Todays practice was really a breeze....No I don't mean it was easy and therefore was a breeze. But it felt so nice that I can only describe it this way. It just felt extraordinarily smooth today. Yes the hard parts were still hard, and the usual suspects still proved difficult, but I didn't care, modified what I couldn't do (the usual Supta K, Garba) and it felt like I was floating (no I was NOT literally floating..that comes and goes..)
AND I think I discovered Mula Bandha! Erm I am not sure..since I don't really know how it is in the first place. I think I know what uddiyana is..but Mula bandha..I've never really gotten the hang of it..but today..for some reason I really did squeeze the area around the nether regions before doing the jumpthroughs and the landing was really really soft. I tried it a few times and it still felt so much lighter! And doing the same in my updogs were nice too...I really got to remember to squeeze more often. Why it helps, I have no idea. I mean I remember my teacher used to tell me that uddiyana bandha helps to connect the pelvis and ribcage to make sure the body doesn't move around like a bag of bones..but he never really explained mula bandha to me...
Besides that I did about 30 minutes of inversions before practice, mainly because I tend to skip headstands when I practice at home. And I really felt like doing some inversions today. So I did all those I knew..headstand, tripod headstand, pincha, handstands... Good thing is..I can balance in pincha..Well 3-4 breaths is not bad for me. Handstands..I also managed to balance for 2-3 breaths.. I reckon if I practice it everyday for the whole week..I should be able to do it properly soon. But I still can't get up with any semblance of control though..I think its like the kicking mule..the way I get up.
Also I got up from bhujapidasana today...into titthibasana..and then collapsed on the butt. Nevertheless its an improvement from the helpless heap I used to be..stuck on my head on the floor. I don't know how to stay up from titthibasana, back to bakasana and jump back. My jumping back is really useless..I can't for the life of me get my legs to shoot back the way I see people do.
Been going to the Iyengar classes at my studio recently. There are 2 new Iyengar teachers (K and A) at the studio and I was curious about what they had to teach. I only managed to get to the beginner classes, cos the other times were not convenient for me. So far...lots of alignment cues and props. I prefer K's classes so far, but I haven't tried their advance class yet, so I might change my mind. But I still miss my flow style teachers..B and S. I think I'm one of those people who need to move, move and move somemore. Staying in a pose for too long doesn't seem to appeal to me..even when I am really comfortable in it. Also my previous teachers had some Iyengar training before and did incorporate some alignment cues into the flow/Ashtanga classes, so Iyengar alignment wasn't really that new to me. S used to teach with quite a bit of verbal instructions as well. I read somewhere that most long term practitioners will figure out alignment on their own anyway..and I think its true. Even though I haven't been practising for that long, sometimes I just feel clear lines of energy (ala Erich Schiffman) and I know that I'm not that far off from what the pose is supposed to be...I'll update on how my more advanced classes with these new teachers will turn out soon...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
My research poses..
Whenever I have the time, I try to do some of this stuff apart from the primary series...
For the core:
1. Headstand
2. Ardha dandasana
3. Navasana
4. Piking on my exercise ball (as in do plank on the ball and try to lift the hips up high like in handstand, and roll back down)
I'm pretty sure if I could manage it properly, going up into a handstand with control would be fabulous, but I can't without jumping up and down..so I can't say anything about it.
For my hips:
1. Baddha konasana - with a wall behind me so I can push myself forward to the floor
2. Supta baddha konasana - with my butt on a block cos I think it gives my adductors much more stretch
3. Frog - not the bhekasana one..but with the knees wide apart and elbows on the floor..and then sliding the knees apart until I get flat.
4. Agnisthambasana - the square pose. I think this one is the ultimate pain in the butt...
5. Janu Shirshasana
6. Sleeping pigeon - and if possible move the feet further forward so its close to my head when I lie down.
7. Half tarasana - or diamond pose. Half because my hips are mighty tight, and I have back pain if I sit too long in the diamond pose. This I do with one leg bent like in janu shirshasana, and the other leg further in front, so when I bend forward I can put my head behind the foot.
8. Padmasana on my stomach, I think it has the same effect as the frog, except with a different rotation.
Backbends:
1. Lying over my exercise ball
2. Ardha supta virasana but with the non virasana leg bent and pulled towards my chest - again ardha because my quadriceps are tight and if I do both legs together there is a huge arch in my back. I discovered this stretch in Donna Farhi's book - Yoga mind, body and spirit. I think its a fabulous stretch.
3. Crescent lunges - for the hip flexors
4. Sit against the seat of a folding chair and put my arms through the opening at the back. REAL big shoulder stretch for me.
5. Putting the head on the floor in downward dog - another shoulder stretch
6. Holding a block between my hands, putting the elbows on the seat of a chair and pressing the shoulders towards the floor. I do this in preparation for the day I will officially receive kapotasana ..hahahah..I always bend too much in the lumbar spine and need more opening in my shoulders. This one is super hard for me too.
