Ahem. Not self praise...but got a nice compliment today during mysore from my teacher about my supta kurmasana. And I got to admit I did it pretty well..more or less bound and crossed my feet in front of my head..well almost. They were pretty much together..and hands firmly in place. But B took them behind my head for me..so bit of cheating. But I swear my chest and shoulders we all on the floor..it felt pretty darn close to flat during kurmasana and my legs were snugly hugging the body. surprised myself as well that I did that just by sitting down with legs behind shoulders. Not much struggle and wriggling at all!
Ok so I did go get a bit of stretch before class to stretch out my hamstrings and hips. But it works like a charm. Lotus was pretty easy, and baddha konasana was more of less flat back and forehead on the floor. Amazing things happen with practice I tell ya!
For the record I have been practising the primary series at home almost everyday I am not in class. Due to changes in the schedule, there are only about 2 -3 classes that I can go to anyway during the evening or weekends..so its kinda made me have to do things at home..but it sure shows and pays off!
I am sometimes amazed myself that the body can open and blossom so much just by practising consistently. Oh yes..tolasana is also good and pretty easy...holding it for 2 x 10 breaths now. Not that I couldn't do it before..but I couldn't really manage lotus in the past without some knee pain. Nowadays is much looser and much easier. I still get a tinge in the knee after class..and I gotto figure out how to loosen the hips even more to avoid torquing my knee. I guess it will come..with lotsa practice of baddha konasana, sukhasana, siddhasana and pigeon..it pays off. Nowadays my knees are pretty much close to the floor..maybe 2 inches off tops. Thats a big deal for me...considering a few months back they were about 6 inches off the ground!
I just want to say that I am beginning to feel that with practice..anything is possible...and that feels sooo...soo.. great!;)
Friday, January 26, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Long time no post...;P
Yes well...I have been getting a little lazy with the blogging, but anyhow heres an update on what I have learnt lately...
1. Never realized I was supposed to lift the spine using the core during halasana..truly new insight after almost six years oF yoga. Just kinda got the move today during S's hatha class, when she said to lift the pelvis up using the core. Well well..so I guess now I have an idea.
2. My raja bhujangasana is almost a wekkly affair recently, and with much less lift in the pelvis. Less than 1 year ago, I could not even touch my head to my feet...despite doing that just for kicks when I was a kid. Used to be able to bring my feet to my lips...but I guess its a long slow road back to that point..Anyhow yuppie for that. And strangely the backache I have been having from doing supta kurmasana is always eleviated with raja bhujangasana. Its almost as if the extreme forward bend needs and extreme backbend to release. Feels great too for the back...must really try to incorporate that into my daily asana practice.
3. Am afraid to stand up on my own from UD, and B has taken to bluffing me into doing it by saying I did it on my own when I know very well he helped to pull me up... well...I guess his intentions are good...just that I really think I need to build that strength a bit more before standing on my own...
4. Daily ashtanga practice seems to reduce my sweatiness...I have taken to doing primary series daily the past 2 weeks, stopping here and there and skipping poses, but anyhow sticking mostly to the the ashtanga poses. Cool, my jumpbacks have improved and even jumping to sitting (since I can't jump through) has felt much more controlled. Truly truly...this is all about practice..I can't say that enough!
Well.. I can't think of anymore updates to my bullet points...so I will leave the insights bit...Had a let hatha class today. S did the class...lately I have not really enjoyed her class, maybe because I am being overly critical. But sometimes I feel she doesn't put that much thought into her sequences. For example, we did raja bhujangasana today with barely 2 or 3 cobras to warm up. I really think considering most of the class wasn't exactly very bendy, she could have done more to open the spine to prepare for this. Also I find that she sometimes works too generally and doesn't build any theme in class. We end up working a little of this and that, but without much depth at all. I' m terrible isn't it...well I am pretty sure when I teach some newbie teacher who happens to be in my class would probably criticize me even more..
