Day 267

And life goes on.

In my last post, I was too busy naval-gazing and feeling sorry for myself to mention my newest project: pick-ups.

No, no! Not pick-up lines! (though I'm working on those too - nothing like dating to keep the ol' mad skillz fresh).

I mean pick ups as in rooting my little hands into the floor and lifting my body up off of it. Pick-ups as in eventually swinging my legs back into a true, honest-to-goodness jump back.

I'm SO not there yet.

I was totally inspired by this post about jump-throughs from the amazing Elise (of Mysore Musings), who makes it look so easy. I'm such a sucker for a good Yoga YouTube moment. I watched her video of 'life ups' (Part III, in her post) over and over again. Then I tried to do what she was doing. Over and over again. Thanks, Elise! Now my triceps hurt. ;-)

Seriously! My triceps *hurt*. This is great news!!! I haven't had this intensity of arm-and-shoulder-OMG-what-did-you-do-to-me pain since last year when I first started this whole Ashtanga project (and did multiple Chaturangas for the first time).

Ouch. That means that whatever it is I'm doing, it's making me stronger. All is coming, baby! ;-)

So here's my plan (because if you've been reading me for very long, you know I'm a planner).

Phase 1 (started on Monday): Baby pick ups in every applicable vinyasa, folding knees to chest and just trying to get my feet off the floor (I can actually do this about 75% of the time). Uth Plutih for 5 counts. When I can lift my feet each time and feel strong, move on to Phase 2...

Phase 2: Pick ups and swing back and forth a bit in every applicable vinyasa. Gradually work my way up to Uth Plutih for 10 counts.

Phase 3: Pick ups and swing back, knees to the floor at first into a modified jump back. Gradually work my way up to Uth Plutih for 15 counts.

Phase 4: Pick ups, swing back into a real jump back.

Isn't this a great plan? Well, I think it is. It's a great plan because I really need a good project to distract me from the sad reality of how very, very tamas I'm feeling these days. Also, it's June, right? Why is it so cold? And backbends were terrible today. My arms were tired in Sirsasana...and...

Whine, whine, whine...