Others:
1. Ragdoll for the hamstrings
2. Supta padangustasana
For the core:
1. Headstand
2. Ardha dandasana
3. Navasana
4. Piking on my exercise ball (as in do plank on the ball and try to lift the hips up high like in handstand, and roll back down)
I'm pretty sure if I could manage it properly, going up into a handstand with control would be fabulous, but I can't without jumping up and down..so I can't say anything about it.
For my hips:
1. Baddha konasana - with a wall behind me so I can push myself forward to the floor
2. Supta baddha konasana - with my butt on a block cos I think it gives my adductors much more stretch
3. Frog - not the bhekasana one..but with the knees wide apart and elbows on the floor..and then sliding the knees apart until I get flat.
4. Agnisthambasana - the square pose. I think this one is the ultimate pain in the butt...
5. Janu Shirshasana
6. Sleeping pigeon - and if possible move the feet further forward so its close to my head when I lie down.
7. Half tarasana - or diamond pose. Half because my hips are mighty tight, and I have back pain if I sit too long in the diamond pose. This I do with one leg bent like in janu shirshasana, and the other leg further in front, so when I bend forward I can put my head behind the foot.
8. Padmasana on my stomach, I think it has the same effect as the frog, except with a different rotation.
Backbends:
1. Lying over my exercise ball
2. Ardha supta virasana but with the non virasana leg bent and pulled towards my chest - again ardha because my quadriceps are tight and if I do both legs together there is a huge arch in my back. I discovered this stretch in Donna Farhi's book - Yoga mind, body and spirit. I think its a fabulous stretch.
3. Crescent lunges - for the hip flexors
4. Sit against the seat of a folding chair and put my arms through the opening at the back. REAL big shoulder stretch for me.
5. Putting the head on the floor in downward dog - another shoulder stretch
6. Holding a block between my hands, putting the elbows on the seat of a chair and pressing the shoulders towards the floor. I do this in preparation for the day I will officially receive kapotasana ..hahahah..I always bend too much in the lumbar spine and need more opening in my shoulders. This one is super hard for me too.
Others:
1. Ragdoll for the hamstrings
2. Supta padangustasana
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Chairs, blocks and windows...
Yes..I went to an Iyengar class. And we used all the above to do asanas. Haha. I've never been to one..but my mysore class has been cancelled...don't know if its permanent..but it was a led class today...and I really didn't want to go for a led class..especially by a teacher who barely knew the primary series sequence!!!! (yes I am a bitch.) Seriously..I know this because the said teacher came to my mysore class once and went through the whole class asking my teacher about what should be next in sequence!!! How can she possibly teach me anything if she doesn't practice ashtanga herself??? Alright..maybe she could have taught me something..but anyhow I just wasn't that keen to go. (more on the class being cancelled bit later).
So instead I attended a class by a new Iyengar teacher at our studio..it was quite interesting actually..although I have no interest in becoming an Iyengi anytime soon..I'd miss my vinyasas and Supta K (???) too much for that. So we did maybe 7-8 poses in 1 hour...lying over chairs for backbends...using the windowsill to do Adho mukha svanasana in some standing version of the pose..shoulderstand on the chair..uttanasana and padangustasana with blocks (??). (just so we are clear...I DO NOT use blocks in my daily practice...its a little insulting to think I do this almost everyday and still need to use blocks for forward bends!)
Erm...nope I hardly broke a sweat. But it was interesting that the teacher..lets call him "K" had so much to say about just each pose...roll the deltoids in..roll the trapezoid down..spread the sitting bones wide..roll the inner thighs out..blah blah. Who knew there's so much instruction for downward facing dog. Anyhow its so different from how my Ashtanga teachers teach...B would have just adjusted me into whatever it is he wanted me to do and say nothing abut the rolling shoulders stuff...and here was K keeping a constant narrative going about every body part.
I'm not saying its bad..and certainly I can use some of this alignment knowledge when it comes to teaching my classes at the gym. But it just feels a little constricting. K mentioned that advanced students are not the ones putting the leg behind the head..but the ones with the most awareness in the body while doing asanas. IMHO, an advanced student should both have awareness and also an advanced practice. I mean it doesn't mean that person has to put the leg behind their head..but they should have experienced a broad range of asanas and have an awareness of their bodies in all these asanas. It would be so boring if my repertoire of poses consists of adho mukha svanasana and I worked everyday on refining that pose...
Anyhow..I will be going for K's class though. Its quite fun to hang around on the chair and just sort of relax into a backbend..instead of struggling with my dropbacks and standing up..perhaps I'd take it as my day off from Ashtanga practice. Also, I reckon it could help my alignment in Ashtanga.
