Backbend

Yesterday I worked with my backbends.

 Warmed up with core salutations.
 Then did the strength and grace sequence:
 utkatasana,
 standing forward bend,
 high lunge,
 downward dog,
 and forearm plank,
each for 15 steady breaths

then
locust
bow
headstand (in lieu for the tripod headstand)
ends in balasana

Then I worked on the sequence with high lunge variation, eka pada raja kapotasana variation (this one really pulled my quads) and then a while on the pincha mayurasana variation, where you're supposed to melt your whole legs on the wall.

I thought it would be easy, but it is hard! First of all I had a hard time figuring out which way was up and down. And then trying to get my butt there was the problem, either my lower back or my shoulders aren't open enough. But I managed after the third try... just lightly grazing my butt on the wall. This pose definitely going to be one of my favorites to work on.

Then the urdhva dhanurasana against the wall. Melting my heart to the wall isn't easy, could feel the lower back responding to the gentle squeeze.

Then I did the normal backbend sequence: sphinx, cobra, locust, bow and my favorite - camel.

 This time my camel were nice. I practiced really lifting my heart up and trusting my lower back could take it and FELT the difference. No intense feeling, just nice uplifting sensation. Lifting up I tried engaging my lower back and butt to pull me up and it worked! Definitely going to try this from now on, to strengthen my back and work on dropback.

Loved the session yesterday :)

falling in love again

I have fallen in love with yoga again, even with ashtanga.

Been starting over again with my practice. This time I'm taking other classes as well, just to balance out the demanding rigors of ashtanga. A normal and basic hatha class, and a yin class. It was nice. I have accepted the fact that my ashtanga practice will never be the same - never be able to do the same finishing sequence again. But I think this is what my yoga means to me. A means of self discovery and development, a practice where I can find a balance between loving my self, honoring my body and respecting my capabilities.

I have asked and researched and this is what I deduced:

Never an unsupported shoulderstand again. I have to do it propped on a blanket.

Half plough pose.

Knees to head, supported.

Lotus supported.

Fish supported.

All this until my neck are healed. Maybe in March.