June 30, 2005
Thursday
third day no practice! booo!i was traveling for work and i didnt make the time for it. and there is no other excuse for it.
ill make it to the led class tomorrow then im off to denver for 10 days then las vegas (work) for the following week. im practicing at this place near my dads house so well see how it goes. i dont think im gonna get to blog much while im gone but ill try.
namaste
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June 27, 2005
Monday
yay the heat is back!!! boo eddie ji is gone....i didnt post yesterday because i was up at the island but i did do yoga with michael from the studio who was also on the island. it was really great we did the primary series and i got through it all he gave some simple adjustments which is all either of us felt comfortable with but it was good. so now whenever i am up at the island ill do yoga at his place. its kinda far but worth the walk not to mention that thier (michael and t) house is beautiful! it was nice to do yoga out side right by the pool. made my day so much better!
my weekend was awesome if only a little non ahimsa , i ate a ton of meat on saturday and sunday. i also had some wine. the meat was delicious (pork loin ) but i feel really heavy from it and i think its gonna take a while to go the the process...hmm hmmm.
but it was a wonderfultime
today eddie ji and his sub robert (i think thats his name) were at the studio super early.
we waited outside until 6:00 oclock sharp. to let robert finish his practice, we came in just as robert was getting up from savasana. im excited about his being here. he gave me a couple of adjustments and was super attentive to the entire class. i like him he is very calm and has really good energy ill still miss eddie ji. i need to make sure that i thank him fro the adjustments and that ill be gone for two weeks sohe doesnt think I disappeared.
like i said the heat is back!!! so practice today was awesome!!! i love it when its totally hot and humid. i was able to bind in standing ardha baddha on the second side. i bound in both the sitting ardha baddha on my own. the marichyasana's were on my own through c. robert helped me get into d and because its hot and he gae good adjustments I actually bound on both sides it was of the fingernail bind variety but its so much closer than what i have been able to get lately.
it wasnt even painful. Aum Namah Shivaya. i love my practice.my boss today mentioned how happy i looked which was a combo of being tan from the weekend and such a great practice today. im bummed that i wont be at the shala for the nex two days but ill practice on my own.
namaste
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June 24, 2005
Friday
led class today and i am sore sore sore. shoulders are killing me probably from all the chaturanga dandasana's. i was up later than i wanted to be lastnight there were these documentaries on transgender people and they were interesting so i was up watching them until 10:30. so this morning i had a red bull on my way to the shala. i feel really guilty (well not that guilty) about having redbull before class but i figure for all intent and purpose its the same as drinkning coffee right. my practice isnt all that much different with or with out the RB so perhaps ill just skip it.class went well enough eddie ji was near me alot today which was really cool. i like when he stands or sits on my side of the room. in my neverending quest to please i think i do better with things like jump backs and jump throughs.
i noticed something really cool this morning and i think i will incorporate it into my practice from now on. the guy behind me does second series normally, today he did the primary led class. i wonder if its because of the time or if its becasue he only does half of secondary, who knows , it doesnt really matter i guess. anyway, during padangusthasana he bring his head down really far and additionally extends his head between his legs as one might do for the tittibhasana's. its not super pronounced or anything, but that in essence what he is doing.i tried it this morning and i felt the strech along my bum which is where i think i need to stretch out inorder to get into some of the asanas that are challenging for me.
i got a a couple of good jobs on the prasaritas this morning. i had my head touching the floor on all of them , of course my head was about as far from the space between my legs as you could go but its a start!!!! i got a stern word when I had to clasp my fingers in virabatrasana a ... no more of that for me. i think i got anouther good job on something but i cant rememb er what, maybe it was my neighbor....
i thought for sure i was going to be sent to the back room today. as we were going into bhuja pindasana i was sure eddie ji was gonna tap me on the shoulder so i really gave it may all and balanced pretty well so whew... i was safe. the kurmasanas will come along failry quickly once i make it that far in the series i can almost bind my hands now. once i can take some time to get into it i think ill make quick progress. i got my hands through in gaba pindasana for the first time i cant exactly rest my chin in my hands yet...its the lotus im still working on that.
its amazing what i can do in mysore style as opposed to led classes. its all aobut the time spent in the asanas, can i just tell you that there was no way in gods great heaven that i could even imagine being adjusted into Mari D Iwas a million miles away from it. i hope to god that this pose doesnt take years for me to get into. it kinds feels like it at the moment. when it was really hot its almost a realitybut now : ( it aint happenin'
Oh today i met a gent (michael )who is going to be on the island this weekend so we have planned to get together to do yoga! very exciting.
