’s foolproof, I’ll start doing it at the Shala. I don’t think P will have any objection as long as I can get there on my own. At this point, the juiciest part of my practice is Bhujapidasana through the Supta K exit. It doesn’t feel impossible to me anymore and I’m enjoying tweaking it along.
If I’m going to be forever mired in the Primary Series, I’m going to make it a GREAT Primary Series and enjoy it!
Parsvottanasna-leg-width update: Today, I tried 3 feet, since Teacher P was ‘on duty.’ He seemed happy with that. Given my druthers, I like this distance; it works for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My weekend social calendar is full and the fun starts tonight: Dinner with the posse and maybe drinks somewhere afterward. I can stay out late and live dangerously because there will be no illicit Astanga practice on Saturday! I need to rest. I’ll probably do some Yin or Hatha to round out my week. I’m in workshops all weekend, so I need to conserve my energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Princess Fur likes to use my lap as her own personal hammock. She’s literally ‘draped’ over my leg in this photo. Minutes before, she had her head hanging toward the floor and she was snoring!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Astanga
Uh oh. *Somebody* overdid it with the research poses yesterday. My tummy hurts! But in a good way!
My noon class was a no-show, so I played around on the gym equipment, especially a structure that’s meant for abs, but I’ve nicknamed it the ‘Backbending Machine’. I figured out a way to use it for hangbacks and I was dropping my hands back to this little platform, then coming up. Back and up, back and up. Then I did some abdominal work and experimented with the Kill Your Quads machine over in the corner.
I’ll have to remember this the next time I’m waiting for class to start and I have some time to kill. Strong abs and quads can only help in the standing-up-from-backbend project, right?
Today’s practice was good, but I was tired. And I was a space case too! I skipped Purvottanasana, didn’t remember it until I was on the streetcar going home. I *almost* skipped Bhujapidasana, which would have been a shame because that pose was terrific today! I slipped my feet between my arms without touching the floor, then back up again.
I think it’s finally safe to announce that Chakrasana has officially become No Big Deal. I just do it. If I’m very tired, I lift my legs over first and push through my hands to launch the roll, but most of the time I just roll. No more Drama. I’ll see how this plays out in Led Primary on Sunday - that will be the true test. Teacher R witnessed one of my rolls today from across the room. We were both grinning.
I lifted up on every vinyasa, but there was no jumpback magic for me today. It’s coming along though. I can lift up and bring my feet through, touch down on one toe, *then* I try to lift my hips and ‘tip’ forward to shoot my legs back. I’m focusing on doing this without pushing off from my toe. It’s not really ‘pretty’, but I’m getting stronger.
I’ve noticed this increased strength in other areas of my practice, places I wouldn’t expect. Sirsasana is SO stable now. This used to be the Drama Pose but now I look forward to it. I kind of go into a daydream fugue state while I’m there. Lately, Parivritta Trikonasana has started feeling really good! I’m less wobbly and for the first time, I feel myself levelling the hips, squaring them off while still rotating the torso. Teacher R changed the position of my bottom hand this morning. She moved my hand forward slightly, spread the fingers.
There’s a small drama unfolding over my Parsvottanasana with the two teachers giving me conflicting direction. This morning, Teacher R asked me to narrow my stance. I glanced down and noticed that my feet were no more than 2 feet apart. The other day, Teacher P asked me to *widen* my stance (to about 3 feet). Yoga Mala says the stance is 3 feet (page 57). Gregor Maehle doesn’t specify, but it looks like a 2 foot stance in the photograph of the pose (page 42). Swenson says one leg-length distance between the feet (page 42). I have looooong legs so for me, that would be slightly more than 3 feet.
And now I’m confused, which is great news because I have a juicy question to ask at conference on Sunday. I’ll let ‘em duke it out then ;-)
I didn’t have the energy to try the legs-behind-shoulder manoeuvre in Supta Kurmasana today. I defaulted to yesterday’s cheat: bringing the left leg around the shoulder, lowering down, getting the right leg in place and the ankles crossed and binding myself. But the final result is much better than anything I’ve managed so far, even with assistance, so it’s coming along. I’m going to keep working on this on my own and the next time I have a chance, I’ll ask the teachers for guidance on how to move forward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As of today, I’ve been at the Shala for one month. It goes without saying, but I’m staying on for May. Wild horses couldn’t drag me out of that Mysore Room right now! I’m having so much FUN! I do feel that my practice is taking leaps and bounds under the guidance of the teachers and I’m definitely working harder with their beady eyes watching my every move. It’s all good. :-)
And on a more serious note, I feel a genuine sense of safety and comfort being there. The one month anniversary of the Big LIfe Change came and went with little fanfare. I’ve handled it far better than I ever imagined I would. I’ve been doing great, keeping busy, making my own fun. I haven’t really been *sad* per se, but occasionally a melancholy mood will strike and on those days, that five minutes of Savasana at the Shala is the best part of my day. Laying there, in a cocoon of heat, and movement and Ujjayi breathing, everything feels okay again.
