Practice

Well, I’ve been practicing regularly but not blogging regularly. Today’s practice was intense and concentrated, and I again broke a sweat, yay! Been practicing up to Supta K. Almost got a bind on the right side in Mari D today, what a surprise that was….not even close on the left side, but more open than usual. I remember David Williams saying something about going to the same depth on both sides to keep symmetry even if you can go farther into a pose on one side, i.e. only go as far as your stiff side permits on both sides. I can tell some opening is happening in the shoulder girdle and hips. Lots of strengthening happening in the core too. Feels good, but I’m kind of sore from 3 pretty intense practices in a row. Hoping to wrap up NaYoPracmo with another concentrated and hot practice.

Practice with David Swenson

I was feeling some lack of motivation for practice today, so I thought I would try to use the primary series DVD that I used to use in the early days of my Ashtanga practice. I’ve got to say it was very helpful to have someone guide me. Mostly for the pacing, which is rather fast, but I feel it got me out of a non-flow type spaced out practice space I’ve been in lately. I actually broke a pretty good sweat, which has been difficult in the cold room lately. Noticed some deepening in my twists in some good core strength in jumpbacks…also got more of the endorphin type high at the end of practice. I felt sort of ill afterwards, which has always been a good sign of detox for me, especially after the deepness of the twists. I actually craved healthy food like salad after practice! Lately I’ve been on a carbohydrate binge with the cold weather and snow!

Flagging Commitment

Its being very hard to get on the mat lately, let alone do a full on practice. The shoulder is still bothering me and its been quite aggravating to me to have to feel so ‘careful’ when practicing as not to tweak it out. I’ve got to say though that practice actually makes it feel better and alleviates much if not all of the pain. Strange as vinyasas caused the pain in the first place. I feel like I need to direct more attention and more discipline to the practice again. I’ve definitely plateaued.

I tried to squeeze in a practice this morning before my client and it consisted of a disappointing few sun salutations, twists and a couple of seated postures. Better than nothing I suppose. In order to practice the way I want to…I need, NEED to be getting up at 5:30am. That’s been the real challenge lately. With the winter deep freeze on its been difficult, and also the yoga room is not warming up very well in our poorly insulated apartment.

Excuses, excuses….I get tired of hearing my self type them.

Maybe its time to start going to the Shala again….

I need to commit not only to the practice, but to the routine and the potential sacrifices that go with having that regular morning practice. Not zoning in front of the TV at night, or in front of the internet, vigilance about meals (at least the evening one). Actually seems to come down to a matter of self-care, which has been flagging lately as well. Work has been hectic and super busy and that has been occupying much of the concentration and energy that used to be channeled into my own self-care and my practice. I’ve come to that place again where I need to make decisions and have boundaries that don’t sacrifice my own needs and well being to produce like a little worker bee. I KNOW that I am more productive at work when I am taking care of myself.

D

Catching up

Its been awhile since I blogged. Practice has continued, but my interest in blogging about it has definitely flagged. At any rate, Sunday at 4:30am I was struck by some kind of nasty stomach thing….didn’t sleep after that. Practice that day consisted of shoulder hip openers, some Sun salutes.

Monday: Primary to Navasana
Tuesday: Primary to Supta K. - body starting to feel ‘normal’ again. Have taken a short 3 day break from coffee consumption.

#15, #16, #17

Not been in the mood for blogging much. Here’s an update on this week’s practice.

#15 - a very brief series of hip openers, shoulder openers, and twists (20min)
#16 - Primary up to S. Kurmasana
#17 Primary up to Bhujapidasana - very stiff - practiced right after rolling out of bed…could have somehting to do with the cookies and pizzza!

note to self: sugar makes you stiff.

Hope all the other NaYoPracMo folks are doing well with their practice!

D

#12, #13, #14

Not much desire to blog lately. Practice #12 was again stiffy, but strong, almost nailed a jump back, feet got stuck at a critical moment.

#13 Sat- no formal asana practice, Chanted Bija Sounds to align and activate the chakras, sitting meditation for 45 minutes.

#14 Sun - Practiced up to supta kurmasana, concentrating on releasing tension from the neck and softening the eyes in asanas. Felt quite weak and stiff, but got more flexible and strong as practice went on. Tweak something in the shoulderstand sequence, right below my left shoulder blade. Pain is currently radiating down my back. Not sure how that came about. I’ll add that to the list of injuries: sore right shoudler, sore left knee, sore left mid back…

Its getting a bit discouraging to be hurting myself even when I’m going slow and trying to bring immense amounts of mindfulness to how I am doing the postures.

Off to the bathroom to take a few ibuprofen…

Namaste

Practice #11

Another stiffy practice. Was able to get up this morning and get to the mat, which I hope will be a sign of future morning practices to come. There is an interesting Meme started by Tim on his site and if I have time later, or in the next few days I will post my story.

Practiced up to Supta Kurmasana today. I think I may hang out there for awhile until I can do a passable version of it. Off to work!

Practice #10

Short afternoon practice. Very busy today at work, felt physically drained, thus short practice. Did SNs Standing, Finishing. Very flexible, not very strong tonight. My intention is to get back to a regular morning practice. Hopefully, starting tomorrow.

Noticed that the tenderness/weakness in my left knee can be alleviated in padmasana or half lotus position by concentrating on keeping the left side of my pelvis tipped in a neutral position, i often twist a bit causing the left side to tip forward and this seems to increase pressure on the inner side of left knee. Consciously pulling the pelvis back to neutral and grounding through the left sit bone much of the discomfort here was alleviated.

Namaste.

Practice #9

Late afternoon practice. The shoulder pain seems to now be primarily from stiffness. Initially it feels stiff and painful, then by the end of the Surya Namaskars, the pain is virtually gone. Paid special attention to vinyasas, as the shoulder can get tweaked there. Have really put alot of awareness in Uddiyana and Mula bandha. Very consciously and strongly engaging the locks takes much of the strain off of the shoulders. All in all felt fairly strong and flexible today. Stil a bit on the stiff side. Got up to Upavistha Konasana, and went to finishing series and ended. Been wobbly and wonky in Karna Pindasana, Urdvha Padmasana, and Pindasana. Had a very hard time staying in these due to stiffness in lower back and upper back. Backbends were somewhat deep today, but felt quite painful until the end when my back seemed to open. Going to consistently work with 4-5 per practice. 3 just isn’t enough.

That’s it for today. Got Ashtanga NY from Netflix looking forward to viewing that tonight, though I’m sure my partner will be very bored. She doesn’t know its part of attempt to secretly indoctrinate her into the practice of Ashtanga.

Hope everyone had a great practice today!

Namaste.

Practice #8

Woke up this morning feeling like someone beat me up. Sore, stiff, and largely energy-less. Seemed like it took me until early afternoon to wake up. Face some frustrations at work today, but managed to get alot done, and all the prep I needed for the next day’s meeting.

Practice today consisted of Sun Sals, Standing, up to Triang Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana. Finishing. Been working on balancing the weight I carry between the left and right hand, arm, shoulder. I worked on this in particularly in Sirsasana. I seem to often overuse the right side and underuse left. I believe this is why the right shoulder is now sore. Pain was much better today. Initially it hurt quite alot, but as I got warmed up and stretched out the pain disappeared. A little bit is back as I stiffen up in the colder temperatures after practice.

Namaste.