I like D and B's classes better because their sequence seems to make more sense...I hope I am not being sexist..since both are guys...shucks..maybeI am really sexist. Anyhow D is in India and B's classes have changed, so I only get to do his mysore class...but I ain't complaining, I like his mysore classes.
Other than that I have been doing mostly home practice, which is getting more and more fun, mainly because I have all my props with me at home, I can repeat a pose many times as I want and i can prep myself before attempting some asanas. I really need some opening before attempting baddha konasana, otherwise the hips are like set in concrete...just doesn't budge. Also recently my hamstrings have been seizing up, and I feel its safer for my back if I stretch it out slowly before attempting too extreme forward bends..
Oh, did I mention that I got my leg behind my shoulders in one of the classes? It as so cool to sit there for a few seconds not holding the leg and it stayed...and not much pressure too! But did I mention thats only on the right side...the left feels like a tonne of bricks. Anyway am doing more compass pose and lizard pose to work the hips. (too lazy to check sanskrit). But I find that it helps a lot for leg behind head poses....
1. Never realized I was supposed to lift the spine using the core during halasana..truly new insight after almost six years oF yoga. Just kinda got the move today during S's hatha class, when she said to lift the pelvis up using the core. Well well..so I guess now I have an idea.
2. My raja bhujangasana is almost a wekkly affair recently, and with much less lift in the pelvis. Less than 1 year ago, I could not even touch my head to my feet...despite doing that just for kicks when I was a kid. Used to be able to bring my feet to my lips...but I guess its a long slow road back to that point..Anyhow yuppie for that. And strangely the backache I have been having from doing supta kurmasana is always eleviated with raja bhujangasana. Its almost as if the extreme forward bend needs and extreme backbend to release. Feels great too for the back...must really try to incorporate that into my daily asana practice.
3. Am afraid to stand up on my own from UD, and B has taken to bluffing me into doing it by saying I did it on my own when I know very well he helped to pull me up... well...I guess his intentions are good...just that I really think I need to build that strength a bit more before standing on my own...
4. Daily ashtanga practice seems to reduce my sweatiness...I have taken to doing primary series daily the past 2 weeks, stopping here and there and skipping poses, but anyhow sticking mostly to the the ashtanga poses. Cool, my jumpbacks have improved and even jumping to sitting (since I can't jump through) has felt much more controlled. Truly truly...this is all about practice..I can't say that enough!
Well.. I can't think of anymore updates to my bullet points...so I will leave the insights bit...Had a let hatha class today. S did the class...lately I have not really enjoyed her class, maybe because I am being overly critical. But sometimes I feel she doesn't put that much thought into her sequences. For example, we did raja bhujangasana today with barely 2 or 3 cobras to warm up. I really think considering most of the class wasn't exactly very bendy, she could have done more to open the spine to prepare for this. Also I find that she sometimes works too generally and doesn't build any theme in class. We end up working a little of this and that, but without much depth at all. I' m terrible isn't it...well I am pretty sure when I teach some newbie teacher who happens to be in my class would probably criticize me even more..
I like D and B's classes better because their sequence seems to make more sense...I hope I am not being sexist..since both are guys...shucks..maybeI am really sexist. Anyhow D is in India and B's classes have changed, so I only get to do his mysore class...but I ain't complaining, I like his mysore classes.
Other than that I have been doing mostly home practice, which is getting more and more fun, mainly because I have all my props with me at home, I can repeat a pose many times as I want and i can prep myself before attempting some asanas. I really need some opening before attempting baddha konasana, otherwise the hips are like set in concrete...just doesn't budge. Also recently my hamstrings have been seizing up, and I feel its safer for my back if I stretch it out slowly before attempting too extreme forward bends..
Oh, did I mention that I got my leg behind my shoulders in one of the classes? It as so cool to sit there for a few seconds not holding the leg and it stayed...and not much pressure too! But did I mention thats only on the right side...the left feels like a tonne of bricks. Anyway am doing more compass pose and lizard pose to work the hips. (too lazy to check sanskrit). But I find that it helps a lot for leg behind head poses....
Thursday, January 11, 2007
What does asana teach us?