On the other hand..yes my mysore class has been cancelled. Hmm...As you may have noticed..I'm not too stricken this time around. Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts..I've been having some issues with class anyway. The bottomline is..I can't get used to my new teacher..and I miss B very much..he knows my practice so well and adjusts me exactly where I need it..its like missing a vital part of my mysore practice when he is not around...alright, alright..I should get over it already...My partner told me that I'm too reliant on B..and I will find another one if I will just give new teachers a chance and stop comparing..well its hard...and I've not managed to do it yet. So..class being cancelled doesn't really bother me so much..I reckon I enjoy practising at home anyway. Only problem is Supta K and dropbacks.. No assistance and I'm a little stuck with those 2 on my own.. BUT I'm sure I'd survive.
By the way JOHN SCOTT is coming in November!!!!! Im sooooo excited!!! My goal is to practice on my own as well as I can and then see if I can get to practice with John Scott when he is here.
I'm giving myself these few months to make sure my primary is up to speed...and practice my 2 second series poses ( and add somemore of my own if I think I can). Then hopefully John can have a look at my practice and give me some tips..I don't know if he is going to teach any class..I just know he will be in town...I can't wait!;)
So instead I attended a class by a new Iyengar teacher at our studio..it was quite interesting actually..although I have no interest in becoming an Iyengi anytime soon..I'd miss my vinyasas and Supta K (???) too much for that. So we did maybe 7-8 poses in 1 hour...lying over chairs for backbends...using the windowsill to do Adho mukha svanasana in some standing version of the pose..shoulderstand on the chair..uttanasana and padangustasana with blocks (??). (just so we are clear...I DO NOT use blocks in my daily practice...its a little insulting to think I do this almost everyday and still need to use blocks for forward bends!)
Erm...nope I hardly broke a sweat. But it was interesting that the teacher..lets call him "K" had so much to say about just each pose...roll the deltoids in..roll the trapezoid down..spread the sitting bones wide..roll the inner thighs out..blah blah. Who knew there's so much instruction for downward facing dog. Anyhow its so different from how my Ashtanga teachers teach...B would have just adjusted me into whatever it is he wanted me to do and say nothing abut the rolling shoulders stuff...and here was K keeping a constant narrative going about every body part.
I'm not saying its bad..and certainly I can use some of this alignment knowledge when it comes to teaching my classes at the gym. But it just feels a little constricting. K mentioned that advanced students are not the ones putting the leg behind the head..but the ones with the most awareness in the body while doing asanas. IMHO, an advanced student should both have awareness and also an advanced practice. I mean it doesn't mean that person has to put the leg behind their head..but they should have experienced a broad range of asanas and have an awareness of their bodies in all these asanas. It would be so boring if my repertoire of poses consists of adho mukha svanasana and I worked everyday on refining that pose...
Anyhow..I will be going for K's class though. Its quite fun to hang around on the chair and just sort of relax into a backbend..instead of struggling with my dropbacks and standing up..perhaps I'd take it as my day off from Ashtanga practice. Also, I reckon it could help my alignment in Ashtanga.
On the other hand..yes my mysore class has been cancelled. Hmm...As you may have noticed..I'm not too stricken this time around. Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts..I've been having some issues with class anyway. The bottomline is..I can't get used to my new teacher..and I miss B very much..he knows my practice so well and adjusts me exactly where I need it..its like missing a vital part of my mysore practice when he is not around...alright, alright..I should get over it already...My partner told me that I'm too reliant on B..and I will find another one if I will just give new teachers a chance and stop comparing..well its hard...and I've not managed to do it yet. So..class being cancelled doesn't really bother me so much..I reckon I enjoy practising at home anyway. Only problem is Supta K and dropbacks.. No assistance and I'm a little stuck with those 2 on my own.. BUT I'm sure I'd survive.
By the way JOHN SCOTT is coming in November!!!!! Im sooooo excited!!! My goal is to practice on my own as well as I can and then see if I can get to practice with John Scott when he is here.
I'm giving myself these few months to make sure my primary is up to speed...and practice my 2 second series poses ( and add somemore of my own if I think I can). Then hopefully John can have a look at my practice and give me some tips..I don't know if he is going to teach any class..I just know he will be in town...I can't wait!;)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Yin Yoga
I'm convinced that there really is something to this yin yoga thing. I've recently tried some classes and been holding poses for 5 minutes a side for stuff like ardha supta virasana, agnisthambasana, sleeping pigeon, and crescent lunges. I actually think my hips have gotten looser these past few days! So loose that in my practice today at home...I actually sunk pretty deep into supta k..feet binded..and hands..well.almost touching..(almost being the operative word).
Anyway its about the easiest I've ever had it when practicing at home..so I can't think of anything to attribute it to except for my yin yoga classes. Also, I was skipping poses and vinyasas left and right today as its the time of the month for me and my stomach was cramping up, so I wasn't even warm when I tried supta K...so it must work..this yin yoga!
Anyway its about the easiest I've ever had it when practicing at home..so I can't think of anything to attribute it to except for my yin yoga classes. Also, I was skipping poses and vinyasas left and right today as its the time of the month for me and my stomach was cramping up, so I wasn't even warm when I tried supta K...so it must work..this yin yoga!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Almost binded the tortoise..