I wish I could get this up on Ashtangi.net but they seem to be out on vacation or something.
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June 23, 2005
Thursday
this morning at the shala eddie ji was already there at 6:00 and had been there for sometime. it looks as if he is taking down the stuff inside the alter. not sure why but perhaps it has something to do with his being gone for a month (india). makes sense, the shala isnt all that secure and none of the stuff in there was inexpensive. or maybe he was just spring cleaning.thursdays are a light day at the shala , i seem to miss them alot, the space next to me was open for quite some time aftter 6:00 and usually its taken way before that.
anyway on to practice its so nice not to have to be guided by those around you, my mind is clear and i am able to relax into each asana. ive decided that i need to double the number of breaths in asanas so instead of 5 i take 10 because my breaths are so short. that seems to give me just about the right pacing for my practice. i do eight in certain poses like revolved triangle, keeping my balance is a little difficult so i cut it a bit short.
binding is still giving me a hassle, i am soo far from binding behind my back in ardha baddha padmottanasana on my own, it seems impossible. i can do it with assistance but i have yet to be able to get either side on my own. i think it would help if i got to the shala a little later so that the guys were in the room when i was at that stage but im usually beyond it before they get there.
my new thing is getting both cheeks on the ground for triang mukha eka pada paschimottanasana i am currently tipping over (not really) my knees pretty much touch but i have to rely on my arm to keep me balanced. i think once i can fully take this pose marichyasana d will be a lot easier.
speaking of ... today was less difficult still painful but Im getting there. i tried to make sure that i point my toes in an effort to minimize the space my foot takes up when twisting and it helped a little bit. second side will always be more difficult which is to be expected ive always had problems withe the right side of m y body i think its slightly smaller then the left which makes the bind really difficult. not to mention that i am still getting all stressed out before i take mari-d so its adding to the tension and making me tighter. i was able to control the whimper today so i am counting that as progress. randy has figured out how i need to be adjusted so thats good becasue i think i will make progress in the pose with a consistent hand.
did navasana and then went to closing. i want to go further but i think i will wait for eddie ji to say go ahead. or maybe next month while he is away ill sneak a few new ones in and see how far i go.
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June 21, 2005
Tuesday
aum gam ganapataye namahabreathing should be without thought, controlled, and acknowledged for its power. i have the first one down, am working on the second one, theoretically aware of the third but somehow it seems to slip my mind all the time. especially during practice.
this is the next focus in my practice. i am now at a point that i no longer need to look around the room to figure out where i should be in the series. what freedom the practice is becoming my own.
now its a matter of lengthing my breath to match and lengthen each asana. which i assume to be an everlasting process. also while i am directing my attention to my breath i need to clear my mind of as much thought as possible. i am constantly thinking of how to improve this or thatin which ever asana i am currently in and it invariably leads me in the opposite direction.
yesterdays practice WIPED ME OUT literally. i was pretty much okay at work a little tired no big deal.once i got home i was beat. so i ran a hot bath soaked in the tub and worked on binding in half lotus which I did on both sides on my own in my bathtub, hilarious. i had dinner plans with one of my closest friends michael at this place called Quintessence its a raw foods place. it was really delicious. we shared an appetizer platter that had a sample of a few different app's. my favorite were the pizza crackers yum!! i had sprouted chick pea cakes in an alomnd sauce with wild "rice" it was pretty good. it tasted like falaffel but without being fried. and the sauce was really yummy too. michael had a "pasta" dish it was zuchinni that was actualy yellw squash it was really good too. i like raw foods restaurants the dishes are delicious 9when you order the right thing) and it feels healthly. i dont know that i could only eat raw foods, i think id starve to death. not eating meat is hard enough, i havent eaten red meat in a while, and i am starting to crave it from time to time. mainly when i walk to the bus stop after work there is steakhouse along the way and the smell drives me crazy. chicken is a bit harder to stop its everywhere and my roomate loves it so its around all the time. i dont eat allot but i take bites everynow and again. i would like to be a total vegetarian but it may take me a while to get there.