Mindfulness, awareness, attitudes, humility, patience, our limitations, our abilities, confidence, joy,balance, looking inward...
Why the sudden, uncharacteristic reflection on asana? Something got me thinking about this. That something being my compulsive, misaligned and sudden push I am just forcing controtinto ustrasana today, causing yet another crick in the lower back...I have been doing pretty well with the backbends lately, remembering to engage uddiyana bandha, engage the hamstrings to avoid external rotation, and basically going further in most of my backbends in a very comfortable way. So I was very disappointed that a moment of unaware compulsive behaviour could cause another little niggling ache in the SI joints.
But it just teaches me that I need to be aware every moment of what i am doing to my body. Listening inward and being super aware seems the key to yoga practice. Without it, I'm just forcing contortions and punishment on myself. So...as a lesson learnt, I think I need to reinforce those things in myself. From now on, I am going to pay attention, and really balance the ease and effort.
Not much to add to that except that yep, my jump backs in Surya Namaskaras are good...and almost floaty, my backbends have been phenomenally good the past week, and baddha konasana is a pretty consistent head to floor without that much rounding...
The practice works and I see my body change and feel the effects and improvements. Funny how things have been going better lately...compared to just one year ago, I still struggled to bring my torso to legs. Incredible things can happen...and I just want to tell myself that good things will come somemore, with an aware, consistent, patient and balanced practice. Improvements just creep up over time, and you beging to realise that anything is possible...so now I just want to get rid of that crick, and I'd be happily on my way again....
Why the sudden, uncharacteristic reflection on asana? Something got me thinking about this. That something being my compulsive, misaligned and sudden push I am just forcing controtinto ustrasana today, causing yet another crick in the lower back...I have been doing pretty well with the backbends lately, remembering to engage uddiyana bandha, engage the hamstrings to avoid external rotation, and basically going further in most of my backbends in a very comfortable way. So I was very disappointed that a moment of unaware compulsive behaviour could cause another little niggling ache in the SI joints.
But it just teaches me that I need to be aware every moment of what i am doing to my body. Listening inward and being super aware seems the key to yoga practice. Without it, I'm just forcing contortions and punishment on myself. So...as a lesson learnt, I think I need to reinforce those things in myself. From now on, I am going to pay attention, and really balance the ease and effort.
Not much to add to that except that yep, my jump backs in Surya Namaskaras are good...and almost floaty, my backbends have been phenomenally good the past week, and baddha konasana is a pretty consistent head to floor without that much rounding...
The practice works and I see my body change and feel the effects and improvements. Funny how things have been going better lately...compared to just one year ago, I still struggled to bring my torso to legs. Incredible things can happen...and I just want to tell myself that good things will come somemore, with an aware, consistent, patient and balanced practice. Improvements just creep up over time, and you beging to realise that anything is possible...so now I just want to get rid of that crick, and I'd be happily on my way again....
Saturday, January 6, 2007
I can FLOAT!!!!!
I can float!!!!!! haahaahhah...well...not really. and only once...well, but I did it! and I am pretty sure I will do it again. Anyhow it happened in class, and very unexpectedly, as my teacher asked us to press our palms into the floor and jump back, and demonstrated the light float back...something in my subconscious must have picked up how to do it and I did it perfectly. I felt SOOO light! I couldn't believe my toes touched the ground like a feather, seriously that was the feeling. However, I have failed to duplicate that again today, despite attempting it probably 15 times...sigh.
I can't for the life of me imagine how it was so effortless one second and then the next, I keep hitting the floor like a tonne of bricks. Why oh why oh why??!!!
Anyway just so I will never forget, I am gonna try and recall exactly how I did it. This is the replay...Looked up from uttanasana and saw B saying to press hands into floor. My hands were a bit in front of my feet instead of right next to it. He pressed into the floor and swept his legs back into chatturanga, and I did that too...hmmm..not really instructional here..I really just did that, I don't remember contracting my abs a lot, just maybe transferred the weight more into my hands, and I remember my legs swinging higher up than usual and sorta just float down to the ground....
