A Week of YOGA!

Tuesday 05/15:

 I did the wonderful core salutations and the steady and confidence sequence: a lot of standing poses, half moon, warrior 2, and 3, a locust pose. Then moved on to the backbending routine I always did.

Wednesday 05/16;

 LED ashtanga. It was VERY HUMID. I felt like fainting. It was a great workout in a way that it felt like when I was training for a triathlon - happy but tired. My Garbha flowed beautifully. I finished fast because it was nearing the next class.

 Thursday 05/17:

Core salutation and hip opening sequence: lizard, low lunge, pigeon, bandha konasana, etc. Felt great. Tried LBH sequence as well. Then the normal backbending sequence. Upper back still has cement on it. Tried a few of the second series poses up to Salabhasana.

 Friday 05/18:

Mula bandha workshop. This was great. Learned about the KCC principles - knee chest chin and cobra that helps us to get the mula bandha correct. And their application in almost every poses - especially the lift off. We were mostly doing handstands - against the wall with a bolster to pad. The teacher helped me to lift off but my abs were not strong enough to hold the legs halfway. Then the half handstand to practice the tip off. Then the pushing against the wall - that was good to engage the feel of  my abs working. We also worked on pushing the chest back, rounding the chest pushing off from the earth to get that strength to lift.

Saturday 05/19:

Vinyasa based ashtanga class. It was superb! We did the funky tripod with one leg off and the prep poses are: the bakasana on forearms, the one leg off crow, the tripod headstand. Then mayurasana (which I NEARLY got, balance for a milisecond). Also did one legged Urdhva Dhanurasana... that was hard to balance! It was awesome!

Sunday 05/20:

Lift off workshop again. It was cool - practiced the lift off balance against the wall, which I did, but the disorientation really failed me. I was also to scared to do the dropback handstand as well. We practiced jump through and back using the blanket - sliding the blanket through and the slipperiness really helped in having us to use our abs and really round the back. going to do this often. Then the Bhujapidasana, titibasana and bakasana transition. I target to at least try to do a jump back from Bakasana. Can't wait to regain strength!

 Later in the evening an ashtanga workshop as well. We did the standing sequence which was tiring and then the vinyasas to go through  - I like the half lotus vinyasa. Going to try the Chakrasana roll back as well. Need more strength!

Greatest Practice... Yet

To be honest yesterday was one of the best practice ever...

 It is funny, because I didn't see it coming at all. I wasnt feeling strong; physically, emotionally, mentally. I contemplated for a long time whether I want to start practicisng because I know the work I need to do. For one and a half hour, it's all my body and breathe and focus and work - it all seemed daunting. But I gently told myself - just sun salutations at worst. Work up to standing pose if you feel like it. Or even better, up to navasana... or bandha konasana, yoga practice milestones. Finishing was not an option at that time.

 But starting into surya namaska A I was feeling good. B felt even better, instead of feeling tired, or challenged, B felt like an old friend. Practiced on keeping the inner elbows facing front to press my index finger down on chaturangga, a helpful trick given by my teacher.

 Standing poses went well. I was working on the breathing. Utthita Eka Padasana felt easier on BOTH legs. I usually have reservations for this poses, and the 2 prior. But they were thankfully easy.

 come dandasana. Jump throughs were flowy! Still need work to 'float' but at least I wasn't dragging my whole foot or thumping them on the way to swing through. I actually swung through 60% of the time! My jump backs - or Lolasana, were SO MUCH BETTER -  i could actually swing my legs through before lack of strength succumbed to dragging my feet back to plank. O was thanking GOD all the time. Alhamdulillah. Really. Before I know it it was time for Navasana, then Bhujapindasana (which felt lighter) and Garbha Pindasana.

 Let me tell you.  I FLOWED 9 times, Beautifully. No jerky movements, but easy, rapid, fluid breathing in and out falling back and riding up. Oh the pleasure and joy bursting out from my body. I was gloriously smiling while doing my Kukutasana.