today in practice I was doing prasarita a and I was getting over pretty well my head almost to the floor bandas activated. well my right foot loses some of its grip and i about did a somersault into the person in front of me! no damage done i caught myslef thankfully. my spot is near the wall and there is a stool for the roamers to sit on while watching class well i kicked the stool which made a small crash.
no major breakthroughs to report today. mari d is going to kill me i know it.
i was adjusted into the first side and actually got a finger bind and was able to hold it myself for a couple of breaths. second side i had to come out of , my ankle felt like it was ripping apart so randy had me come out then go back in with his foot underneath my bent leg which was better but not even close to a bind.
closing was ehhh...forgot yoga mudra. utpluthi was not so bad I did 15 breaths.
namaste
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June 20, 2005
Monday
woke up bright and early this morning at 4:45 mario (roommate) had to be at the airport for a client visit so got him up after I rinsed off!! drank some of the new tea I bought last nigt that has two different types of ginseng not sure if it was that great, I think I liked the mate better. maybe Ill bring the ginseng to work and get mate for home. i need the pick me up before class.so in the link list I have Aum Gam Ganapataye namaha which is collective consisting of a couple of people from the place that i do yoga who are in india right now, they created these really cool original design tshirts (take a look at the website) that are being washed and beaten in the ganges, they are chronicling the entire trip on a blog its super cool. cant wait to get my tshirt!
practice today was okay I was stiff from a bike ride on saturday rode around the lower part of the island from 20th on the east to 20th on the west and across. which isnt really all that far, or maybe it is, but my tush was tight and i knew that any binding action and mari -d were going to take miracles! and be painful. i bound on both sides of ardha baddha padma paschimottanasana with the help of randy who basiclly got me in it (bind) and and pushed me right on over. I was able to hold the bind the entire time but I couldnt really figure out where I needed to lengthen my guess is obviosly in the shoulder area and in the torso/lowerback area.
mari-d was not fun in the slightest. i actually whimpered and said "i can't" which is really embarassing. thankfully randy just ignored this and got me into the asana.
there is definately some mental blockage going on because as he was adjusting me i felt fear both of the foot/ankle mashing into my thigh and getting my arm around my knee. which created tension making the asana even more difficult. tomorrow i will try to let go as best i can.
i also keep forgetting to breath in this pose again making it harder. I will say that once the horror of mari d is over navasana is pretty easy. wrapped up with closing afterwards nothing exciting.
eddie ji said that wednesday is a moon day but i thought that tomorrow was a moon day and the moon phase calendar that everybody haso n thier blog including mine says today is a moonday. will the real moonday please stand up.
i just hope that tomorrow i dont show up at yoga to find out that it is actually the moonday.....
TTYL
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 19, 2005
Sunday
practice ... not so great this morning. i woke up with enough time to take a steaming hot shower. felt pretty loose but i was not very limber this morning. i practiced in new spot, seems some else also likes the spot i normally occupy. no big deal but i do like my spot. lots of new people today, probably because class started at 7:30 rather than 6:00. lots of missing regulars. eddie ji was not there.sarah and randy were leading class. sarah adjusted me in utthita hasta padangusthasana its amazing how high my leg gets with someone holding it. its not like they are pushing it higher either, i think its more of a balance thing. i can come over my leg really far too but on my own its just not quite the same. will have to work on that.
no sign of a bind anywhere in ardha baddha padmottanasana and i completely forgot triang mukha eka pada paschimottanasana. (Practice and all is coming. SKPJ) a new phenomenon is happening in marichasana c once i get into it, i tip backwards. this started on friday and i hope it doesnt become a habit.
marichyasana d almost happened on the first side but was not even clost to possible on the second. not to mention that poor sarah had to sruggle to keep me together (remember that i am literally like a coiled spring in this asana) its frustrating because i seem to be regressing instead of progressing. it all comes back padmasana once i loosen up in the hips the binding and this impossible asana will unlock. i just hope it doesnt take forever. i dont know how i could prepare for this or if there is anything i can do in addition to going everyday , which is probably the best thing for me to do.
i didnt even include navasana today i was spent. did closing postures nothing special.
except that a brand new mom was there with her husband and their new born baby. sooooo sweet i love infants. i think it was a boy he was pretty good for a while then he started to cry, he was hungry!! a lady that finished a little before me shot me a look like can you belive it, but i just smiled, i love babies and even when they are crying they are at a place that we are all trying to get to with yoga and meditation. one of the regulars was really great about it he made some noise in the back to diffuse some of the focus. the baby was the highligt of the morning for me.
namaste
Posted by jody at 1:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 17, 2005
Friday
Led Primary this morning. I think I prefer MysoreI was not asked to go to the back room (very good) AND Eddie ji gave me encouraging glances more than once. so I am happy!