But not quite. Another sad tale of not being able to bind Supta K again. Hmmmppff.. Binded my feet and almost touched my fingers..and then my hands slipped and I gave up.
And I also forgot to continue with pasasana and krounchasana after setu bandhasana..really spaced out..
Not really in the mood to blog..but I always update after each mysore class...so thats about all I want to say..I think I am having another "slight" crisis with practice lately...mostly a mental one..but I think I'll not talk about it...in case I'm just putting energy into something that I should just get over...
So..hope that this too shall pass..
And I also forgot to continue with pasasana and krounchasana after setu bandhasana..really spaced out..
Not really in the mood to blog..but I always update after each mysore class...so thats about all I want to say..I think I am having another "slight" crisis with practice lately...mostly a mental one..but I think I'll not talk about it...in case I'm just putting energy into something that I should just get over...
So..hope that this too shall pass..
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
I didn't clunk down...
in bhujapidasana..and I got up from it!!!! Yippee!!! Definitely a milestone for me, although I think some people could do it pretty easily from the start...hope that means my bandhas are finally getting stronger;)
Also handstands ...held it for a few breaths today on my own..how cool it that?? ermm..but I'm still doing it next to the wall though...just in case I crash on my back. I definitely can't come up with much control..its a hit and miss flinging the legs up...sometimes I overdo the jumping up from down dog and my feet will crash into the wall..sometimes I can jump up and extend the legs up...but can't do the nice controlled lifts that B asked me to try. Actually..I think he asked me to do it twice...the 1st time..I told him I was too scared to go up..and left him in a huff..the second time I crashed into the wall. So I guess this is definitely improvement!
Also handstands ...held it for a few breaths today on my own..how cool it that?? ermm..but I'm still doing it next to the wall though...just in case I crash on my back. I definitely can't come up with much control..its a hit and miss flinging the legs up...sometimes I overdo the jumping up from down dog and my feet will crash into the wall..sometimes I can jump up and extend the legs up...but can't do the nice controlled lifts that B asked me to try. Actually..I think he asked me to do it twice...the 1st time..I told him I was too scared to go up..and left him in a huff..the second time I crashed into the wall. So I guess this is definitely improvement!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
13 May 2007
I'm not gonna blog much about my practice today. I just felt like venting a bit about the classes I teach. I'm feeling a little troubled..not so much about the teaching itself, but my attachment to what my students think of my classes.
I've put quite a bit of effort into sequencing my classes, and I practice my own sequences before a class. Recently, the ashtanga class I teach has been going well..people like it and tell me they do. I've also gone back to a more traditional format, vinyasas between poses (not sides yet because I think most people are still not able to handle it), doing most of the sequence in order and modifying what I think people need to modify. Its been great and attendance is rising.
However my hatha class feels really uninspired..well today at least. I went to class prepared to teach some stuff that I thought people would like to do, and turns out most of my regular crowd wasn't there and lots of beginners. So I had to change the sequence on the fly..which I'm not particularly good at..I don't know if it was my personal projections, but I thought it went pretty flat..and I find myself bothered about this. In fact it bothers me when my regular crowd don't come to class. It feels like they are bored or something with class..and I do take this personally.
I know this has nothing to do with my students and everything to do with my need to have people like my class. Maybe I'm PMSing ..thats why I'm compelled to whinge and whine about it here..hopefully I'm gonna get out of this rut..and also I think I'll prepare a few sequences in mind before class instead..so that if I need to change it, I can do it on the fly. Hope that will help..
About practice. Well bhujapidasana was good yesterday.. I swept the feet through and landed the head with some semblance of control on the floor (not near hovering with the chin yet) and almost felt like I could get up! But well.I didn't quite get up..but I can almost feel it already! Hope it will happen in the next few practices.
Also I've been pulling the leg up to my forehead before every pose as I read somewhere it helps to loosen up my hips for supta kurmasana..I also read what Erich Schiffmann said on his message board about getting the leg behind the head:
"Here are a few to get started with. 1) Get good at Paschimottanasana, seated forward fold. Also 2) Baddha Konasana (cobblers pose), but do it with your feet away from you so your legs form a square or diamond shape, rather than pulling your feet in tight, and rest your face on/toward your feet, then on the floor on your side of the heels. Also 3) spend lots of time lying forward in the one-legged Pigeon Pose. Longer duration, lower intensity. Stay in these poses longer than normal, at an easy-ish place in the pose. Those will get you going. "
I'm banking on this for my supta kurmasana...
I've put quite a bit of effort into sequencing my classes, and I practice my own sequences before a class. Recently, the ashtanga class I teach has been going well..people like it and tell me they do. I've also gone back to a more traditional format, vinyasas between poses (not sides yet because I think most people are still not able to handle it), doing most of the sequence in order and modifying what I think people need to modify. Its been great and attendance is rising.