Am gonna get p tomorrow morning early to practice primary and concentrate on the jumps again...so sign off now. Resolutions still yet to be penned...hee hee...please wait for later installments...;)
I can't for the life of me imagine how it was so effortless one second and then the next, I keep hitting the floor like a tonne of bricks. Why oh why oh why??!!!
Anyway just so I will never forget, I am gonna try and recall exactly how I did it. This is the replay...Looked up from uttanasana and saw B saying to press hands into floor. My hands were a bit in front of my feet instead of right next to it. He pressed into the floor and swept his legs back into chatturanga, and I did that too...hmmm..not really instructional here..I really just did that, I don't remember contracting my abs a lot, just maybe transferred the weight more into my hands, and I remember my legs swinging higher up than usual and sorta just float down to the ground....
Am gonna get p tomorrow morning early to practice primary and concentrate on the jumps again...so sign off now. Resolutions still yet to be penned...hee hee...please wait for later installments...;)
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Happy New Year 2007!!!!
Hulloooo...long time no blogging for me...hahah..no no haven't been partying like crazy during the festivities. I don't really club all night and get trashed during New Year's eve like I used to. I have no idea whether thats because of age or yoga.
Nowadays I like a quiet evening with just close friends, coffee, dinner...well maybe mahjong occasionally;)
Anyway, this blog is about yoga, and I don't really like to discuss other stuff here if possible. Anyways, may have indulged a bit over the holidays, but practice was consistent. Not many classes on during times like this anyway, but am beginning to really discover the joys of home practice. Save for a Thursday class with the favourite yoga teacher, I have been happily doing my thing at home.
OHHH..I forgot to say that my Jade Harmony black yoga mat is here from the US!! Yippeee! I thought it got lost in transit somewhere, it took about a whole month to arrive. But am soo pleased with it. Well....no its not totally non-slip , but the grip is incredible, and its nice and cushy. I almost ordered the manduka, but I saw someone with it in the studio and it was so heavy and big. And definitely looks slippery, anyway can't really review cos I never used it, but I got the jade yoga mat also because it is environmentally friendly and no PVCs etc. Anyway I still slip when I sweat, which is, A LOT and EVERY TIME i practice! But its definitely better than normal mats I have. But anyhow just for the record, I also recommend a blue one I got from Fitness Concept some time ago, its a little tacky and blue, but although I got a more expensive pink one from East India company, it still was better, more comfy, sticky and not as slippery.
Ok, on to practice notes. Like I mentioned, home practice rocks soo much that I am beginning to rethink whether I should go for class so often. I usually make it there 4 days a week and practice by myself the rest of the time. But recently getting to the mat at home has added some incredible insights that I want to share. I've discovered that:
1. Cobra with uddiyana bandha is incredible at loosening up the spine for backbends and helping me understand the support needed for backbends. Recently because I have been too lazy to go for updog, I have substituted most of it with cobra, and I hold it for a while each time. And remembering the advice from my teachers, I kept my bandhas on full alert and presto, no cramping in the SIs, released the muscular contractions in my lumbar area and more bend in the back! how great is that???!!
2. Holding a block between the thighs in UD really frees up the sacrum, and lets me engage the legs so much more powerfully and pushes the backbend so much higher. I also used a strap around my thighs and it does help as well, but I am working towards weaning myself off the props soon. Anyway Yey Yey again.
3. Supta K on my own is possible with some research poses thrown in beforehand such as leg behind shoulder, head to toe in a version on parvakonasana. At this rate I think if I work at these things diligently, I should be able to bind quite securely soon.
4. I have discovered that my left shoulder seems to be forwardof the right. I am not sure if that is why I have a persistent crick in my neck and shoulder, but I am working on asanas that can train me to push it back.
5. Jumping back and forth with the breath defintely helps to lift the body. May not float yet but definitely the jump is less reliant on the legs and I can feel weight shift into my core and upper body. Not sure if that is the way to go, but its something new I learnt and would love to explore in more detail in the future.