There is such a difference between Mysore and led. Here is how its different for me!
I fell out of Parivritta Parsvakonasana
I was not able to bind at all in Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana.
I tipped over in Marichyasana C
I was no where NEAR Marichyasana D NOWHERE!
Bhuja Pindasana was okay , eddie Ji was right next to me and no adjust so I take that as Im doing okay. And the Kurmasana's are coming along very nicely. These two used to take it ALL out of me but not as much lately.
It wasn't hot like it has been and so Im not as limber as I was earlier in the week.
I kinda miss the heat... I cant begin to imagine what this winter is going to be like.
Apparently the heat doesnt work that well at times and how hard is it going to be to do yoga in a chilly room!!!
Eddie Ji is going to India for the month of July which is good becasue I will be out for half of July. So no led classes on sundays anymore only mysore at least they will still be at 7:30.
I need to talk to eddie ji about nexts months fee I wan to pay half (3 day a week) for the two weeks that I am there. I also want to ask him if I can pay on the 15 for the month. I dont think it should be a problem. But I want to make sure.
I have been listening to Audio book lately on my ipod and I just finished Creating the life you want which is a series of lectures by Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer it was really amazing.
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:55 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 16, 2005
Thursday
No practice today. I just couldnt get out of bed. The right side of my chest is sore at one point at the insertion of the pectoral muscle and its uncomfortable. So I opted out of practice today. Im going to rationalize it by saying that tomorrow we have a led full primary and I want to have energy for that.Anyway, I found out that Eddie ji is going to Mysore soon. Yay for Eddie ji! I hope he goes during July because I am going to be gone for two weeks (Family and biz). Is that selfish, its not meant to be. I wonder who will be "leading" class while he is away? I would have thought it was Barry but he left for India yesterday. I imagine that Randy will be there more often which is good becasue I like Randy, I like them all, I hope that Sarah is around more often too.
They are both going to study from The Source so I imagine that there will be some subtle changes upon their return in their demeanor in class or the style of adjusting. It will be an exciting time.
Thats all I got today
Posted by jody at 8:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 15, 2005
Wednesday
Good practice today.Both Randy and Eddie ji were there. No adjustments for me today until Mari-D (of course) I bound on my own and bent foward in Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana. I was struggle through it a little bit and even though they see me I think I am at a point where I need to get it on my own I think if they were to assist then Id miss the process of learning the mechanics of the asana from the inside out. If that makes sense. Its either that or they arent too excited to have to get all wet from my sweat. Which I totally understand, so Ive been bringing two towels one for me and one for them.
Anyway, for me its better to work through them on my own for exactly the reasons above.
So Im having to roll my mat back and move it over during some of the standing postures and its really driving me crazy. I feel somewhat disruptive to those around me although I do take care to be aware of where they are at. Im hoping that as time goes on I wont be as unsure on my feet and wont need to fuss about so much.
I bound EASILY in Mari A-C seriously it wasnt a struggle at all. I tried to stay in the pose for as long as I could thinking that it has to help with Mari D. Eddie ji noticed that I was paused right before coming out of C. I think he might have understood that I was trying to open my shouders a bit in preparation because he didnt say anything when we worked on Mari D together. I had time to wait for him while he adjested somebody near me. So I went into Baddha Konasana A Which I know isnt in the correct order but I wanted to open my hips a little. I was suprised at how far I could go, my nose reached the floor! My feet werent as close to my body as in the link but Ill take it.
So Eddie ji lets me prepare and I am getting better at setting up for the asana. Then on the first side not much problem I was able to bind and my breath was short but not hyper ventilating. The second side was not so great. Its my damn foot I dont know if it slides up or what but it presses into my upper abdomen and its HARD to breath and I cant even bind. Eddie asked if I was feeling tight on one side, said some appreciative words then moved me on into Navasana.
I think I had the worst possible breath this morning, need to do something about that.
