ashtanga yoga in my days

Oh, February is gone

2008-03-04T15:19:00.002+01:00

I must have had an overdose of blogging in January. Luckily not of yoga...!

I have more or less managed to keep up my minimum daily practice of at least sun salutations. If I am right, I have counted 4 or 5 missed days: busy Saturdays, one funeral, one sick leave.

There was almost a two-week break from the full practice due to influenza, but I did one Bodyflow class and praticed a little at home almost every day (see above). That seems to be sufficient to keep up the flexibility and the physical condition. Now I feel ok with the practice: almost zen, learning little by little NOT to have bad conscience of not practicing when tired/overloaded, and on the other hand, NOT to exhaust myself either.

I wonder if I am overdoing it the other way, me and my lazy ass...

Oh, January is gone?

2008-02-01T08:28:00.000+01:00

I am surprised how easy it was to keep doing at least a small yoga practice every day during 31 days under the WoYoPracMo. I certainly intend to keep it up, I am sort of gotten used to it.

So it is proven that there is no reason not to spend at least 10 minutes per day doing something that's good for you and that you enjoy and are committed to.

Thank you Yogamum, for creating this wonderful community of yogis and yoginis, and adding a little spice to our practice !

Since I am not a wizard in web, and not ready to spend too much time on blogging, I will continue writing only my blog here on ashtangi.net. I'll keep an eye on WoYoPracMo, however.

Day 30

2008-01-30T08:35:00.001+01:00

This morning I felt tired and felt just like skipping the whole thing. Then I grabbed my act together and thought "what a shame that would be" and did the sun salutations. A such a small thing is easy to do !

Days 28 & 29

2008-01-29T08:08:00.001+01:00

Monday: just the short 15 min sun sals at home + a super relax pose laying down feet against the wall and pillow under pelvis. Almost replaces going back to bed.

Today, full primary, very carefully carried out. Shoulder is a little sore, and I didn't get fingers together in Supta Kurmasana. With Teacher it went fine. Instead of headstand, I did the two chairs facing and head in-between. It hit's well the stiff muscles called trapezis or something.

Daily - even brief - practice is doing miracles

2008-01-27T17:34:00.000+01:00

Day 27, Sunday
Friday and Saturday mornings I did only the brief sun sal -routine.
Today I went to the - ah so wonderful - Sunday morning mysore at the Yoga School. We were about 15. The crowd and the fact that there is plenty of time and no work to go to, makes the Sunday mysores very pleasant.
Today I did my max load, first time since some time in mid-December. The max means up to Kapotasana, which was the best ever. Usually I am struggling very much, and still, so, but this was clearly the best. I am sure thanks to the little daily practice!
After practice, late breakfast with the girls, which makes the second treat of the day!

Day 25 Getting used to this

2008-01-25T07:46:00.000+01:00

This morning's short practice started very slow and stiff... I am little by little learning not to be in a hurry and not to look at the time every minute. After all, who cares if I am at work at 8 or 8.10 ?

My Hubby managed to say something irritating between sun sals 3 and 4, and that p...ed me off so that the rest went fast and I got almost out of breath and got a little sweat going! So thank you, Hubby! Then i did some hatha style stretchings on the floor and life was beautiful again.

Day 24: Full First Series

2008-01-24T08:57:00.000+01:00

... oh, it's been long since I last did the full first.

The Teacher is back, and for me it's "back to normal routine now", end with the whining and fussing around. Full practice min two, rather 3-4 times a week, and gradually back to the beginning of 2nd series when I feel ready.

But I like the daily 10-minute morning sun sal routine. I think I'll try to keep it going even after the WoYoPracMo! It feels different to go to work after that: somehow the bones are in better places.

I got the stick today! During Urdhva Dhanurasana, the Teacher was pointing at the place of attention in my back by holding a stick under my back: somewhere between the kidneys and shoulder blades.

Day 21

2008-01-21T15:26:00.000+01:00

At least finding titles for the blogs is very easy this month!

Last week's practice diary was as follows: 16th and 17th "almost full practice", 18th and 19th the very short, 20th Body Flow (1,5 hours led) and today 21th the short-but-not-the shortest practice. And tomorrow, when I was counting to go to the School for a full practice and finally see my Teacher after his trip to India, it's moon day... For some bizarre reason I can't find the discipline to keep it going at home: as soon as I get a little tired, I stop. At school I continue.

Any tips how to avoid giving up easily at home ?

Day 16 and still kickin'

2008-01-16T09:18:00.002+01:00

Actually I am practicing less than during my active periods of "normal" training rhythm.
My morning mysore is normally 2,5 hours, and now, due to the last week of the holiday season, it is only 2 hours. And I am still lazy from Christmas holidays.

But I am practicing every day. Not much but every day. Between today and last Thursday, the practice was really 15-20 minutes of sun sals, trikonasana, forward bending and headstand. That's not bad either.

Almost full first seems like huge physical effort, so the condition is going down with these light practices.

Day 10: one third already in the pocket!

2008-01-10T17:40:00.000+01:00

This is not so hard, actually. I wasn't at all sure how I'd manage when I decided to do the WoYoPracMo (or something...).

Today was morning mysore. Spent a little more time with the Replacement Teacher in some sitting asanas. And I got to teach a little, too: I got to teach her how I like to be assisted in kurmasana and supta kurmasana. This sounds not very respectful, but she said she doesn't know that well, since her normal students aren't there yet. Well, that's about how far I got today. I don't like the holiday season schedule; we start half an hour later than usually and I have to be at work at 9 anyway.

For the first time since Christmas, the practice was light and I felt like moving well.

A Refreshing Treat at Noon

2008-01-09T15:16:00.000+01:00

Day 9 practice was a discreet slipping away from the office and doing a 1.5 hour Bodyflow class at 11:00. That was nice!

Day 8

2008-01-08T08:32:00.001+01:00

Lazyness in waking up this morning cost me 10 minutes in bed, which meant a bus 15 minutes later, which meant the start of practice 15 minutes later, which actually cost me the last part of first series!

Anyway, it was a very necessary practice since I was stiff from Sunday's practice.

Day 7

2008-01-07T09:56:00.000+01:00

Yesterday's class was a 1,5-hour led Bodyflow, which takes elements from ashtanga, pilates, among others. It was fun to do new stuff and not know what is coming next. It is also fun to realize how nul (I mean NIX, ZERO) strength and coordination is, when it comes to any position that's not in the ashtanga sequence. Then again, some exercises were soooo easy (those from ashtanga, of course). But I am a little sore from some parts today.