 This is why I love ashtanga. why I am GLAD, very, that I found it when I did. What a mind blowing, mentally stimulating exercise. Is it exercise? Because I started today's practice with very low morale and mood and self love and ended it feeling I could be - I want to be - a better person, a better WIFE. And I keep thanking God. Because I am able. No other workout made me feel like it. Except maybe cycling.

 Maybe also because I bought a new mat today - Manduka Pro in Sage Black, superlong! I LOVED it. Thick, steady, solid, and dependable. My cats love it too. My heels don't hurt anymore!

Compiled entries

Monday:

 Greetings from turkmenistan. Even with all the travelling, I will not abandon my practice. In a way, while doing these calming, familiar poses, I thought to myself how lucky I was to be discovering ashtanga when I did. It's  the most efficient exercise for me, with having to be moving about, and the fact that I am now covered. Swimming was the hardest to continue after my covering - there is no way I could swim without exposing skin, which I am trying to minimize. Running poses no problems, except that I hate running alone when you live in an area with too many guys (ogt) or an unfamilliar territory. Plus it's mentally challenging. Sometimes you're lazy and a km seems like forever. Cycling requires an effort with the logistics. Not only I have to drive to the RV place, I have to make sure everything is ready. This is the most tiring workout options, but the hardest to let go.

 Yoga provides all that in the comfort of my room.  For 1 and a half hour, I am guaranteed to get a good, physically challenging and mentally calming workout. And for no reason, finishing the workout gives me a high buzz. It's a good feeling, a sense of achievement. And instantly my spirits and mood are lifted.

 Monday, arrived at the Onshore Gas Terminal, with my cozy cabin room, I set up the primary series. It was a cold night, and I hardly sweat. How impossible was it to practice on a yogitoes without being sweaty. It wa slike gripping silk. I practised up to Bandha Konasana, telling myself this is as good as it gets.

Tuesday:

Full Primary, with a pincha thrown in. Everything was ok, except I wished my Garbha Pindasana was better. That's always the issue I am working on. Bhujapidasana still escapes me. My jump throughs and jump backs though, were the best yet that night.

Thursday:
Full Primary. A little tired. I concentrated more on my bandhas and breathing. I only got probably 20% of trying to focus on my bandhas and breathing, sometimes losing focus. Garbha was veryyy sketchy. Bhujapidasana felt better. Lift up to jump back weaker, probably because I was tired. I was squirming in Shavasana... something I would want to work on in the future.

 Great week.

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Sunday. Morning practice after a while. I was tired, and sore from traveling, but i figured a little perky exercise would do me good.

 I definitely dedicated today's practice to concentration of the uddiya bandha and the breathing. I tried not to let my mind wander so much before I get it back to my breathing, and I tried hard to breathe with my lungs instead my stomach, therefore engaging my uddiya bandha. 30% of the time I could feel it strongly working, even begin to feel the heat working in my body.

 My jump through is getting better, or maybe the same. I noticed I wasnt really lifting up my butt in order to let my feet swing through my arms, instead letting my foot thump lightly on the mat before clumsily 'swinging' through. My jump back was weak today, maybe because of my arms, but I managed to lift my seat up almost everytime. My Bhujapidasana did not feel as great at last time I practiced, and my garbha was not that good. Nevertheless, I'm happy with my Supta Konasana and Uddiya Konasana.

 I am also working hard on my Shasana though. This time it kinda worked.

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I am back in Malaysia for a while. Went back last Wednesday.

Monday: Backbends and hoome practice. Simple and sweet
Wednesday: Full Primary. Enjoyed it.
Friday: Full Primary LED and then flight class. It was awesome. Did 8 limbed pose.
Saturday: 1 hour Hatha class. Relaxing.

Musings. and left out Navasana

I was excited to start Primary this morning. Maybe it's all the books I'm reading, or the high from yesterday's class, but I was looking forward to it.

 Everything was ok, my standing poses were strong, my focus were ok. My jump back is getting better, once i changed from exhaling when lifting to inhaling when lifting. My jump through has also improved, thank God cause I don't think I can survive another carpet burn on the outside of my left foot.