Having difficulty breathing in Mari D made Navasana VERY difficult got thru it then onto closing postures and I was done. It was packed this morning people were everywhere waiting to get started. I think it had something to do with the fact that the guy who usually unlocks the door didnt show up this morning. I hope everything is alright, Im sure he just over slept.
But many people didnt get started until late thus the crowded shala.
Posted by jody at 10:06 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 14, 2005
Tuesday
So its something like mid eighties and mid 60's humidity. Imagine what it was like in the Shala!I was dripping before I even finished Surya A's.
But I was able to bind in Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana
by myself! It took a while, I think something like 3 tries but its a start. Hopefully tomorrow the guys will be in the room when Im doing Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana so that I can get an adjust into it.
With the heat and the sweat I was really able to lengthen my spine in all the bends which felt good.
And then there was the Marichyasana's A-C pretty much routine had a brief assist in c in the bind. And then D hit. I tried to get as close to at least the prepare for D which in my case isnt very far. then I was asissted . So there are three guys that do adjustments. 1st is Eddie ji, 2nd is Randy, and 3rd is Barry.
Barry worked with me today and for some reason he gets me the closest that I come to taking the full asana. Ive been talking about how my thigh has been sore form my foot pressing into it , well today that wasnt the case and I was able to bind on the right side (with him basically wrapped around me) now the left side was a completely different story I could barely touch fingertip to fingertip. My breathing was short and gaspy due to the fact that my foot isnt in the right position. Barry said that would go away once my hip opens up. God only know whaen that will happen. I think I need to ask where the opening needs to take place is it the front the side or the rear area of the hip I think this would help me visualize whats going on in my body.
I also think that the chunk around my middle (veryy little; ) might also be getting in the way.
Alls I can do is keep showing up it'll click, Ive been reading the board and it seems like people have gone to chiro practors to get the lower back adjusted to help with this pose. It sounds liek an idea but Id rather not, Ill see what time does and if she dont step up then maybe I'll consider the chiro.
As directed by Eddie yesterday I did Navasana then I was done. I forgot Uttana Padasana.
As I was drifting off to sleep last night I realized that I had TOTALLY forgotten Sirsasana.
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 13, 2005
Monday
No practice yesterday, but I did practice at home with a Darby's Primary series dvd. It was okay I worked up a sweat and even felt like I hade made some progress in Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana and Marichyasana D. The only problem was that it was freezing in my room.
Its really really hot and humid in the city so I had the AC on all night so that I could sleep. And it didnt heat up very quickly. I went thru Navasana played around with Kurmasana and wondered how on earth Im going to learn Bhuja Pindasana. Skipped closing poses (the phone rang) and that was it.
We had people over the night before playing cards and drinking beer so I felt like crap from that, but I did get some time on the mat in so it wasnt a lost day.
Today’s practice was pretty good! I think it might have something to do with the fact that I slept in ben gay again. I was geting some really good stretches in and there was minimal soreness.
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana = Getting much better my leg is getting higer and my standing leg is staying strong.
Utthita Parsvasahita = Improving but I lose balance pretty easily.
Marichyasana A-C = Really good taking them all on my own with binding. Now I just need some time for my body to release into a good stretch.
Marichyasana D = OUCH OUCH OUCH Adjusted and was able to get into a bind on the right side no such luck on the left side. Less pain though so progress is being made. Still pretty painful.
I think part of the problem is that I start thinking about the asana right before Im getting into it, so with Mari D I imagine it to be impossible and then it IS impossible, painful what ever I happen to think its going to be it is.
The same with Utthita Parsvasahita I start to think about losing my balance or how hard it is to balance and then I lose it.
Lession = Less thinking!
Eddie asked if I had tried Navasana and said that I should take navasana next time which I take to mean from now on. So that’s cool!
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 10, 2005
Friday
I almost started this entry with a "boy how tired am I.." line. But I will refrain, or will I?Anyway, this morning at practice a few of the regulars werent there, probably because Eddie ji wasnt there he had graduations to attend. We did Mysore instead of led classes, which is probably a good thing. I would be a zombie right now if I had gone thru the whole primary series.
I am beginning to like Mysore better then led classes because I can take my time. I look foward to having the series completely comitted to memory, then the practice will be more focused more my own. Instead of stopping, pausing, thinking and moving on. Suryanamaskaras are the best becasue they are instinctual so they feel graceful and I can concentrate on the breath/motion linkage. Right now this is the spiritual apex in my practice once I know the series better I think that the awakening will lengthen.