Day 7 today was a quick sun-sals at home before rushing to work.

Missed yesterday - the blogging, not the yoga

2008-01-06T11:19:00.000+01:00

Friday, day 4, was tough. I managed to do my little bit of yoga in two parts. We are counting minutes, here. Does thinking of yoga count?

Day 5 was a nice and solid, but quite brief practice. Sun-sals, some standing and a couple of sitting asanas followed by a brief sitting-and-breathing. I wouldn't call it meditation, however.

Day 6 will be a led class at another school.

Day 3

2008-01-04T09:40:00.000+01:00

Day three of my "yoga month" was a normal Thursday morning mysore practice at the School. First series only, since there has been a slight slipping-out of the routine. Our Teacher is in India and the teacher was one of my co-ashtangis. Since we were not very many, the feeling was intimate, warm and nice.

Maybe this becomes my "write my blog every day month" too?

Pushing aside those Christmas chocolates in the tummy ...

Day 2

2008-01-02T14:49:00.001+01:00

Just quick sun salutations, since had to wake up and go to work (you remember...). But the day isn't finished yet.

Yoga Month

2008-01-01T19:20:00.000+01:00

I started the Yoga Month today by a beautiful 20-minute sun sals and some other stuff, and to motivate myself, even joined the WoYoPracMo. I followed it last year thinking "what the heck is that again, the Americans just love being social"... and here I am. I guess I have so little social life left that I have to do it online.

My objective is to do the "official minimum" of 10 minutes every day, including Saturdays and moon days, but modifying the practice according to my feelings/time available. There will be my usual 2-3 full 2-hour practices a week, and instead of doing nothing the rest of the days, I will do just the sun salutations or just the standing asanas or whatever I feel like. For over six months I have been planning to practice at least the suns every day, instead of the full practice only. I am confident that a smaller portion which is done regularly will bring better results (whatever those are) and is healthier for the body and mind.

By the way, the official abbreviation of the WoYoPracMo is completely unmemorisable! Please let's make it Yoga Month, simple and beautiful. Please?

Progress is inevitable

2007-12-18T15:03:00.000+01:00

The practice is like kids growing in front of you, you don't see the progress but it happens. You need milestones.

Even if we should just enjoy the practice without any attachment to progress, for me it is a great source of motivation and pleasure to see that actually there is some progress. Of course sometimes we loose it, and have to start over again.

The funny thing is that you progress when you don't expect it; during a laziness break, during easy practices, suddenly and surprisingly. You stop wanting it and you get it.

Of course, growing kids don't get smaller...

The responsibility of daily practice

2007-12-13T14:21:00.000+01:00

Or should I say "practice", for short?

That's the great wisdom of mysore style practice of ashtanga yoga; the complete responsibility of the practice lies within the individual herself. The teacher gives you only what you want to take.

Learning comes entirely from the student. There is no teaching, only learning.

I often apply this approach to other things in life, where we are pushed into doing things that we don't really want to do, or wouldn't know how to do, or don't know what that thing does to us.

Sometimes I try to push other people into doing what I want them to do. I try to remember that they will not learn anything that they don't want to learn, and no teaching can take place unless they want to learn. And then they will.

Doing less is more (more difficult!)

2007-06-12T12:20:00.001+02:00

After some exhaustion and health problems I need to step back a little in my ashtanga practice. It is not easy to maintain self-respect when the heart is pumping at full speed during the standing asanas and because you are out of breath, you try to do it even more slowly. Trying not to remember "days of glory" when nothing seemed impossible.

It is even more difficult to step back during those "days of glory" in order to NOT fall in the wickedly sneaking exhaustion and health problems again!

This is a very comprehensive practice.

Thank God it is Friday

2007-05-25T06:57:00.000+02:00

It IS ONLY first series on Fridays, thank God. Even if I don't practice 6 times a week, I try to keep the Fridays to first series.

The first series was like a nice, warm re-welcome to the family's arms this morning. I feel at home, I feel welcome, and most of the time I know what I am doing, and I play a little. And I am not dead exhausted afterwards.

All this was contrary to my last practice this week (which was Tuesday). I've been doing most of primary and the second up to a "sort of Kapotasana". It is actually quite an effort to bend the upper back back and intensively use the muscles of the front of the thighs (whatever they are called) during several similar postures following each other! But it has been a continued hype experience, new victories day after day, getting better each practice... So it was only normal that I would come back down one day. Last Tuesday I started crying (!) because I can't get my feet straight in my jump-backs! What a sucker... Well, we all get emotional sometimes, don't we? And I had the ladies days coming... And it sucks that I can't get those feet straight! So a couple of days off did me good, and even the jump-backs went further back, before toes touched the ground (not all the way straight, though).

I was at the school on my mat at 5.30 and finished at 7. So I have a moment to write before work calls... Nice weekend everyone!

Jihaa, I touched my toes!

2007-05-03T14:56:00.000+02:00

Dear three readers, I managed to touch my toes today in Kapotasana A while elbows were touching ground. This was weird, since the toes felt like somebody else's toes, they were not where I thought they were.

I did the shortened version of first series: up to supta kurmasana, then second series up to Kapotasana the "gentil" (some would say Iyengar) way. Ursula, here comes:

I sit down on my behind, my knees bent, heels next to my butt. I go slowly down on my back, my knees bent and my heels next to my behind on the floor. Usually I stay there for a while, then I start lifting my pelvis by putting a block under the tailbone. The tailbone must be well towards the knees and the position must remain relatively comfortable. The knees should not spread too much. I usually put another block under my back. I stay there for 5 minutes and let the fronts of my thighs stretch.

When I am fed up with this position, I take the block away from under my back and put my hands "above" my head on the floor. I lift my back, put the top of my head down and try to make a nice curve with my back. Opening the chest... I "walk" my fingers towards my feet and I pull myself up with my knees and legs. I move my head, and try to put it straight towards the floor. I try to keep my elbows in line. There, little by little approaching, I managed to touch my toes today and have my elbows on the floor at the same time. It took three weeks...

I wouldn't do this if my back is not hot enough and I wouldn't go down the "usual way" yet.

Uuuh, it's tough!

2007-04-25T11:43:00.000+02:00

Dear Reader (since I seem to have at least two!)

