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....