Week ending 10/27

Sunday (led class at the shala)
Such a wonderful feeling to be in a class full of other prana :)
This was also a teacher training class so there was lots of adjusting going on!
A former student of mine came with me to class too...I love sharing the shala :)

Monday (ladies' holiday)
Tuesday (ladies' holiday)

Wednesday (home)
practiced in the afternoon, felt nice to get back on my mat after 2 days off

Thursday (shala)
so nice to be back in the shala
Mari series worked up a lot of emotion today, flooding of feelings/memories from distant and not so distant past. That didn't feel good :( The twist in Mari C felt light and lifted during adjustment, but the release literally made me feel queasy for a minute or two. Spent the rest of the day slightly agitated.

Friday (home)
short practice through standing series
so many other things on my mind
I'm in a state of "have to do" so on one hand I'm frustrated with the length of my practice, the other hand is patting me on the back for pulling my mat out in the first place.

Week ending 10/20/12

Monday (moon day)

Tuesday (shala)
Stomach issues stopped my practice short
Practiced through  Parshvottanasana
Spent the rest of the day home close to the bathroom :(

Wednesday (no practice)
My practice time was traded in for a trip to the doctor
Referred to a gasteroenterologist, maybe a new development in my intolerance
Maybe it's just routine while you pass the sun for the 40th time :)

Thursday (shala)
Practice was a treat this morning
Just the right amount of stretch and work
But I made it through closing sequence and remembered I was supposed to start working on Sirsasana
Good thing there is always tomorrow :)

Friday (home)
so distracted during today's practice
I'm glad I took practice today though...distraction less irksome once I was finished

Week ending Oct 13

Monday 10/8 (home practice)
practiced through ardha baddha padma paschimottanasana, closing series
going up in urdhva dhanurasana felt great, staying there not so much
rolled out of halasana
could not lift in utpluthih, arms were jelly
oil bath residual?

Tuesday 10/9 (shala)
Smooth transitions from Chaturanga to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana several without resting my legs. When I was able to do this, I felt more supported in my upper body and hands felt more grounded. Worked on recreating that grounded feeling whether or not my legs rested during transition
Marichyasana C adjustment today was the most 'ease' I have ever felt in that positon. Working on opposition of forces in my legs, internally rotating thigh while pushing the foot outwards.
Entire closing series felt strong
LIFTED in utpluthih, jelly arms are gone :)

Wednesday, 10/10 (shala)
I really took my time in practice this morning. I was up and out of the house earlier which put me at the shala earlier...leaving me a sense of no need to be rushed, so nice.
During Surya Namaskaras, I focused deeply on one breath/one movement and drishti. At onte point, I felt like it took me forever to get through all 10 and for a second or two concerned myself with it, but only a second or two :)
Did an additional series of Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana, working to drop my knee and reach my toe.
Virabhadrasana II felt exceptionally strong today. I didn't adjust my feet when moving from I to II and felt very grounded and could feel the "work" happening.
Focusing on the internal rotation of my thigh of the straight leg in forward folds as given me a new found groundedness through the hip helpful in all the forward folding postures.
Working on lotus in closing series

Thursday, 10/11 (shala)
practiced on only my sticky mat today, no rug what a difference in urdhva dhanurasana
sticking with the repetitions of Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana and Marichyasana B
thought a lot about drishti today, especially in  Urdhva Mukha Svanasana shifting my gaze from the nose to the third eye just sorta happened so I went with it :)
Again, urdhva dhanurasana felt fantastic today, no slipping of the hands and no tension in my back

Friday, 10/12 (no practice)

Saturday, 10/13 (shala)
Today is Yoga-versary! The Shala is 3 years old and we celebrated with led primary series class with Krista.

Yes, my inner T-Rex is still working on Marichyasana C

The droplets of sweat that danced on my mat were beautiful and I felt as thought I practiced with a smile through my entire series. The unison breath of 30+ people all taking practice together was so energizing and I even started Sirsasana, Krista says we'll make that our focus this week :) The most amazing part was the awareness I had over the muscle groups in my back as she talked me into my prep pose: "engage your lats," and I felt them engage," lengthen your traps towards your waist," and I FELT them do that as she said "yes, just like that." My practice has definitely brought a heightened sense of awareness to the way that I move and why. I.love.that
:)

Looking forward to my oil-bath day.