Today I noticed that I am getting into the habit of breathing through my mouth. NOT GOOD!
I contain it to those times that I am "pausing" from my practice, wiping the sweat from my face, adjusting my rug whatever. I dont breath thru my mouth when I am in the flow. But its still not a good thing to be doing.
I jumbled up the flow twice today once in the seated postures and once in the closing postures.
Not a big deal I corrected my mistakes, I think its because I am BEAT beat I tell you. Not to mention that my thighs are killing me, its from the adjustments in Maichyasana D. I was given some really good advice about how to get into a better half lotus position. First you lift the foot while the knee is out at a 90 degree angle then move the kneee forward while your foot is still being lifted by your hands which makes it easier to bring you knee closer to the center and place the heel right below your navel. IT certainly helped and I think will help in many other positions as well. Still my ankle bone mashed into my thigh and its kinda painful at the moment
Im going to see Aimee Mann tonight and I am not looking forward to it. Its general admission which means Im going to be standing all night and I am already tired. With these legs and all.
I love her so Ill make it through but oy vey.
No practice tomorrow or sunday but I am going to practice at home on sunday.
Sleeping in LATE tomorrow like 8:00 or 8:30 woo hoo.
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 9, 2005
Thursday
Here is a bit of a conversation I had yesterday morning with a gent that was coming into the Shala as I was leaving."You made it!"
" I did, I wish I had gone a little farther though."
"Well the important thing is that you made it."
And boy is that true! This morning I almost didnt get out of bed.
This six day a week thing is kicking my butt, but I got out of bed and made it down to the shala. I love yoga. Today I started with the 6 am crowd but took a lot of time getting into a few poses so a few people that started well after me caught up!
Binding in half lotus is beginning to be a reality, Im getting closer and closer on my own. When Im adjusted in the seated version it starts by moving my bent knee in closer which gets my foot in a better position. I dont think about this on my own but Im going to try and remember to do it tomorrow. Hopefully that will do the trick.
Oh and I got Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana on my own this morning! I wasnt quite as graceful as the pic in the link but Im getting there. I know this sounds obvious but I breathed my way into it. I exhaled my leg straight in front of me (Im not leaning foward yet, baby steps) and was able to bring it pretty high and I turned to the side ON MY OWN! Very exciting.
Mairchyasana D is a killer, today Assistant adjusted me into position. OUCH! My right ankle was mashing into my leg and it hurt. I almost whimpered. My breath was that of a hyper ventilating person. But I was close on both side, fingers touched. Then I did Navasana which for whatever reason wasn't as hard as it normally is.
Didn't forget Yoga Mudra in closing poses! Baddha Padmasana just isnt a possibility for me yet.The fatigue was written all over my face, a couple people that were coming in as I was leaving gave sympathetic smiles I hope looking forward to what was to come for them.
"Practice and all is coming." SKPJ
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 8, 2005
Wednesday
Ive discovered that I can get up at 5:00 and still make it to the shala with plenty of time for a 6:00 start even with a quick rinse off in the shower before I leave! So I am waking up a whole 15 minutes later!I know yesterday I said I wanted to start a little later so that I could get help in a couple of poses, well its not happening, I started at the same time today and will probably continue to do the same.
I did do more Surya's today 5 of each A and B. So I was more limber by the time I got to the troublesome poses. However I struggled with the binds but made progress, I didnt actually bind but Im getting closer and I should be able to take them on my own soon.
Also, I found that if I stand on the floor to do Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana I am able to get a lot closer then when on my mat so I will start flipping my mat back from now on.
I am resigned to making these thing happen for myself. I can see the progress that I make on my own and feel like I can continue if necessary to do so. Although I do look forward to adjustments when they happen.
Marichyasana D was challenging again Teach assisted me today and I was able to almost take the pose, (Not Quite) and then I was done. It wasnt a ton but I did make progress.
I think Im going to do Navasana from now on before starting finishing poses. (It is summer and a little ab work wouldnt hurt.)
I forgot Yoga Mudra AGAIN! Oh well.
No led class on Friday and NO class on Sunday.