My noon class was a no-show, so I played around on the gym equipment, especially a structure that’s meant for abs, but I’ve nicknamed it the ‘Backbending Machine’. I figured out a way to use it for hangbacks and I was dropping my hands back to this little platform, then coming up. Back and up, back and up. Then I did some abdominal work and experimented with the Kill Your Quads machine over in the corner.
I’ll have to remember this the next time I’m waiting for class to start and I have some time to kill. Strong abs and quads can only help in the standing-up-from-backbend project, right?
Today’s practice was good, but I was tired. And I was a space case too! I skipped Purvottanasana, didn’t remember it until I was on the streetcar going home. I *almost* skipped Bhujapidasana, which would have been a shame because that pose was terrific today! I slipped my feet between my arms without touching the floor, then back up again.
I think it’s finally safe to announce that Chakrasana has officially become No Big Deal. I just do it. If I’m very tired, I lift my legs over first and push through my hands to launch the roll, but most of the time I just roll. No more Drama. I’ll see how this plays out in Led Primary on Sunday - that will be the true test. Teacher R witnessed one of my rolls today from across the room. We were both grinning.
I lifted up on every vinyasa, but there was no jumpback magic for me today. It’s coming along though. I can lift up and bring my feet through, touch down on one toe, *then* I try to lift my hips and ‘tip’ forward to shoot my legs back. I’m focusing on doing this without pushing off from my toe. It’s not really ‘pretty’, but I’m getting stronger.
I’ve noticed this increased strength in other areas of my practice, places I wouldn’t expect. Sirsasana is SO stable now. This used to be the Drama Pose but now I look forward to it. I kind of go into a daydream fugue state while I’m there. Lately, Parivritta Trikonasana has started feeling really good! I’m less wobbly and for the first time, I feel myself levelling the hips, squaring them off while still rotating the torso. Teacher R changed the position of my bottom hand this morning. She moved my hand forward slightly, spread the fingers.
There’s a small drama unfolding over my Parsvottanasana with the two teachers giving me conflicting direction. This morning, Teacher R asked me to narrow my stance. I glanced down and noticed that my feet were no more than 2 feet apart. The other day, Teacher P asked me to *widen* my stance (to about 3 feet). Yoga Mala says the stance is 3 feet (page 57). Gregor Maehle doesn’t specify, but it looks like a 2 foot stance in the photograph of the pose (page 42). Swenson says one leg-length distance between the feet (page 42). I have looooong legs so for me, that would be slightly more than 3 feet.
And now I’m confused, which is great news because I have a juicy question to ask at conference on Sunday. I’ll let ‘em duke it out then ;-)
I didn’t have the energy to try the legs-behind-shoulder manoeuvre in Supta Kurmasana today. I defaulted to yesterday’s cheat: bringing the left leg around the shoulder, lowering down, getting the right leg in place and the ankles crossed and binding myself. But the final result is much better than anything I’ve managed so far, even with assistance, so it’s coming along. I’m going to keep working on this on my own and the next time I have a chance, I’ll ask the teachers for guidance on how to move forward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As of today, I’ve been at the Shala for one month. It goes without saying, but I’m staying on for May. Wild horses couldn’t drag me out of that Mysore Room right now! I’m having so much FUN! I do feel that my practice is taking leaps and bounds under the guidance of the teachers and I’m definitely working harder with their beady eyes watching my every move. It’s all good. :-)
And on a more serious note, I feel a genuine sense of safety and comfort being there. The one month anniversary of the Big LIfe Change came and went with little fanfare. I’ve handled it far better than I ever imagined I would. I’ve been doing great, keeping busy, making my own fun. I haven’t really been *sad* per se, but occasionally a melancholy mood will strike and on those days, that five minutes of Savasana at the Shala is the best part of my day. Laying there, in a cocoon of heat, and movement and Ujjayi breathing, everything feels okay again.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Astanga
I appear to have reached out and grabbed that New Moon and now I’m swinging along, riding its energy. I feel bouncy!