 I have forgotten to do Navasana! and it's when I'm in the shower that I remembered. So what do I do? Straight out of the shower, went and did 5 Navasana. Just because my abs needed the work. My Supta was better, need to not worry so much about my hair (really, now it sounds ridiculous) and work on getting the feet behind my head.

I wish Urdhva Dhanurasana would not feel that uncomfortable. I am trying now to work myself into 5 deep breaths for 3 counts instead of my ragged, harried 5 breaths. Maybe the next time it's 5 deep breaths for one round and then normal for the other 2. I need to do this because I am aware of the power of just pushing yourself through the hard ones. Who could forget the hard part of working my arms in the chaturangga to upward dog and then again in Lolasana? Hard work pays off. So longer, deeper wheel.

Recap

Wednesday:
 Yesterday was my comeback to Primary series after 4 days of leaving it. And since it's been a busy week, I literally have no energy. It was an intense practice, very technical. I was sweaty and hot and bothered and TIRED. Stopped until Janu sirsasana and I was glad for that. We did wheel and the finishing sequence and that was that.

 Friday: Full Primary
 It was good, but I was unbalanced and many things did not go right. My garbha was th eonly one I was happy for - could not even bind in Supta Kurmasana. I finished it fast and with no hanky panky.

 Saturday:
Vinyasa class It was cool! we did many variations of the arm balancing pose like Eka Pada Koundiyanasana I and II, one of which I kinda managed to nail- the one legged crow, etc. Gotta try that one out.

Restorative Monday

I realized that I am slowly embracing the yoga in my life - beyond the physical aspect. Yoga used to be a workout for me. I would get frustrated if I didn't sweat or ache from yoga. But now after reading into it for some time, yoga is much more than just asanas.

Yesterday was supposed to be my primary monday. But I had 6 injections done - for my overseas posting - and both my arms were achy and sore like the muscles are torn or something. Came back with no mood to even do primary, but my body was itching for some yoga.

So I listened to my body instead and worked on simple poses. Of course, this means I'd go to poses that I love - mainly the half moon pose (getting so much better in this I just cant believe it!) some warrior 1 and 2, Utkattasana, wall squat for leg strengthener. Then move on to my backbending sequence. Sphinx, Crocodile (for upper back), cobra.

I am now going to focus on opening my upper back as opposed to my lower back which will get work form wheel, etc. It's my thoracic spine that is stiff. I did the chair upper back pose and man, that was intense. But I believe I've improved a bit.

Feathered Peacock

I find it funny how the universe works. When your concious mind keeps on thinking about one thing - its keeps on appearing everywhere you look.

For me it is Pincha Mayurasana. You guys know how I managed to do that pose just last Thursday. It wasn't perfect nor was it lengthy, but it was enough for me to get the feel of being upside down of one of the most appealing poses that i have ever come across to. I guess it's really true what they say - when your mind is ready you will execute it.

Have been wondering how Pincha would feel like ever since I came across it months ago. I love the name - feathered peacock - and the elegance of that pose. I felt like trying it on a whim that Thursday because i felt strong, and because I wasn't really scared of falling that day. Needless to say, I am in love.

And ever since that Thursday, been coming across magazine articles, youtube videos and blog posts on Pincha. It's definitely more than just coincidental, the way it keeps popping up in front of my face in whatever I flip, click or read. It's amazing, and inspiring. Very. I feel like flipping one now just writing about it. But Ihave to be sensible. I do not want to overwork my arms.

My things to learn now though, is to keep my elbows from splaying out. I noticed it and have read about it enough that it is not a desirable effect you want while attempting to do pincha. I am going to try to practice with blocks this evening for my primary monday.

Anyway, I love how cycling warms up your body for Ashtanga. Did a 28k ride sunday, and came home to primary standing sequence. I contemplated doing a full one but since I'd be doing it on Monday I though I'd better be conservative.