Self Practice

Had the opportunity to attend an ashtanga workshop an Asheville ashtanga teacher was putting on this week. Its a 6 day workshop and I only had a chance to go friday morning. Really good group of people though, from my first impression. Would of been fun to have a chance to spend more time there but I am wall to wall with school work these days.

Anyways, the teacher putting on the workshop invited me to come when/if I could to demonstrate how I did the vinyasas. I was super honored to be asked to do this and somewhat shocked, too. I guess I don't consider many points of my practice to be worthy of demoing to people wanting to learn as much about the Practice as possible so they can effectively teach. But, I HAVE been working hard on my vinyasas so it felt really good to get recognition. Well, I was somewhat nervous showing how I did the liftups, jumpbacks, throughs, etc. But, it went well, I think.

Now I'm super sore from trying so hard and repeatedly showing the vinyasa. Feels really good, I love the sore muscle feel. Lately I haven't had that because my practice has become sort of day in day out same ole' same ole'. Its good to break things up and now I have more motivation to go further in the vinyasas. I am thinking about working more ardently at lifting into handstand from navasana. Seems do-able now, actually, if still quite a few months (years?) of HARD practice.

That's all thats going on in my yoga world. Back to school work for me!

Peace,
Andy

How does Yoga work without vinyasa? Its so much fun anyways, I don't think I could dispense with it. The temp of the room I practiced in this afternoon was 64, but I still worked up a pretty good sweat by navasana. Progressing into handstand with navasana is slow going still, but seems like I am unlocking some secrets. It IS a strength thing, partially, but a lot of it has to do with how you use the breath and pivoting forward, etc.

Well, jumpthroughs are progressing along, too. I have started pausing during some jumpthroughs for fun and to work a little strength. On the jumpbacks, I've started pausing and really extending the exhale once I land the feet, in chataranga. I feel like that really builds good strength and good form, too (it becomes obvious when you hold something that you must have good form).

I have lost sight of mula bandha as hardcore as I had a hold of it a few weeks ago. I don't know why this has left. Perhaps I need to more consciously engage it, although it doesn't really affect my practice as far as I can tell.

I also think its time to start working on dwi pada, but I am pretty comfortable with my practice as it is now. Perhaps thats all the more reason to add on some mayhem.