I woke up before the alarm this morning and wanted to practice, so I did. It was an interesting experiment because this is the first time I’ve practised the full Primary Series on my own at home, since I started going to the Shala. It was good! No music, no recording to lead me, just my breath and the city skyline out my picture window, sunshine streaming in and Princess Fur snoozing contentedly in her basket.
My practice has changed in the past month. Everything is a little bit deeper. My hips are more open, the hamstrings have opened up a LOT. But the biggest change I noticed: Ujjayi. I breath LOUDLY. Holy! Just one month of Teacher R’s good-natured nagging (“Big Sound! Big Sound!”) has turned me into one of those loud breathers. Don’t get me wrong, there are many at the Shala who can drown me out easily, but in my tiny apartment, I could HEAR my breath.
And there were the distractions! With no teacher watching, I was much more prone to fussing and fidgeting. I managed to stay very focused right up until Supta Kurmasana. Then I was messing around with trying to get that left leg behind my back. I sort of lost momentum there. I could do it, but getting my right leg behind my back was too challenging. I ended up placing the left leg, lowering down, crossing the right ankle over left. I still managed the bind though. I’m looking forward to getting some help with this at the Shala. I think the teachers will be game for it - Teacher P was encouraging me to cross my ankles before binding the other day.
My two big breakthroughs - the wrist bind in Marichyasana D and the heel lift in Kurmasana (I almost typed ‘hell lift’ there; that’s what it feels like!) were repeatable today. I was watching Kino’s Primary DVD last night (yeah, that was my Big Excitement for Moon Day Eve - that and a hot bath). I noticed that when binding in the Marichyasanas, she tried to straighten the non-binding arm and, if possible, tuck that hand around the leg to get some leverage. I tried that today and it really made a difference in both Marichyasana C and D (C was just easier and in D, The lotus knee sank closer to the floor).
I did three backbends, which I filmed for posterity (but not public scrutiny). I also did a film of my jumpbacks/throughs and surprised myself with a jumpthrough that didn’t touch down - I straightened my legs and lowered! Kind of funny that I’m all obsessed with my jumpbacks, but it’s the jumpthroughs that are improving!
I woke up before the alarm this morning and wanted to practice, so I did. It was an interesting experiment because this is the first time I’ve practised the full Primary Series on my own at home, since I started going to the Shala. It was good! No music, no recording to lead me, just my breath and the city skyline out my picture window, sunshine streaming in and Princess Fur snoozing contentedly in her basket.
My practice has changed in the past month. Everything is a little bit deeper. My hips are more open, the hamstrings have opened up a LOT. But the biggest change I noticed: Ujjayi. I breath LOUDLY. Holy! Just one month of Teacher R’s good-natured nagging (“Big Sound! Big Sound!”) has turned me into one of those loud breathers. Don’t get me wrong, there are many at the Shala who can drown me out easily, but in my tiny apartment, I could HEAR my breath.
And there were the distractions! With no teacher watching, I was much more prone to fussing and fidgeting. I managed to stay very focused right up until Supta Kurmasana. Then I was messing around with trying to get that left leg behind my back. I sort of lost momentum there. I could do it, but getting my right leg behind my back was too challenging. I ended up placing the left leg, lowering down, crossing the right ankle over left. I still managed the bind though. I’m looking forward to getting some help with this at the Shala. I think the teachers will be game for it - Teacher P was encouraging me to cross my ankles before binding the other day.
My two big breakthroughs - the wrist bind in Marichyasana D and the heel lift in Kurmasana (I almost typed ‘hell lift’ there; that’s what it feels like!) were repeatable today. I was watching Kino’s Primary DVD last night (yeah, that was my Big Excitement for Moon Day Eve - that and a hot bath). I noticed that when binding in the Marichyasanas, she tried to straighten the non-binding arm and, if possible, tuck that hand around the leg to get some leverage. I tried that today and it really made a difference in both Marichyasana C and D (C was just easier and in D, The lotus knee sank closer to the floor).