Today was one of those days when we can just remember how sometimes the breath flowed smoothly and the muscles did what we expect them to do and the backbones moved away from each other and twisted nicely, and the shoulder blades slid elegantly towards each other and then away from each other again. Not today.

A week's break from "serious" practice takes its toll. Duty travel and ashtanga practice are not an easy match, I managed to practice three times, and no more than the beginners' lot at the most.

We'll, I am back again!

Exploring new spaces

2007-04-13T13:24:00.000+02:00

Luckily my Teacher is very flexible, intellectual and curious.

I must confess that I've been a little bit "fed up" with repeating the primary series. Although there is certainly still unlimited challenges and progress to be made, there is less excitement of adventure and enthousiasm.

I've been a little bit into the second series, battling with only having the energy and the force to go so far without being completely exhausted. Forget about doing anything really elegantly or even correctly.

Last week the Teacher said "let's take it to a new level". He corrected my pasasana, my krounchasana "to a new (that is more challenging) level" and we started working on a correct and safe way to go to ustrasana, descending slowly and carefully to a pile of mats on laghu vajrasana, and starting to work on the kapotasana the Iyengar way; from down to up. Actually I had started to work on that on my own some weeks ago, stretching the front of my body and legs on the ground and trying to lift up and touch the floor with elbows. My upper back is very stiff, so I don't even dream of backdrops yet. I would only hurt myself.

This is all very challenging. Luckily I have the "official permission" to do only a half primary when time is limited, that is most days. First half on one day and the second half on another day. It is certainly the best way of using my time for yoga now!

Weird energies

2007-03-22T10:59:00.000+01:00

Yesterday's practice was heavy. The revenge of that of Tuesday? I admit I was too eager to say that there is no soreness...

There was also some weird negative energy in the air. Where does that come from? From my own head or from the (negative) girl next to me? She is a friend and always a very friendly person, but I always get a kind of negative feeling with her. As if there was some hidden agenda or lack of self-esteem by herself. You know how with some people you are really at ease and they give you a lot without even knowing it themselves - I believe they give because they are so well within their skin. Well, when someone is not well, that takes instead of giving. And often people themselves don't know how they are not well. So sad. And that sadness takes off energy from the ashtanga practice. Can it?

Some intense chest and back opening

2007-03-20T09:08:00.000+01:00

So quickly the practice becomes routine again. The strength builds up only after a couple of weeks of more intense training. And the best part: there is no soreness.

I am doing the first series, my little part of the second series, and some extra but quite intense front-body opening stuff. Plus a beginner's version of vatayanasana and a real gomukhasana. They are great for my neck and upper back - they open up the chest and the space between the shoulder blades.

Spring is coming and with that some light and some new energy!

Another new start

2007-03-17T10:12:00.000+01:00

If someone was following my blog, she'd say "this gal doesn't do much of yoga, nor blogging". It has been more than two months since my last entry, and only now I finally have the time and the motivation to write about yoga practice again.

Actually, I've been doing yoga almost every day for the last three weeks. It is just not the standard ashtanga practice, but "fooling around" within the limited time and energy level. I've been very busy and stressed at work since January. Since I had a slight burn-out last year, I've learnt that when things go heavy at work, the ashtanga practice must go light. And vice-verse: I can intensify my ashtanga practice as soon as things at work are calmer. It is the samastiti of life, finding the balance between different things. My energy level is enought for only a certain amount of intense doing, all included.

What is really nice, my Teacher understands this and has showed me some recovering asanas. He doesn't mind if I come to the mysore class and do only those. Actually it seems to interest him - his approach to ashtanga yoga is on one hand very disciplined and hard-working, but on the other hand, very human and warm and permitting. He likes to play with a lot of iyengar gears and I think that is genial. After all we are all different, have different handicaps and different days, and therefore the practice should respond to those differences. One thing about yoga that I have learnt is to be flexible - and I am not talking about physical flexibility, which has come along. I have always been a flexible person if situations that require, but I have learnt to be flexible for my own expectations, as well. More gentil and accepting to my own weaknesses. That is a great relief in life.

I hope my hubby would learn that as well. And to calm his mind.

So, for the practice, only this week I have returned to the "normal". During an intense period at work, I decided to limit my mysore practices to three a week. During the travels, I carried my light mat, and did at least the sun salutations every morning. Sometimes a little more, according to the time and energy available.

The hard part of not practising the "full lot" regularly is that I get sore. After a small pause, the first practice is really nice, sore nowhere and full of power. You fly! The next day is a different story: hamstrings are sore, arms are tight, and the practice is heavy and hard. But knowing that it will all come back, you "fight through it" and the day after it is already easier.

The difficult part is to know when you should not push through the practice. It is difficult to see when your "I'll stop at navasana" thoughts are due to mental and physical lazyness, or a profound fatigue and lack of energy. In the first case I believe you should continue, and in the latter, go easy or stop... The difficult part is to recognize which one it is.

A new start for my blogs

2007-01-13T16:04:00.000+01:00

A month has gone by without blogging, but luckily, not without yoga. We'll see how that phrase will be on my next entry (two months? a year?).

I've been on holidays enjoying the Christmas season, at the cottage, home and in Spain, and practicing whenever I've had a chance.

We spent a week in Barcelona and I visited the Yoga Studio there. Very nice and cozy place with nice people. I've practiced alone at the cottage, which is actually very comfortable since it's very warm on the upper floor towards noon with the downstairs fire-place going since 9 am, and no disturbances. I have even managed to practice at home, but that is always too difficult with the cat, kids and a million other things to do. Our mysore Teacher has been on vacation, too, so it's been self practice for couple of weeks: at the shala I have much less problems to practice alone, it's the correct set-up and with a chance, I have company, which makes the practice always easier. Had a flu also after Christmas, so there was a small break.

I don't know whether other yogis have the tendency to "cheat" when practicing alone, but for me the first weak sign of fatigue is easily the mark to stop there and move to the finishing asanas. Even if I know that I should just ignore it and go on. But I am getting better, enjoying more each asana, and continuing one by one. Sometimes I decide what to do (full primary only, my bit of intermediaty, too or less if I don't have the time or if recovering, just up to navasana), sometimes I decide that at 8.00 I'll move to finishing, and do whatever I manage to do until then. Sometimes I fool around, when the Teacher is not there.

So I've managed to practice about 3 times a week, which is fine for this period. I will go on like this, since I have a lot to do at work right now, and I promised to myself to take it easier on yoga when the going gets tough at work. I even appreciate the practice more when I don't do it every day.