Posted by jody at 9:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 7, 2005
Tuesday
So I think I am going to start practice a little later from now on. Teach and his assistant dont arrive until around 6:30. By which time I am already past both Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana both of which I seriously need help on.Im definately making progress on UHP I can actually straighten out my legs and with help I can lean over them , but on my own its just not happening...yet. I think that at this point its about my hamstrings lengthing. There is a point on the standing postures where phsycologically I tense up out of fear of hurting my hamstrings. I have to consciously
ABP is coming along too, everything except for the bind is happening for me in this pose.
I need to concentrate on getting a good hamstring stretch during SuryaNamaskara (s) to get my hips and hamstrings loose so that my foot goes into proper position. I am closer when trying to grab my left foot than my right. I think its going to come down to time and practice
lets see what happens later this week. Today was first practice after two days off and my rubberband muscles snap back within in that time,. hopefully it will get easier as the week progresses.
Got into Mari C had an adjustment on the first side but was able to get into it on my own on the left side.
I actually got into Mari D on both sides!! ( After I was pulled and bent and twisted by the assistant.) It was pretty intense I can tell you that. I wasnt able to slow down my breating after we had gotten me into the pose. It was like I was a spring bout ready to pop and we had to try and hold me together. But hey Ill take it. It all comes back to the hips for me, this pose was more difficult becasue my foot (in lotus) isnt in the area that is most condusive to a full twist.
My heel isnt directly beneath my navel so the bent leg instead of folding over the toes is folding over the arch and further back creating more space thus harder to get into the pose.
Practice, Practice Practice.
After that I was done, closing postures and I was outta there.
The back room (finishing room) is so different from the front room, for one thing its much brighter and much smaller too.
Oh I met yet another person today very nice lady that was next to me on Sunday before last and pressed my foot into her leg during Supta Parsvasahita, which is the nicest thing during class. Its very crowded and you dont know if your neighbor is going to be bothered or not if you end up with you foot/ankle on thier leg.
All three of the instructors I had taken class with at the gym were there today its always nice to see them. I actually spoke to one of them on the way out. He mentioned how nice it was to have a couple of led classes during the week, they are new. I bet its a summer thing.
It is nice becasue it creates a real sense of unity among everybody at the Shala.
Oh and he mentioned that he noticed that I hadnt been asked to finish early.
I was really excited about that, I know its a personal journey but it made me feel good!
On the way to class today I was such a nag to myself, I have a zit on the end of my nose and I know its silly but I was getting down on myself for having to meet all these new people with a zit on my nose. You would think I was 12, its funny typing it out but at 5:30 am it was serious business!
Namaste
( I hope I can get this on Ashtangi.net soon)
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June 6, 2005
Monday
Moon DayPosted by jody at 9:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 5, 2005
Sunday
What a glorious weekend! I spent yesterday at C&T's beach house and it was soo hard to leave. (I am sunburned, I was on the beach for a bout two hours and Im red!) But wanted to make practice this morning and Im glad I did. Tomorrow is a moon day so no practice. I might take a led class at the gym, the more opprotunity to memorize the sequence the better.Todays practice was okay, I was no where near Mari D today.
Again its amamzing to me the ebb and flow of my practice some days I am so close
to getting a pose and others like today there is noway in hell I could get into it.
I did get two "good jobs"'s once in in Prasarita Padottanasana A and Mari C.
I was able to get into very coarse emulations of both on my own. Teach helped me with both on Friday.
Jump thrus were not happeneing at all. I think I got one good one that was it.
Its not helping that I cant seem to find a happy medium when it comes to mat/rug combo.
My rug as I mentioned doesnt have any traction, my black mat is too thick and I sink down when I lift up to prepare to jump back. I actually might try my rug alone with a regular carpet pad to keep it from sliding all over the floor. If I have to spray the whole thing with water so that my feet dont slip so be it.
The rest of practice was some what non descript. I am getting better at seated balance poses, even if they are in the distant future. Anyway, off to enjoy another beautiful NYC day!
Namaste
Posted by jody at 9:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 3, 2005
Friday
Good Christ I made it!Last night I think I got about 2 hours sleep TOPS!
Between my roomate sleeping with his t.v on all night and
the crazy lady upstairs I was awake all night. No joke.
It didnt help matters much that my left leg is sore.
None the less I still made it to class this morning.
It was a led class so that was good because I didnt have to think about
where I was at in the series. However, it was pretty darn hard!
With assistance I was able to bind on both sides in
Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
Ardha badda Padma Paschimottasana.
I hope that by the end of next week I'll be able to bind on my own.