However my hatha class feels really uninspired..well today at least. I went to class prepared to teach some stuff that I thought people would like to do, and turns out most of my regular crowd wasn't there and lots of beginners. So I had to change the sequence on the fly..which I'm not particularly good at..I don't know if it was my personal projections, but I thought it went pretty flat..and I find myself bothered about this. In fact it bothers me when my regular crowd don't come to class. It feels like they are bored or something with class..and I do take this personally.
I know this has nothing to do with my students and everything to do with my need to have people like my class. Maybe I'm PMSing ..thats why I'm compelled to whinge and whine about it here..hopefully I'm gonna get out of this rut..and also I think I'll prepare a few sequences in mind before class instead..so that if I need to change it, I can do it on the fly. Hope that will help..
About practice. Well bhujapidasana was good yesterday.. I swept the feet through and landed the head with some semblance of control on the floor (not near hovering with the chin yet) and almost felt like I could get up! But well.I didn't quite get up..but I can almost feel it already! Hope it will happen in the next few practices.
Also I've been pulling the leg up to my forehead before every pose as I read somewhere it helps to loosen up my hips for supta kurmasana..I also read what Erich Schiffmann said on his message board about getting the leg behind the head:
"Here are a few to get started with. 1) Get good at Paschimottanasana, seated forward fold. Also 2) Baddha Konasana (cobblers pose), but do it with your feet away from you so your legs form a square or diamond shape, rather than pulling your feet in tight, and rest your face on/toward your feet, then on the floor on your side of the heels. Also 3) spend lots of time lying forward in the one-legged Pigeon Pose. Longer duration, lower intensity. Stay in these poses longer than normal, at an easy-ish place in the pose. Those will get you going. "
I'm banking on this for my supta kurmasana...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Pasasana!
I did pasasana today! hahah..I guess D saw me finally do Setu Bandhasana and decided that I may deserve a new pose for braving the one asana I ALWAYS try to get around;) and to top it off, krounchasana as well!
It went very well..my 2 intermediate series poses..Anyhow I've done them before in B's led class when he decided to throw in some second series to keep us occupied. So it wasn't exactly new to me. My bind was nowhere near the wrist though..I think I got it to my palms both sides, heels on the floor..that one is not really a problem for me..I'm really used to squatting. Krounchasana was also not bad, chin to shin ..but I think B would have made me straighten the spine more if he were around.
So mysore class had some good moments today..although my supta kurmasana is still sucking big time. For reasons unknown to me, my new teacher doesn't seem to like to adjust Supta K. I have no idea why..so without adjustments I basically stayed at the same level I've always been...hands binded, feet almost together...and nowhere behind the head.
Again the standing up is off...I'm just not used to D's way of making me drop back and pulling me up. The timing is just not too right for me. B used to just stand in front of me and let me do whatever I want..dropback, stand up, drop back standup..etc..and catch me if I happen to fall. D however really supports my back and initiates the standing up by pulling me up. This really is not working out too well...and I thought I got back the standing up part recently because I did it with no problems in C's recent hatha class. I wonder if I should tell the teacher how I want to be assisted with dropbacks...it may be kinda rude though...like telling him to follow B's way cos it works better for me..??
Bhujapidasana...sucky to say the least. Consistent crashing of my head to the floor. And then I'm stuck in this helpless mess and can't get up without crashing on the butt. D says its all about the bandhas..and to just keep doing it until it comes together...gosh I've been crashing for probably 6 months now...with no light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Other than that not much is new. I did go for a beginners pilates class yesterday at the studio and my stomach is still aching from all that roll up, rolling ball stuff. I guess its aching only because it goes to show my core strength is sucky. Wonder how long it'll take to strengthen the core?? I'm really getting a little fed up with crashing in bhujapidasana and not being able to jump back from bakasana from all the vinyasa out. And of course my jump backs from sitting..bad bad bad!! Hmmm...maybe I'll wake up a little earlier and do some pilates in the morning...see if it helps wake up my bandhas. We'll see if it makes any difference at all.
On another note..my partner is actually offering to take me to India for a yoga retreat;) I'm actually only keen to go to mysore though..and he's not much of an Ashtangi...so I don't think he is thinking along those lines..but it is a sweet thought anyway.
It went very well..my 2 intermediate series poses..Anyhow I've done them before in B's led class when he decided to throw in some second series to keep us occupied. So it wasn't exactly new to me. My bind was nowhere near the wrist though..I think I got it to my palms both sides, heels on the floor..that one is not really a problem for me..I'm really used to squatting. Krounchasana was also not bad, chin to shin ..but I think B would have made me straighten the spine more if he were around.
So mysore class had some good moments today..although my supta kurmasana is still sucking big time. For reasons unknown to me, my new teacher doesn't seem to like to adjust Supta K. I have no idea why..so without adjustments I basically stayed at the same level I've always been...hands binded, feet almost together...and nowhere behind the head.
Again the standing up is off...I'm just not used to D's way of making me drop back and pulling me up. The timing is just not too right for me. B used to just stand in front of me and let me do whatever I want..dropback, stand up, drop back standup..etc..and catch me if I happen to fall. D however really supports my back and initiates the standing up by pulling me up. This really is not working out too well...and I thought I got back the standing up part recently because I did it with no problems in C's recent hatha class. I wonder if I should tell the teacher how I want to be assisted with dropbacks...it may be kinda rude though...like telling him to follow B's way cos it works better for me..??
Bhujapidasana...sucky to say the least. Consistent crashing of my head to the floor. And then I'm stuck in this helpless mess and can't get up without crashing on the butt. D says its all about the bandhas..and to just keep doing it until it comes together...gosh I've been crashing for probably 6 months now...with no light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Other than that not much is new. I did go for a beginners pilates class yesterday at the studio and my stomach is still aching from all that roll up, rolling ball stuff. I guess its aching only because it goes to show my core strength is sucky. Wonder how long it'll take to strengthen the core?? I'm really getting a little fed up with crashing in bhujapidasana and not being able to jump back from bakasana from all the vinyasa out. And of course my jump backs from sitting..bad bad bad!! Hmmm...maybe I'll wake up a little earlier and do some pilates in the morning...see if it helps wake up my bandhas. We'll see if it makes any difference at all.
On another note..my partner is actually offering to take me to India for a yoga retreat;) I'm actually only keen to go to mysore though..and he's not much of an Ashtangi...so I don't think he is thinking along those lines..but it is a sweet thought anyway.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Hips, core and arms strength..
My hips are locking up. I suspect its because I haven't been taking my calcium and magnesium supplements lately..or it could be the whole bunch of other supplements I take ..alpha lipoic acid, b-complex, zinc, salmon oil, glucosamine. Been real lazy lately with the supplements. Will take tomorrow and see if it makes a difference. My knees are complaining in every external rotation. Wish the hips will just loosen up already...
Didn't self practice today. Instead attended a hatha class at the studio. I think I must be very weak somewhere because I can't do any of the arm strength stuff we did today in class...like mayurasana (the one with the body parallel to floor) and this one.. I can do most of the simpler stuff..parsva bakasana, bakasana, astavakrasana, and the other version of koundinyasana with a twist, but I couldn't for the life of me lift into the splits version. Wonder if its a core thing again?
However I DID get back my dropbacks and stand up today! YIPPEE!!! I thought I lost it forever, but I totally stood up like a rocket today. Well it might not be so great cos standing up like that means its totally momentum carrying me up, but hey at least I stood up!;) Also I managed a foot hold on kapotasana today. Couldn eek out any more bend to grab my heels, but can't complain about my backbends.
I wish I was a little more balanced sometimes..I was just thinking that how come some stuff are really easy for me and some stuff are almost impossible. Then it struck me that when I was young I could always do the stuff that I can do now and I couldn't do the stuff that I CAN'T do.
Hmmm...See..I always could backbend and I always could do splits and forward bends, but I could never really sit with my hips totally open to the side when I sat on the floor. I think even when I was a kid I couldn't do it..and my core has always sucked. I hated sit ups and push ups and all the strength stuff when I was in school. So..it seems either I never woke up the muscles when I was young to do this or I'm just genetically not designed for it! Thats not exactly a very comforting thought..
I wonder if I haven't been able to do it most of my life, will I be able to do them with practice? I guess since a lot of people end up being able to do asanas they were never good at by practising, perhaps it really is possible..
Anyway..I'll stop here and do some hip openers before sleeping just to see if it helps..
Didn't self practice today. Instead attended a hatha class at the studio. I think I must be very weak somewhere because I can't do any of the arm strength stuff we did today in class...like mayurasana (the one with the body parallel to floor) and this one.. I can do most of the simpler stuff..parsva bakasana, bakasana, astavakrasana, and the other version of koundinyasana with a twist, but I couldn't for the life of me lift into the splits version. Wonder if its a core thing again?
However I DID get back my dropbacks and stand up today! YIPPEE!!! I thought I lost it forever, but I totally stood up like a rocket today. Well it might not be so great cos standing up like that means its totally momentum carrying me up, but hey at least I stood up!;) Also I managed a foot hold on kapotasana today. Couldn eek out any more bend to grab my heels, but can't complain about my backbends.
I wish I was a little more balanced sometimes..I was just thinking that how come some stuff are really easy for me and some stuff are almost impossible. Then it struck me that when I was young I could always do the stuff that I can do now and I couldn't do the stuff that I CAN'T do.
Hmmm...See..I always could backbend and I always could do splits and forward bends, but I could never really sit with my hips totally open to the side when I sat on the floor. I think even when I was a kid I couldn't do it..and my core has always sucked. I hated sit ups and push ups and all the strength stuff when I was in school. So..it seems either I never woke up the muscles when I was young to do this or I'm just genetically not designed for it! Thats not exactly a very comforting thought..
I wonder if I haven't been able to do it most of my life, will I be able to do them with practice? I guess since a lot of people end up being able to do asanas they were never good at by practising, perhaps it really is possible..
Anyway..I'll stop here and do some hip openers before sleeping just to see if it helps..
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Mysore class 4 May 2007
Mysore class was alright today. Got back some of my bandhas..which went into hiding since my teacher left, so the floaty jumps are back;) Unfortunately it didn't translate into a better supta kurmasana and even my standing up from UD still sucked.
Blow by blow account of thoughts streaming through my mind in the asanas detailed below...(just shows how meditative my practice is.)
Surya Namaskaras : Good good..the bandhas are back in action..can float again. What a relieve. Phew.
Prasarita Padotanasana C : Can my hands reach the floor? Can it? Can it? Yes ..not bad..thought I lost that too. (which I did for a few weeks)
Jump through after Warrior 2 : I hope I don't thud too loud..Oh yes that WAS a BIG thud. Think I twisted my elbow on the way through..nope, seems ok though.
Mind pretty blank from then on till Navasana : Got to lift after this..oh can't do that cos of the wrist pain.. Will use my fists. Yep. ok good lift. I think D saw me cheating with the fists...hmm he's not saying anything. Great will use again for next 4. Good job..actually lifted instead of lifting my butt to cheat. Well done..you go girl!
Bhujapidasana: Ok head down feet through. Please let me get up into tithibasana for once..nope..no go there..landed on the butt again. Next time maybe.
Kurmasana : Oh good..flat today. Oh there's D coming over to flatten me more????? Ouch. Alright the stomach touched the floor.
Supta Kurmasana: Let me take some time here D. Oh wait I'm not ready yet..see. I told you I can't do it in one breath! Aren't you going to cross my feet on top the head? No? Oh why not? B always does it. No? Shucks he's pulling me up into tithibasana again without the feet crossed. Sigh...
Mind pretty bank from here till Setu Bandhasana: Do I HAVE to do this asana? Oh look that new girl just did it. Makes it look so easy..I'm envious.. Is D looking? Nope? Ok will pass then..hehee..backbends next.
After my third backbend, looked at myself in the reflection of the glass: Oh wow. pretty nice UD I have there. Now if only I can stand up. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.......nope I'm a chicken. Where's the teacher? (At this point D shouted across the room, can you stand up on your own? And I told him to come over) OK..he's right there..stand up. Eh...I lost it again..no engagement of the legs. Whats this?? Whats this? Repeat 3 times of the above " I lost it again" since I totally lost my standing up. I don't know what happened to them? Its like I can't stand up without B around!
Paschimotanasana after the backbends: Arrrgghhhh..my back is killing me..
Handstands: I got to get the other foot off the wall..Its really hard..I'll bend one leg. Oh D's coming over with a block. Ok..he says to squeenze block. Oh cool I think I'm balancing..Oh cool I AM balancing! Hey I can balance! OK. Huh? Do it again you say? OK..oh wow I can TOTALLY handstand with a block wedged between my legs. I'm really good;) My body is aligned well but no arms strength? Hey thats not what B said, he says my arms are strong. But ok yes I did well. *BIG cheesy grin at teacher*.
So thats mysore for today. I'm really tired today, must have overdone the handstanding. I'm gonna have to do supta K on my own at home now in self practice cos I reckon D doesn't like tying people up in knots. If he doesn't help I don't think I will ever improve if I don't do it myself. Will update..
Blow by blow account of thoughts streaming through my mind in the asanas detailed below...(just shows how meditative my practice is.)
Surya Namaskaras : Good good..the bandhas are back in action..can float again. What a relieve. Phew.
Prasarita Padotanasana C : Can my hands reach the floor? Can it? Can it? Yes ..not bad..thought I lost that too. (which I did for a few weeks)
Jump through after Warrior 2 : I hope I don't thud too loud..Oh yes that WAS a BIG thud. Think I twisted my elbow on the way through..nope, seems ok though.
Mind pretty blank from then on till Navasana : Got to lift after this..oh can't do that cos of the wrist pain.. Will use my fists. Yep. ok good lift. I think D saw me cheating with the fists...hmm he's not saying anything. Great will use again for next 4. Good job..actually lifted instead of lifting my butt to cheat. Well done..you go girl!
Bhujapidasana: Ok head down feet through. Please let me get up into tithibasana for once..nope..no go there..landed on the butt again. Next time maybe.
Kurmasana : Oh good..flat today. Oh there's D coming over to flatten me more????? Ouch. Alright the stomach touched the floor.
Supta Kurmasana: Let me take some time here D. Oh wait I'm not ready yet..see. I told you I can't do it in one breath! Aren't you going to cross my feet on top the head? No? Oh why not? B always does it. No? Shucks he's pulling me up into tithibasana again without the feet crossed. Sigh...
Mind pretty bank from here till Setu Bandhasana: Do I HAVE to do this asana? Oh look that new girl just did it. Makes it look so easy..I'm envious.. Is D looking? Nope? Ok will pass then..hehee..backbends next.
After my third backbend, looked at myself in the reflection of the glass: Oh wow. pretty nice UD I have there. Now if only I can stand up. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.......nope I'm a chicken. Where's the teacher? (At this point D shouted across the room, can you stand up on your own? And I told him to come over) OK..he's right there..stand up. Eh...I lost it again..no engagement of the legs. Whats this?? Whats this? Repeat 3 times of the above " I lost it again" since I totally lost my standing up. I don't know what happened to them? Its like I can't stand up without B around!
Paschimotanasana after the backbends: Arrrgghhhh..my back is killing me..
Handstands: I got to get the other foot off the wall..Its really hard..I'll bend one leg. Oh D's coming over with a block. Ok..he says to squeenze block. Oh cool I think I'm balancing..Oh cool I AM balancing! Hey I can balance! OK. Huh? Do it again you say? OK..oh wow I can TOTALLY handstand with a block wedged between my legs. I'm really good;) My body is aligned well but no arms strength? Hey thats not what B said, he says my arms are strong. But ok yes I did well. *BIG cheesy grin at teacher*.
So thats mysore for today. I'm really tired today, must have overdone the handstanding. I'm gonna have to do supta K on my own at home now in self practice cos I reckon D doesn't like tying people up in knots. If he doesn't help I don't think I will ever improve if I don't do it myself. Will update..
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
1 May 2007
Self practice updates.
Nothing very interesting to update about actually. I'm just kinda bored and was itching to type something. Lets see, I did my primary series today at home. Everything was alright, but I couldn't get flat in kurmasana, and I certainly could not bring the feet together. D says that supta K is feet behind the head rather than in front. I don't know which is correct since B always just told me to cross the feet and duck my head under if I want to do it myself. Gregor Maehle in his book says for primary - cross feet in front and if you are in intermediate then cross behind the head. I am gonna take his word for it then.
David Williams is coming here for a work shop. I am thinking of going. But the other option would be for me to go down to Hong Kong or Bali to attend David Swenson's workshop..I still haven't decided what to do yet. I am actually really interested to attend Swenson's workshop..but I do have to travel a bit to get there..
I was at C's class yesterday, a hatha class. It was fun, we did quite a few backbends which I am enjoying again lately because my bad back has gotten better than a few months ago. We did natarajasana and eka pada rajakapotasana iv which I like a lot because I think its a beautiful pose. Am so glad the back is behaving again..I hope I don't do something stupid and injure myself again. My backbends have gotten better lately because I think the quads have lenghtened. Lots of lunges and supta virasana thingies that I do at home before I start practicing. Seems to work.
Also on a whim I took out Jonathan Urla's NY style pilates VCD and did his intermediate workout yesterday. My abs are hurting today. I think pilates will be very good for me since the aching can only mean its making me stronger (I am kinda sadistic right?) I think I need to do more of this, perhaps after my practice daily or at night before I sleep. My core has been one of the slowest things to improve besides the hip problem I have. So more ab work can't hurt me and can only help my primary series!
Nothing very interesting to update about actually. I'm just kinda bored and was itching to type something. Lets see, I did my primary series today at home. Everything was alright, but I couldn't get flat in kurmasana, and I certainly could not bring the feet together. D says that supta K is feet behind the head rather than in front. I don't know which is correct since B always just told me to cross the feet and duck my head under if I want to do it myself. Gregor Maehle in his book says for primary - cross feet in front and if you are in intermediate then cross behind the head. I am gonna take his word for it then.
David Williams is coming here for a work shop. I am thinking of going. But the other option would be for me to go down to Hong Kong or Bali to attend David Swenson's workshop..I still haven't decided what to do yet. I am actually really interested to attend Swenson's workshop..but I do have to travel a bit to get there..
I was at C's class yesterday, a hatha class. It was fun, we did quite a few backbends which I am enjoying again lately because my bad back has gotten better than a few months ago. We did natarajasana and eka pada rajakapotasana iv which I like a lot because I think its a beautiful pose. Am so glad the back is behaving again..I hope I don't do something stupid and injure myself again. My backbends have gotten better lately because I think the quads have lenghtened. Lots of lunges and supta virasana thingies that I do at home before I start practicing. Seems to work.
Also on a whim I took out Jonathan Urla's NY style pilates VCD and did his intermediate workout yesterday. My abs are hurting today. I think pilates will be very good for me since the aching can only mean its making me stronger (I am kinda sadistic right?) I think I need to do more of this, perhaps after my practice daily or at night before I sleep. My core has been one of the slowest things to improve besides the hip problem I have. So more ab work can't hurt me and can only help my primary series!
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