Back in line

2006-12-07T11:35:00.000+01:00

A week has gone by without blogging, but fortunately not without practicing ashtanga.

I enjoy always (well, almost always) reading other people's blogs, but that does make me very critical to my own writing. I feel that when I have nothing to say, I should not say it. And I admit, being anonymous and having decided that I will only write about ashtanga practice (and a little bit of blogging) does make my blog very boring. Maybe it is just a way of noting things for me, for later review and memories... Checking dates for past injuries and occasional moments of progress. With the little excitement that maybe, maybe there is someone out there who actually reads this... Makes me try, at least, to avoid typos, if not write better.

I did practice last Friday - a tough led class after work. I was sore on Saturday! And lazy on Sunday. And had a morning meeting on Monday, so I returned to my normal mysore class on Tuesday only. And today, Thursday. But full play up to parsva dhanurasana each time now. I've decided to go easy again for the sake of Christmas and to ease up a little bit since I have done two months of quite intensive practice and start to feel a weak but permanent fatigue. And the left knee is still bothering me, this time even in padmasana! A moment of very concentrated correct breathing is for every day, though.

Good news, bad news

2006-11-28T08:56:00.000+01:00

Ashtanga is a good practice for the mind to learn not to dwell too long in any comfort zone - as soon as you get good news on one front, you are bound to hit a major setback on another!

My complete practice starts to seem like a manageable routine, whereas only two weeks ago it was a MAJOR effort to do all of it. That's the good news.

The bad news is that my left knee hurts.

Four hours today

2006-11-26T17:33:00.000+01:00

My Teacher had told me to come to his technical class one Sunday, to revise the basics of breathing. That was today, after the nice Sunday morning mysore.

Mysore was fine, I am learning to go a littel faster and I manage to finish the first series and the bits and pieces of second plus the finishing & relaxation in about two hours. And I am less out of breath at the end of my "cake". And, the progress: laying on the pile of mats stretching chest with arms tied above head towards floor (for urdhva dhanurasana) does not feel so much any more. That is a good sign. It used to be pain after 5 seconds!

Technical class was light, but it is still very intense to concentrate on the micro-adjustments of breathing and movements while doing sun salutations. Gets the sweat out quickly again. It was useful, and gave me new things to think about while I do my practice.

So light, so busy

2006-11-24T15:37:00.000+01:00

Both today and yesterday were really a reward for all the trouble of Tuesday and having been sick. Practice was almost light, and the best part of it was that I was completely zen afterwards, including my hamstring muscles, which usually are a little shaky after an intense practice. I walked to work and nothing was shaky or hurting.

I felt so light and I thought that maybe I have passed a limit of being weakened and fatigued by the practice and instead gathering new pure light energy. We'll see.

I am terribly busy at work right now, so barely time to write or read blogs.

Whoah, it is coming back

2006-11-22T08:57:00.000+01:00

It was nice to taste an even practice period earlier this autumn. Knowing more or less what to expect and then usually getting it.

Today, was the absolute contrast of yesterday; a quite nice solid practice. Really it's been a roller-coaster. Well, what goes up must come down.

Left knee is starting to give trouble: we did something in Sunday's jin class which my knee did not like at all. Must be careful with that.

This practice is beating me up

2006-11-21T08:41:00.000+01:00

It is less pleasant to be afraid of the practice, but that's how I felt today.

I hate the feeling of being beaten up by the practice, being weak and tired and out of breath, fighting with your mental self whether to cheat or continue or stop completely. Asking yourself whether this whole thing is finally not meant for you, and that your body just can't take the heat.

Luckily I had planned a very light set for today, and got through it ok, but the fear was there. It's terrible, worse than watching a horror movie (which I don't like to do either). I understand that having been sick makes you physically weak, and puts your mind down, too, but the feeling was real. I also ask myself, whether I have a serious block with the second; every time I decide to go for it, I fall ill (that's twice so far).

Well, learning the no-attachment part; I pictured myself as a gray old wrinkled lady, still doing the primary. It was not a bad image, after all.

Fever

2006-11-17T10:55:00.000+01:00

Two days of fever.

First I thought that I had overdone it. Tuesday I did the super-lot up to my bits of the second, plus intensive urdhva dhanurasanas, including some micro adjustments in a lot of positions. Tuesday evening I massaged my whole body with the Japanese miracle box. Hubby told me that was too much.

Wednesday morning I was slow, lazy and tired in the practice. I managed the first series in two (2!) hours, and that's without relaxation. Some slow practice. I found myself staring out of the window between a vinyasa and the asana. I had a lot of micro adjustments, as well, so that explains some of the "staring", you must slow down and stop for a while to really feel and remember the feeling of a slightly different way of doing a asana. Well, Wednesday afternoon I had fever. And yesterday, and today. Plus headache and running nose.

I was seriously thinking whether too much ashtanga and massage together can create fever. Like sometimes you feel this hot burn in the joints after a very intensive practice. Could it be? Could the body be smart enough to have it's way of telling me to calm it down a little before anything more serious happens? Well with the winter coming, colleagues being sick and with the runny nose, it is probably just a normal cold.

A break of two days is making me miss ashtanga practice already. I'll keep my head cold though, and re-start only when there is no more fever. I feel stiff.

Sing along (Velvet Underground) Sunday Morning...

2006-11-13T15:12:00.000+01:00

Today I did only sun salutations, since I did the whole lot yesterday (Sunday) and intend to do it tomorrow too (if whoever permits). I'll try to do my whole package now every time except Fridays. We'll see if I can handle it and whether it becomes easier.

Sunday mornings are just like in the Velvet Underground song, sunny, happy, warm and peaceful. I love doing the mysore class at school on Sundays ! There is no hurry, the room is warmer and we can enjoy daylight! And some occasional visitors come, too. That's always fun/interesting.

I don't know why my blog is not showing any more on the Ashtangi.net (it was, at one time), therefore I really don't know to whom I keep writing these little notes. Maybe to myself, to see later on how I thought and with what I struggled at this period of time. Anyways, I enjoy reading other people's blogs.

Building up the stamina

2006-11-09T15:32:00.000+01:00

I need to do the intermediate part more often. As it is now, I am completely out of breath and my legs are jelly at the salabhasana B!