Its just that I dont seem to have the "sense" of where my toe is at and looking to see where its at seems to get me out of the pose, if that makes sense. Once Im assisted its not that much of a stretch from my fingers to my toes. In other poses (Marichyasana) once I had help the first time I was able to sense the direction I needed to reach, no such luck with these ones .. yet
I was able to get into all but Marichyasana D (with a little help) and I think that is exactly where I will stop next week on my own. I really cant get any farther than that.
The trick is that there are subtle nuances of each asana that determine sucess at taking them. For instance in the Marichyasana's its very easy to think force, forcing into the twist and forcing forward around the leg when the truth is that its more about breathing and deepening the twist and forward movement on the exhale. Which sounds great now but somehow I forget in the moment and end up redfaced and not quite getting into the pose on my own.
Backbends were particularly challenging for me today, probably because I was tired and my rug really doesnt have enough traction so I dont feel confident which means that Im not fully taking the pose. I think Ill just continue to move the rug before backbends so that I feel comfortable .
Tattooed guy who assists on Fridays helped me out with my last one and it felt good.
I think I am using my back as a hinge and not spreading the arch evenly through my torso.
The truth is that Im not quite sure of the mechanics of doing just that spreading it out.
Oh well Im just glad that Ive not been asked to move to the back room. Which happened to someone again today (last Sunday too). Im going to take that as Im doing an adequate job. Which makes me happy.
Once we had begun the closing poses I realized that there was STEAM rising from my body!
At first I couldnt figure out what it was but then it hit me I was steaming! I sweat so much in class I kinda feel bad for the folks that have to give me adjustments. I wonder if they catch alot of colds I would imagine so.I think as I progress I wont sweat quite as much but for now I leave the shala dripping, Im sure I look lovely too.
Oh yeah I also met another person today as we were leaving. Nice guy I think might be english judging from his accent.
Namaste
Practice and all is coming! Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Posted by jody at 9:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 2, 2005
Thursday
Didn't make it to practice this morning. I woke up on time no problem but could not get myself out of bed. I bathed in Ben Gay lastnight my bed reeks of it and I have it all over my legs today. Nobody has said anything about it so it must not be that bad. Hopefully between the rest and the the mess tomorrows led class will be rockin'!Tonight I am going to watch TV in Gomukhasana (sans the hands) to work on opening my hips.
Hopefully with enough of that I will be able to take lotus more deeply making it easier to both bind behind my back and get into Mari D.
Oh in my earlier post I mentioned getting into Marichyasana C but I meant Marichyasana D.
Posted by jody at 12:14 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 1, 2005
Wednesday
Nearing the end of my first week of Mysore practice at the new studio, its been really great, not at all scary as I thought it might be. I dont know if I had visions that everyone would stop their practice and start laughing if I couldnt take Kurmasasna or what. People are begining to say hello and I had a lovely chat with one of the 6 AM regulars this morning. Apparently there are a few people who have graduated from practicing at the gym to the Shala.I must admit I do feel as though Im cheating a bit. I havent comitted the sequence to memory and I have had to find someone who is at, or a posture ahead of where I am in the series and follow them. This has proven to be useful for the obvious reason (letting me know what the hell I should be doing) but also in gauging the length of my breaths. I think that my idea of 5 breaths might be too short.
The problem with this "cheating" is that Im not as focused on my own breath and practice. I have to make an effort to "peek" to make sure Im still in line. This is a temporary situation and hopefully soon my body will help me remember the series.
The funny part is that my neighbor who does yoga at the shala and I were chatting lastnight and I told him about my "method", he smiled and understood, then this morning who is assisting with adjustments....my neighbor. Oh well.
I am daily amazed at my progress, I think its a combination of the atmosphere (there is something to be said for not hearing the thump of house music like at the gym)
and the time you can take to get into an asana. I am this close to getting Marichyasana C not the eloquent type rather the huffing puffing red faced type, but its a start.
Teacher told me today that Im too tense and that I can reach no problem once I let the tension go.
Here are my asana mantra's
1. Be here now. Helps me when Im fidgiting once Ive taken the pose and trying to "perfect" it.
2. Let tension go. When I am tensing up trying to get into a pose.
I hope tomorrow I can take Mari C because I would really like to continue on in the series.
The good news is that on Fridays and Sundays there is a led class. Cant wait!
Posted by jody at 2:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack