1 Detox Yoga #3 from was challenging. There is no way I can get into the cool arm balances (well, except for Bakasana/Crow), bind my side angle, or take those optional pushups en route to Adho Mukha Svanasana/Down Dog. Lots of twisting and hip stretches--tight hips, back, and shoulders needed it. I stuck with it and stayed calm even with the kids alternating between giggling and howling as they ran around me and the dog and a cat or two parking on my mat staring a few times. Being still is hard. I'll work on Savasana--the iPod skipped to some, er, uncensored rap song and broke my focus. Okay, I dropped an s-bomb. It happens. Not very mature or reverent, but I'm being honest here. I found a chill yoga song, though, and at least laid still for a few minutes to end. It was good.
2 First Sunday of Advent; Hope candle lit today. Jivamukti Yoga 1. Shaky, falling out of a couple, and skipping headstand for lack of a free wall (more lack of ab strength to hold myself up sans support). Classic flow of standing poses to gentle inversions. The Sanskrit chant that opened and closed this one was really perfect: "Lokah samasta sukhino bhavantu" which translates to something along the lines of, "May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all." If that's not pushing myself to be more Christlike, nothing else is. I don't understand Christians who fear yoga philosophy and see it as a threat. I am calm, content, and feeling like jello at the moment.
3 Hip Opening Flow #3. Got up early, drank a cup of coffee and got right to it. Mornings are tough but quiet. I'm stiff, "all stove up" as my grandfather used to say, but my mind is quiet. The vinyasa flows had my arms and chest protesting, but it was pretty gentle. I had a 4 year old silly yogi watching and talking to me for a few minutes, fixed her breakfast, and came back to finish up. My balance was pretty rotten in Eagle and Warrior 3. Stuck a tripod headstand with my toes barely off the ground, but it was air nonetheless. Got loose enough to give Wheel 3 good goes and feel lifted in it. I am already noticing more calm throughout my day with less effort. I feel more sincere and am seeing the coming of Christmas through my children's eyes--after last year's grinchiness (on my part alone), I never dreamed I'd experience that childlike awe as an adult. Preparing for Christmas was more spend and stress, less spiritual. The contrast is proof that there is always hope--hope for more joy, newness, an open heart.
4 Advanced Forest Yoga is not all that advanced. Ended my day on the mat. Frank was too sore for another Crossfit workout this am or pm, so he did it, too. Pretty gentle, holding some poses, nice stretch with a little heat and shakiness. I missed doing it this morning, but Isabelle came to our room in the night. She wakes up when I get out of the bed no matter what. I'm in the phase of life where I can either exercise well in the am OR have fixed hair, put on makeup, and wear real clothes. Those 4 things rarely happen together.
5 Got up early, had a cup of coffee, and did Power Vinyasa Flow 1. Felt great, but backbends and hip openers are tough in the am. Stuck both of the Tripod Headstands and Bakasana. Nice way to start a rainy day.
6 Yoga for Strength 1. If yoga begins when you want out of a pose, it began for me before my practice had even begun today. It reminded me of runs in days past where the hardest part was getting out the door and pushing though the first mile or so. I did the whole thing and was able to get deeper into downdog and forward fold than usually possible in the mornings. Waiting until later makes it harder in my head and easier in my body.
7 Finally quelled the feelings of inadequacy and tried an Ashtanga class, Dharma Flow. It was good to get into some basic modifications of deep opening poses like full Eka Pada Rajakapotasana/Pigeon and Bhujapidasana/Shoulder Arm Balance--nothing impressive going on in those, but maybe by the end of the month I'll be able to rock them. I'm already feeling stronger in my arms and core. Dedicating time to daily practice has also helped to keep my mind from racing throughout the day. Me slowing down = kids slowing down = Frank not coming into a crazy, overtired, stressed house at the end of the day = improvement. I wouldn't go as far as saying that I have the yoga blissed-out feeling all day, but I am certainly more content. I've also gotten up early (even on days when I didn't get to my mat early) and read an Advent devotional, filling another empty spot in me.
7 down, 24 to go. Namaste
No comments:
Post a Comment