At the present, I am practicing four to five times a week, two of these with the intermediate, two to three times I do only primary, Saturdays nothing, and the occasional no-practice morning, just the sun salutations. That seems like a rhythm that I can live with. Clearly, that might well build up the stamina for a longer practice, but very slowly. If I want to be less exhausted in the intermediate, I should do that part more often.

That's one thing I have learnt by doing ashtanga: just by repeating a difficult task (asana) X times, by force of nature, it becomes easier. The more you repeat it, the faster that happens. There is no talent nor tricks involved.

Learn to breath again

2006-11-08T12:10:00.000+01:00

In the dhanurasana, when done correctly, the hip-bones and the lowest ribs touch the ground and breathing lifts the chest.

Now, I will have to learn to breath that way also in the urdhva dhanurasana, which is the same but upside down. That is not easy, let me tell you.

Actually, I should learn to breath that way in all my asanas. Well, actually all the time.

What a challenge, this practice of ashtanga yoga!

Very Zen Practice

2006-11-07T15:53:00.000+01:00

It is so nice when the practice goes smoothly, nothing hurts or is too tight, and the energy is sufficient and mind is calm. It was a very nice primary series today.

Maybe nothing is too tight because of the massage last Friday and the miraculous Japanese massage machine that I bought last week! It's called Bullman (I think, sorry for the advertising!), and it's a little black box with two handles and "thumbs" that rotate and press you. Very much like a human massage, except that it's always available and you pay only once (a lot more, though...). And it doesn't reply to you when you try to start a discussion.

I don't know if other ashtangis have become as conscious about the condition of their own muscles as I have. I feel the stiffness building up and (sometimes) loosening, and definitely a massage from time to time is very necessary. And it makes a huge difference for the practice. I used to have a baseball to lie on, to smoothen those trigger points in the upper back and in the buttocks, but now my "new best friend" let the baseball retire.

On Sunday, I did also the primary series, despite of the Moon Day. Otherwise I would have had too many days of break.

Going easy today

2006-11-03T13:11:00.000+01:00

Yesterday's practice was the full package; the complete primary, 6 first asanas of the intermediate, then urdhva dhanurasanas (I'm at seven now, and its getting easier), and finishing.

It is still quite an effort to do all of that. I wonder if one day I'll call that lot the "easy day"...

Today I did only a quick 45 minute session of sun salutations, beginning of the standing asanas, just the paschimottasanas and my "arms-tied-lying-on-the-pile-of- mats-reaching-down-over-my-head" chest opening thing, and just the shoulderstand, headstand, and padmasana to finish. I felt nice and relaxed afterwards, not sweaty and shaky as usually after the pratice.

Worrying about intermediate series

2006-11-01T13:58:00.000+01:00

Today was another fun try for the sitting-up-supta kurmasana, which is actually called dwi pada sirsasana in the intermediate series! Luckily the Teacher is not too tight about keeping it in the primary series.... it's fun to do something different, and just to ask is enough to get that fun!

I did up to parsva dhanurasana again (my max dose right now), and during all of the asanas of the second, I was completely out of breath and tired. I wonder why: in the primary series, I have learnt to take it cool, trying to stay zen, and after an intense moment, regain my peace quite quickly. Maybe I am just so excited about being in the second series!

After the class I discussed a little bit with the Teacher on the subject: how on earth can people do the whole first and then build up the second and still have energy and time for a "normal life" ?! That is really bothering me. Do I expect that I gain so much strength and speed that one day I'll do both of them with the same amount of energy and time that I do the primary now? Do I skip something in the primary, once I am further along in the intermediate? I guess time will tell. I still remember how the beginners' load (up to navasana) seemed A LOT in the beginning...

Just a regular stiff practice

2006-10-31T15:17:00.000+01:00

A regular stiff practice (hamstrings are tight, the right shoulder doesn't move well, etc etc) seems like a punishment after a series of nice and smooth practices. The best practice soon becomes the standard and anything below is no longer good.

We (that is the Teacher and I) tried the supta kurmasana the sitting up way today. The legs got up there quite nicely, feet well crossed behind the neck. Except that my hands didn't reach each other any more. With a little help I got them to join and landed down on the floor. After that it was just like a normal supta kurmasana. Maybe it hold a little better when getting out. Anyway, it was a nice try.

I am usually doing this little Iyengar (or something) thing on the pile of mats before urdhva dhanurasana to open my chest and to make my shoulder blades move better. I have become really addict of it, and my chest doesn't seem to open at all without this extra step! I pile blankets under my upper back, so that I have a really strong curve on the upper back and chest, and I tie my arms with a belt. Then I try to straighten my arms and set my hands on the floor. That is very intense for my whole upper body! Sometimes I am out of breath from just staying there for a while.

Nice Sunday morning

2006-10-29T16:14:00.000+01:00

Today I wanted to try to get to supta kurmasana sitting up, putting one leg at the time behind my head (like John Scott). I tried it after having done my everything-on-the-ground version of the same. One leg seemed to go up and behind rather easily and the shoulder and the whole side came well in front of the leg, but then I was too scared to try to lift the other leg up. I tried the other side as well, same result. I asked the Teacher if we could try a sitting-up-supta kurmasana one day, he said "why not". I'd feel more safe with the Teacher by my side. It will be interesting.

One of the numerous jumpback-swings on the blocks felt like the real thing. I think I got the idea, or something towards it... Otherwise it is still just like before.

I like these Sunday morning mysores, although I rarely go there. It is a nice feeling to not to be in a hurry.

"But the sausage is good"

2006-10-27T09:50:00.000+02:00

Some time ago there was a TV ad where a guy (it was an Indian guy, clearly a backpack tourist in my cold country) was camping, sitting in front of his tent, in the rain and wind, trying desparately to make a fire. Under miserable conditions, he was cold, wearing his sleeping bag over his shoulders, certainly hungry, and the wind blow his tent away! Then he gave out a big smile saying "But the sausage is good!".

Every time a see a ashtanga blogger saying how "the practice was good" I think about this guy.

Asana by asana

2006-10-26T16:19:00.000+02:00

The way to do it is by no means to think about how many asanas are left! That drains out all energy. It's one by one.

Today was the second kick-ass practice all the way up to dhanurasana, which started by being lazy, I-can't-do-it-today-I'll-just-do-a-little-bit-and-then-stop practice and turned out to be very nice and calm and zen.