6. Bhujapidasana with arms way up behind the shoulders is the way to go if I am ever gonna lower my head to the ground. I begin to realise that the reason I can't do it is not because of lack of strength, but I just haven't got the mechanics right. So, the higher the legs the better, that said I still haven't done the head to ground with feet between hands yet..shucks, but now I think I know how to get there!
7. Moving straight legs up and down in shirshasana is cool, trains the bandhas and feels almost like levitating. I am planning to build that into my daily practice if possible.
Well, ok, will update on my new year resolutions yoga wise next post...that crick is really irritating me right now and typing all this is not helping....more to come soon;)
Nowadays I like a quiet evening with just close friends, coffee, dinner...well maybe mahjong occasionally;)
Anyway, this blog is about yoga, and I don't really like to discuss other stuff here if possible. Anyways, may have indulged a bit over the holidays, but practice was consistent. Not many classes on during times like this anyway, but am beginning to really discover the joys of home practice. Save for a Thursday class with the favourite yoga teacher, I have been happily doing my thing at home.
OHHH..I forgot to say that my Jade Harmony black yoga mat is here from the US!! Yippeee! I thought it got lost in transit somewhere, it took about a whole month to arrive. But am soo pleased with it. Well....no its not totally non-slip , but the grip is incredible, and its nice and cushy. I almost ordered the manduka, but I saw someone with it in the studio and it was so heavy and big. And definitely looks slippery, anyway can't really review cos I never used it, but I got the jade yoga mat also because it is environmentally friendly and no PVCs etc. Anyway I still slip when I sweat, which is, A LOT and EVERY TIME i practice! But its definitely better than normal mats I have. But anyhow just for the record, I also recommend a blue one I got from Fitness Concept some time ago, its a little tacky and blue, but although I got a more expensive pink one from East India company, it still was better, more comfy, sticky and not as slippery.
Ok, on to practice notes. Like I mentioned, home practice rocks soo much that I am beginning to rethink whether I should go for class so often. I usually make it there 4 days a week and practice by myself the rest of the time. But recently getting to the mat at home has added some incredible insights that I want to share. I've discovered that:
1. Cobra with uddiyana bandha is incredible at loosening up the spine for backbends and helping me understand the support needed for backbends. Recently because I have been too lazy to go for updog, I have substituted most of it with cobra, and I hold it for a while each time. And remembering the advice from my teachers, I kept my bandhas on full alert and presto, no cramping in the SIs, released the muscular contractions in my lumbar area and more bend in the back! how great is that???!!
2. Holding a block between the thighs in UD really frees up the sacrum, and lets me engage the legs so much more powerfully and pushes the backbend so much higher. I also used a strap around my thighs and it does help as well, but I am working towards weaning myself off the props soon. Anyway Yey Yey again.
3. Supta K on my own is possible with some research poses thrown in beforehand such as leg behind shoulder, head to toe in a version on parvakonasana. At this rate I think if I work at these things diligently, I should be able to bind quite securely soon.
4. I have discovered that my left shoulder seems to be forwardof the right. I am not sure if that is why I have a persistent crick in my neck and shoulder, but I am working on asanas that can train me to push it back.
5. Jumping back and forth with the breath defintely helps to lift the body. May not float yet but definitely the jump is less reliant on the legs and I can feel weight shift into my core and upper body. Not sure if that is the way to go, but its something new I learnt and would love to explore in more detail in the future.
6. Bhujapidasana with arms way up behind the shoulders is the way to go if I am ever gonna lower my head to the ground. I begin to realise that the reason I can't do it is not because of lack of strength, but I just haven't got the mechanics right. So, the higher the legs the better, that said I still haven't done the head to ground with feet between hands yet..shucks, but now I think I know how to get there!
7. Moving straight legs up and down in shirshasana is cool, trains the bandhas and feels almost like levitating. I am planning to build that into my daily practice if possible.
Well, ok, will update on my new year resolutions yoga wise next post...that crick is really irritating me right now and typing all this is not helping....more to come soon;)
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