Week Ending 10/6

Monday: 10/1(practice)

Tuesday: 10 /2 (shala)
Shanna is back from Mysore!
I've been working on Marichyasana C since late spring, early summer. It's become easier to deal with since I gave up my desire to bind (funny how things work that way) Shanna put me in a new position this morning, placing my left hand under my right foot as I twist to the right (and vice versa on the opposite side). This constricted my breathing a bit again as it deepened my twist.
All is coming

Wednesday: 10/3 (shala)
totally forgot my balancing poses!
Didn't realize it until I was into my seated postures
Am I supposed to go back?
Marichyasana C with the new foot hold definitely sends an ache into my hip flexors. I mentioned this to Shanna and she clapped and said "goody"
okay, at least it's not a "bad" ache :)

Thursday: 10/4 (home practice)
video taped this practice
Mark this day in history as a day I saw my body and liked what I saw :)

Friday: 10/5 (shala)
Not in a hurry today, no place to be after practice so I wasn't worried about time
Talked to Shanna about missing my balancing postures on Wednesday, not to worry, it happens, it won't be a habit.
Marichyasana C 2nd side, my fingers touched (with help)!
Woo :)

Week ending 9/29/12 Govinda Kai

Monday  9/24 (no practice)
Woke up with horrible pain in my right hip and down right leg, nauseous and dizzy

I just returned from the Chiropractor and this is what he says...

Sacroiliac Subluxation on the right side causing piriformis to pinch the sciatic nerve

recommendation: Ice, Aleve, Rest, another adjustment chiropractic adjustment mid week

contraindications: forward folding, back bending, standing twists, seated twists

:( he took away my entire practice and on the week of Govinda Kai! I'm not even sure whether or not to come for lectures as I have such a hard time sitting, standing or being still for any length of time at all without discomfort and an upset stomach due to that discomfort.

Do I take rest? Do I practice gently? Do I cry...because I've done a little bit of that already :)

Tuesday 9/25 (shala)

practice was so wonderful this morning! Govinda said it must have been a miracle :)

External rotation of my thigh is still quite sore, I've chosen to stand at work rather than sit since sitting causes a great deal of discomfort to my lower glute and hamstring but I'm walking without hitting the floor or crying and that is great progress :)

 

Wednesday 9/25

"would you like to bind?"

Govinda asked me this question as I worked on my 3rd repetition of Marichyasana C

"every day" is what I silently said in my head but my response was something along the lines of "we can try"

and so we did :)

 

Thursday 9/27

Assisted drop backs out of the blue

good thing too because it happened too fast for me to be scared

 

Friday 9/28

Practice all week has been later than I usually practice. Starting at 8:30 means it is warmer in the room and the sun is up shining through the windows...both lead to more sweat. It also means I've had my morning cup of coffee. I read somewhere that Sharath has a cup of coffee each morning before practice as well, "no coffee, no prana." So I'm not sure which of the 3 factors are contributing to the added sweat but I likey :)

Week ending 9/15/12

Th Sept 6 (shala)

Right hamstring prevents full extentsion on right side parivritta trikonasana

adjustment in utthita parshvakonasana 2nd side: the slight pulling back of my right hip sent a sensation up the right side of my body and I immediately felt it in my right shoulder

hard time balancing again in the Utthita Hasta postures

Super strong feeling in purvottanasana again, feels like flying

Right hip sore in utthita parshvasahita and ardha badha padma paschimottanasana

Right hamstring not happy in Janu Shrirshasana B

2nd Side Marichyasana B struggle to bind again

5 x Marichyasana C, breathing more easily, feeling the twist more deeply. slight soreness under kidneys after the release, mula bandha engaged?

Urdhva Dhanurasana, feeling much stronger here, feet feel square neck feels comfortable

Karna Pidasana - deepest I've ever felt in this posture, felt my neck get fuller extension, heard little pops but did not feel pain possibly between c3 - c6, the noise did startle me

Sat Sept 8 (hotel practice)

spent 8 hrs in car on 8/31, definitely needed this practice

had to stop after first Surya Namaskara B for bm

practiced through Purvattonasana then closing sequence no shoulder stands

breathing very even through practice

I do not like practicing in the A/C

Sun Sept 9 (home practice)

spent 8 hrs in car today

short practice through opening/basic and closing sequence

Mon Sept 10 (no practice)

Right wrist, elbow and shoulder sore

Tue Sept 11 (shala)

Right wrist sore

Right hamstring prevents full extentsion on right side parivritta trikonasana

able to balance again in the Utthita Hasta postures but cannot take full extension of Right leg due to tight hamstring

paschimottanasana B - right wrist sore sore when reaching for the bind

ardha badha padma paschimottanasana felt so good today on BOTH sides. took my time getting into the pose and waited to be settled before counting my breath. Right hip was warm and comfortable

Right hamstring sore in Janu Shrirshasana B forward fold, adjustment helped. Remember to be mindful of folding forward and avoid leaning to the left side

4 x Marichyasana C, definitely feeling more comfortable here since I let go of the "need to bind", find I'm more focused on evening out my breath in the twist, traps tight

Urdhva Dhanurasana could only do one. could NOT put pressure down on right wrist, searing/very hot feeling up the right forearm

Finished with closing sequence (no shoulder stands, had to leave for work)