A lot of patience is needed now: still jumping back on the blocks (first I wrote: blogs!) with no visible progress, still coiling the shoulderblades and pushing those urdhva dhanurasanas, still trying to lower down well from the lower back in forward bends, and still trying to approach shoulder blades to the spine in twists. The assisted supta kurmasana was probably the best ever today, and the hamstring was only lightly tight... It is a power-building phase, teasing the body and insisting so that it will bend one day.

I was thinking today how lucky I am that after almost four years I have had no injuries!

The old age is getting me, Part 2

2006-10-25T12:50:00.000+02:00

We went out with some yoga girls to eat in a Nepalese restaurant last night. The plate of okra and rice, accompanied with sauces, bred and a mango lassi was too much, and I was almost in pain for the evening and also suffering during the night... I was wondering if I could practice this morning, but then the food seemed to settle a bit and finally "the practice was good".

Cannot drink any more, cannot eat any more, cannot party any more, ashtanga yoga has truly changed my life! Cannot even support cigarette smoke from a distance any more! Or smelly people. It's a wonder I can still watch TV and chew gum.

Actually the practice was very good today. I felt strong and added once again one intermediate asana and did up to parsva dhanurasana. And since I have learnt from some fellow ashtanga bloggers that it is good to do a lot of urdhva dhanurasanas, I added one again today (its six now). That's how it will be easier one day? We are a funny community, learning from each other. I also did most of my vinyasas with the blocks again, trying to get the swingy movement into the body memory.

The old age is getting me

2006-10-24T10:46:00.000+02:00

This morning was struggle from bed to bus to mat and to finishing asanas.

Had some energy, however, for some interesting (but certainly not beautiful) block-buster-jump-backs with supposedly one foot ahead all the way back and the other supposedly following. And coming back to front with legs supposedly straight before hitting the ground with bottom. Its called the "Operation Snowflake", reference to a couple of my more advanced friends' much more elegant way of doing all that.

Yesterday evening's half primary was not very reasonable before morning mysore. The night just doesn't allow enough rest for an old lady like me. Note to self: do not practice in the evening before morning mysore.

Pity to all ashtanga blog readers

2006-10-23T12:36:00.000+02:00

It is funny how the routine of writing a little something about the day's practice takes its place. Even when we have nothing to say, as most ashtanga bloggers seem to be... I guess it is called practice-practice-practice; as we try to do our little something on the mat every day, we soon create the same routine on the blog. I became especially critical towards my boring ashtanga nonsense after having found the excellent entries by Jason on his Leaping Lanka. His Ashtanga Yoga BlogBot TM (May 26, 2006) is hilarious and so true!

Friday's practice was a hassle: I wanted to do mysore in a corner of a led class. The led class had been moved to a smaller room due to some event in the bigger room, and I and my friend H. ended up finishing the series in the corridor. Well, for once, there was a lot of distractions and the practice went by on its own. Hmmm, maybe not the best possible way of doing it, but we always have to be glad that we did it anyway, right? Better than nothing.

Saturday was holiday, and Sunday was jin yoga. Some niiiiice looooong streches. Today, a afternoon mysore is planned, so you may hear about it tomorrow. Hopefully something interesting (please Teacher give me something to write about!).

Iyengar is good, too

2006-10-19T11:17:00.000+02:00

I was the first one at the school this morning. Light up some candles and started with the little one, M. She was early, too.

Somehow I am much cooler with the practice these days. No big emotional storms or "highs" and "downs" like I used to have. It was almost scary to never know what kind of feelings the practice will bring up. Sometimes just a thought would bring tears in the eyes, or a least critical word from the Teacher would just drain out all power from the body. Today I made a comment (or two) that I shouldn't have, and got a gentle "mind your own business", and I was cool with it. Well almost... In general, I should continue learn to better concentrate on my own practice and not pay attention to what happens around. It is not easy, I am too social and it's too interesting to see what happens around.

I was doing a not-so-official little adjustment in marichi A and B, and the Teacher said that is the Iyengar way. Instead of lowering the upper body in the front, I twisted it towards the back keeping the back straight, before going down. I went all the way to dhanurasana today and did a lot of coiling and shoulder-blade pulling etc. for the urdhva dhanurasana. Thursday is the max effort day!

No sweat !

2006-10-18T08:23:00.000+02:00

Today's practice was cool. I was just doing my thing without any special feelings. That feels great - I mean afterwards, when you realize that you feel something again. Sort of being somewhere else, and then coming back.

... So, until marichis, when my right shoulder was very much stuck again, and the shoulder blade refused to move close to the spine. As if there was a little lego brick between the two. I only started sweating in marichis.

I was also working on my back-jumps with the blocks under the arms, lifting, swinging and landing on one foot behind my behind. One foot because the Teacher said so: land only with the front foot and straighten the other leg in the meanwhile. It's not simple to figure out which foot should do what... and I imagine that I should change feet, too.

Very short finishing asanas without any upside-downs.

Pampering

2006-10-17T07:52:00.000+02:00

This morning I was pampered by myself.

First, I woke up later than usually, took a shower and went to the yoga school.

Then, I did the woman's day practice (from "Relax and Renew" by Judith Lasater). It takes less than an hour and feels really nice. It gives a lot of energy.

I used to curse these days, because I had to miss a day's practice, but now I see it as an opportunity to a legitimate "day off" and rest.

Green tomatoes

2006-10-16T18:14:00.000+02:00

Today was a ladies holiday and I had suddenly much extra time and extra energy for the day. Had to plan what to do instead. Ashtanga takes so much time that missing a practice leaves me with extra hours!

I got back home from work early and did my pickled green tomatoes (the last ones from my garden) and the famous Swedish plate Jansson's something (with potatoes - from my garden- anchovies and cream in the oven). Guess what my family prefers; mama doing her ashtanga practice or cooking?

But as usually, no day goes by without yoga. I have done bandhas all day long, and some coiling and shoulder blade pulling as well. And, yes, I have been accepted in the ashtangi.net!

Its much easier to do a led class

2006-10-15T15:04:00.000+02:00

Friday's led was nice and very useful, although at some point I was really physically tired (not just the normal whining-tired). It must be the day of work taking its toll. The Teacher M (it's another one) kept reminding us about bandhas, which is exactly what I need now, since I decided to start thinking about them!

M said after the class that my practice has changed enormously since she has seen me the last time. I believe that. I feel that since the May workshop with Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty (they are so famous and excellent so there is no use keeping them "anonyme". If you have a chance to go to their workshop somewhere, do go!), having put everything I had learnt so far in little pieces and since then, rebuilt everything with a considerable effort, must show somewhere. We had like 3-hour primaries after the workshop, putting every little finger and muscle in its place in each asana... The quality of the practice is now so much better, and it feels better as well. And it is healthier and safer, and I feel confident that it is possible to build on this practice without any danger. So many people hurt their knees and backs, it is a shame.

Yesterday was a day off, and this morning I did the litte sun salutations routine: 3As, 3Bs, little forward-bending and little upside-downs. And now I'm going to that nice Sunday-afteroon jin class.

Going easier and - not sore at all

2006-10-13T08:57:00.000+02:00

I got my first comment - thank you, you Anonymous! Nice to know someone is reading this. I don't know, however, why your comment doesn't show anywhere on the blog. I should study the set-ups etc...

Yesterday was a short practice, only up to navasana. The Teacher was sick, and since I had planned a lighter practice, at the end I helped a girl in her sirsasana. I was doing all my jump-backs with two blocks under my hands, trying not to touch the floor with my feet on the way and trying to keep the bandhas... Had some success: instead of tapping my feet on the ground under my butt as usually, they touched the ground about half-a-meter further back. Is that progress? I never really got the idea of bandhas, and I never really think about them. Maybe I should start now? Lots of questions.

Today I will do an afternoon led class. A nice way to leave the working week behind and start the weekend!

A little holiday with a friend

2006-10-11T11:18:00.000+02:00

For me, doing the ashtanga practice and NOT having to rush to work afterwards is a luxury, a holiday. My firend "K" and I had agreed to go and have a nice no-hurry breakfast in a nice café after the practice today, and that felt like a day off work, although I went to work towards 11 am.

I am tired of having pain somewhere all the time (well, most of the time). To get rid of the tightness in the hamstrings, I studied the trigger point theraby book last night and massaged them. Resutl: they are sore now... But trigger points would explain the troubles: the shortened muscles and tightness, slight pain, and the fact that for a muscle with the trigger points, stretching does not bring any benefits. So I was sitting on the floor with a baseball under my "hams". My right shoulder was also sore from the triggering effect of shoulderblade yesterday. One day all this will be gone (and new problems will have arrived!). I am, however, convinced about the benefits of the trigger point therapy, but it requires some effort and patience.

Did up to bhekasana today, and it went almost smoothly. I am getting stronger little by little.

Back to the intermediate series

2006-10-10T09:09:00.000+02:00

It seems that enough time has passed from the April 2006 slight burnout and the slow, very slow crawling back to full primary series to start building up the beginning of the intermediate again. Almost five months, not so very long. It is almost scary - I had planned to go for it really slowly, like one asana per month, maximum, and now I was told to do four first ones. Pasasana was allright (for my standards) already, and tried krouchasana on Sunday, so that was like only two more. I missed (forgot!) the bhekasana and did dhanurasana instead.

I guess that I was all prepped up for this "huge, monster-like extra effort" today, and the whole primary went quite lightly. I was sweating only very modestly. My hamstring on the right leg is tight, as usually. The shoulder-blade pulling is actually giving me a trigger-point-therapy-kind-of-massage on the little tight muscles between the shoulder blades. The bone itself is pressed against the muscles, and it feels - ah so torturing good. And it all works very well for the urdhva dhanurasana.

I made a world premier, and no-one saw it

2006-10-08T17:05:00.000+02:00

A beautiful summer night.

I was sweaty and shaky even before starting my pratice. Since, for once, I was driving and heading directly home from the yoga school, I didn't even bring my little towel. So I tried to wipe out the sweat with my hands, and against my knees in the sitting poses... It started not so well.

But it ended well! At the finishing asanas, entering into urdhva padmasana, I managed to do what I have been practicing for months: getting the feet into lotus without help with my hands! I was so happy I was bursting with a big smile, and I looked around and nobody noticed... For months I have "spied" the more advanced students to see how they do it. I have managed to get the right foot there and with just a little help with the right hand, pulling from the left big toe, the left foot. Today it went just on its own, easily. We'll see if that will last.

The shoulder-blade thing that I learnt last week is making the marichis very intense, but it is also very helpful in grabbing from behind the back: I did the easiest pasasana ever today. And I did the krouchasana as well. Haven't done that since last May. Teacher said we'll go forward two more asanas next week.

Looking forward to a day of rest

2006-10-06T15:25:00.000+02:00

My body said stop today: I did only the standing asanas and was completely shaky and out-of-breath at the end of them. Slow and lazy final positions, and let us call it a week!

This is a brilliant exercise

2006-10-05T14:20:00.000+02:00

My Teacher keeps giving me little bits and pieces to fine-tune my asanas. As soon as any asana becomes easier, he will make a small adjustment or make me think that asana another way, and boy, it is difficult again! "That's my job" he says and smiles...

Today's little adjustment was to aim at moving the shoulder-blade closer to the spinal column in the sitting poses where the arm reaches to the other side behind the back. ...While keeping the elbow close to the back. This makes much more space and allows the arm to reach much further. Just never thought about it before. It changes the Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottasana and all the marichys completely. This and my other on-going efforts with the shoulders and upper back have a smashing effect!

I like the way how understanding one little detail in one position changes your perception of a whole series of related positions: the series is very well-structured so that asanas are built on previous asanas, just taken further. In the beginning of the series, the gravity does half the job, and further on, we have to work more. It is brilliant.

Today I had to go to the corridor to have some light for my balance: the house was "full" and there were some people I don't know so well as to bother them with turning on the ceiling lights...

Turned on the light and found interesting articles on the yoga sutras

2006-10-04T15:07:00.000+02:00

So I turned on the light today. Just for the one asana, and nobody seemed disturbed. I guess others are having the same problem, and we are only few and we like each other, therefore can be tolerant.

I found interesting interpretations on yoga sutras from here. It's all new for me, and very interesting. Especially the description of constant battle and hard work to keep practising. The texts are very motivating, so instead of whining, I should just read them from time to time.

Someone on ashtangi.net wondered why ashtangis are crazy about blogs. This quote from Cloudshadows' page might explain it. Blog is the only way of "being together" for many of us.

"Those Who Are Supremely Quick And Cheerful Are Drawn Together

Yoga Sutra I.21

When you are very good at something and enjoy it a lot, you will naturally want to meet other people like you. You’ll want to share experiences, tips & tricks, and simply enjoy the company of like-minded people. You should be around people that will push you forward and inspire you with their abilities and happiness."