I did three backbends, which I filmed for posterity (but not public scrutiny). I also did a film of my jumpbacks/throughs and surprised myself with a jumpthrough that didn’t touch down - I straightened my legs and lowered! Kind of funny that I’m all obsessed with my jumpbacks, but it’s the jumpthroughs that are improving!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Astanga
Every so often, the Universe sees that I’m struggling and throws me a bone. This was one of those days.
Maybe it was the Full Moon energy. Maybe it’s because of the earlier practice (I bumped up my practice time this week), but I had a fabulous practice! I was feeling STRONG
Let’s count the small victories:
-Three successful no-toe-touch jumpbacks and many strong lift-ups
-Several no-bum-to-floor jumpthroughs (a complete surprise; something was ‘clicking’ this morning)
-First time I’ve ever had a bind to wrist (WRIST!) in Marichyasana D (and both sides too!)
-Chest flat to floor (with help from teacher) then heels lifted off the floor (my own hard work) in Kurmasana
-I enjoyed a rather spectacular Garba Pindasana with my hands never leaving my head as I rolled around and then pushed straight up into Kukutasana
-I nailed every last Chakrasana without help, including the dreaded post-backbend roll
-Teacher P asked me to cross my ankles first in Supta Kurmasana. I needed help with the bind, but it was a tight, tight pose. And I lifted up by myself, though my legs fell apart immediately. Until I get my legs behind my back, a real lift-up probably won’t happen in that exit. But fun!
-I heard a “Good!” from Teacher P during backbends
-A nice lift straight up in Sarvangasana without my usual Halasana cheat (I’m figured out how to get up on my shoulders under me first before lifting into the pose)
Backbends are getting interesting! Earlier in the month, Teacher P took away sunbathing privileges between cycles of Urdhva Dhanurasana. Yesterday, Teacher R suggested that I avoid the beach entirely: no more rest between the first three backbends and the last two. Go down and right back up! Yesterday, it felt like agony, but today was okay. I do feel like I’m getting stronger.
My legs were shaking as I walked to the streetcar afterward! I went straight home and took a salt bath. Thank goodness tomorrow is a Moon Day! I need it. I’m not going *anywhere* tomorrow morning - I’m staying put (and sleeping in, though I’ll probably indulge in an extracurricular backbending practice at home).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Strength is a decision you make.” (from the Kino ‘strength workshop’ - thank you, Susan for the reminder)
At the rate I’m going, I’ll soon be able to open those bottles all by myself! *snark*
Maybe it was the Full Moon energy. Maybe it’s because of the earlier practice (I bumped up my practice time this week), but I had a fabulous practice! I was feeling STRONG
Let’s count the small victories:
-Three successful no-toe-touch jumpbacks and many strong lift-ups
-Several no-bum-to-floor jumpthroughs (a complete surprise; something was ‘clicking’ this morning)
-First time I’ve ever had a bind to wrist (WRIST!) in Marichyasana D (and both sides too!)
-Chest flat to floor (with help from teacher) then heels lifted off the floor (my own hard work) in Kurmasana
-I enjoyed a rather spectacular Garba Pindasana with my hands never leaving my head as I rolled around and then pushed straight up into Kukutasana
-I nailed every last Chakrasana without help, including the dreaded post-backbend roll
-Teacher P asked me to cross my ankles first in Supta Kurmasana. I needed help with the bind, but it was a tight, tight pose. And I lifted up by myself, though my legs fell apart immediately. Until I get my legs behind my back, a real lift-up probably won’t happen in that exit. But fun!
-I heard a “Good!” from Teacher P during backbends
-A nice lift straight up in Sarvangasana without my usual Halasana cheat (I’m figured out how to get up on my shoulders under me first before lifting into the pose)
Backbends are getting interesting! Earlier in the month, Teacher P took away sunbathing privileges between cycles of Urdhva Dhanurasana. Yesterday, Teacher R suggested that I avoid the beach entirely: no more rest between the first three backbends and the last two. Go down and right back up! Yesterday, it felt like agony, but today was okay. I do feel like I’m getting stronger.
My legs were shaking as I walked to the streetcar afterward! I went straight home and took a salt bath. Thank goodness tomorrow is a Moon Day! I need it. I’m not going *anywhere* tomorrow morning - I’m staying put (and sleeping in, though I’ll probably indulge in an extracurricular backbending practice at home).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Strength is a decision you make.” (from the Kino ‘strength workshop’ - thank you, Susan for the reminder)
At the rate I’m going, I’ll soon be able to open those bottles all by myself! *snark*
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