Darkness is hitting my Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana

2006-10-03T09:07:00.000+02:00

After six o'clock in the morning there is no light at all when I leave the house, and our little but beautiful shala is almost equally dark with just a couple of little lamps and candles. It is very cozy and warm, but my Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana is suffering again. The Teacher says it is physiologic, no light, no balance. I don't know if I can do anything about it, except to turn on the big lights (and make everybody mad?!) or go to the corridor for that asana. What do you guys do?

Sunday I went to a jin-yoga class. Very relaxing and usefull. Like little pampering in the tough world of ashtanga.

Tired, sore and a little bit depressed, but it will go away, as usual

2006-09-29T14:57:00.000+02:00

For today I had planned just a short practice, just the standing asanas and then finishing poses. That's what I did.

I spent an extra five minutes in a deep paschimottasana and then instead of doing urdhva danurasana , laid on my back on a pile of mats with my hands on the ground for about another five minutes. That was powerful and intense for the seriously-stuck-shoulders and shoulderblades! I had hard time getting away from the pile of mats.

Fridays' self-practice seem to have become the "do whatever you feel like" practice (the Teacher not seeing!). Which is kind of fun, and I am sure it does good, too. For the sore joints and for the tired mind.

Tired or not tired, that's the question

2006-09-28T15:46:00.000+02:00

It is funny how tired I was today. All the way until kurmasana I was definitely tired, and I kept telling myself "I'll stop to navasana" and I even got tears in my eyes by just thinking of a stupid little thing of yesterday, and the practice was a little bit whatever, and my mind was wondering and I told myself that this is just one of those days when you don't want the Teacher to bother you at all, just to let you finish and have it done as soon as possible. Then suddenly, the practice was nice, and hop, the first series ended and I even did the pasasana again... Did I suddenly forget how tired I was, or did I get new energy from somewhere?

Other people have funny blogs

2006-09-27T13:42:00.000+02:00

I checked some blogs on the ashtangi.net, and there are really funny-ones. I am almost jealous to Laksmi (Yoga Squirrel Cage) for example. She is so funny and so self-mocking and so bad! No wonder she has (at least) three readers!

My practice today was again a more-or-less solid routine primary. I did do the pasasana again, but stopped there. I went up to ustrasana last spring, but then had a slight burnout at work and had to step back. Doing navasana was too hard! That was a good lesson in learning to give up... and re-build back slowly. Last spring's visiting teachers were also a good re-building: they broke the sun salutations and the whole first series into little pieces and some of my friends who did second series faaaar, didn't for several months. Now work is quiet and I can do more yoga, but I wonder if I ever will have the strenght to continue far to the second. The hardest part would be when doing both of them, a period of double practice. Maybe I should then take a sabbatical leave of 6 months?

I am trying to keep samastiti in the sitting poses. To keep my sitting bones to the ground, to return the balance, no matter what the legs are doing... Learnt a nice new funny detail in Baddha Konasana to twist the calfs and shinbones towards the floor, and hop, the feet follow and open up.

Just another burden?

2006-09-26T13:50:00.000+02:00

Today's practice was smooth and light. Wonderful, actually.

I wasn't sweating like a fountain and I wasn't out of breath. Maybe I tried to do it a little bit more lightly, after a 4 day's break. Maybe my friend next to me helped to make it easy. Doing lightly and not "trying too hard" every time would do good for my personality.

But: I didn't feel like reporting the practice on this blog today. In order not to make blogging just another burden, I'll write only whenever I feel I have something to say.

The world's most boring ashtanga practice diary

2006-09-25T15:00:00.000+02:00

This is the most boring practice diary:

Friday - no practice
Saturday - no practice
Sunday - sun salutations only
Monday - sun salutations only

Well, just to say something: I am happy not to be one of those dry-boned, starving-looking ashtanga maniacs who think they will die if they miss two days of practice.... After tomorrow's practice I am likely to be sore again.

Oooh, the Hubby found it !

2006-09-21T13:28:00.000+02:00

My blog is no longer anonyme! The "too-clever" husband googled a little and found it. I wonder if knowing that he may read these will change the way I'll write. I guess not - I'll try not.

Today's practice was a solid, good practice, although my back muscles were sore from yesterday. Usually I am sore from the thighs, so I guess this is progress.

We discussed a little with the Teacher how the process of advancing/ understanding is actually two aligned processes, one with the body: mechanically opening up the joints and bones and strengthening the muscles, and the other process is in the mind; understanding where to aim and how. These two are like waves, one is on top for a period and then it's the turn of the other. And they only happen by doing, doing and doing (and a little bit of thinking and discussing).

I am lucky to have a very good Teacher. One that "helps but does not disturb".

My upper back is banging !

2006-09-20T11:54:00.000+02:00

Something is happening between my shoulder blades. Every time I round my shoulders, there is plenty of banging and other noices showing that there are things going on. That's good. Still a lot of work to do, however, for the urdhva dhanurasana.

I received a message yesterday to call someone, and I only heard it early this morning. I was worried that it was bad news (related to my father). Wouldn't call family at six in the morning, so I just had to take it cool and do my practice. I told myself that whatever it is, I'll call back after the practice. Although I almost buried my father during the salutations, or at least held his hand at his deathbed, I managed to calm down and do a fairly reasonnable practice. Finally there was nothing wrong with anybody, it was about apple juice! The practice is a really good method to forget the worries, it worked fine today.

Mysore style practice is very demanding. Even when you have learnt by heart what you are supposed to do. If I am alone, I tend to feel this enormous "fatigue" and I am tempted to cheat. Sometimes I just let myself do less, but to know the difference between lazyness and real need for an easier practice is not easy.

Thoughts in the blog while counting to five...

2006-09-19T11:47:00.000+02:00

Today my thoughts were in the blog while I was doing the sitting poses. Funny how planning to "report" something changes that something. Are some people out there actually living and doing things just to report them on their blogs?!

I was slowing down again from Guruji's led primary series, which was quite rapid. It's ok, but I'll try to make it quick at least once a week. The good part of a quick series is that you don't have time to think how tired you may be, or other similar useless thoughts. The good part of going slowly is to have time to feel the position in different parts of the body and to analyse what little changes bring into it. It is, after all, a very analytical and intellectual excercise. And going slowly is NOT making it any easier!

Now I am fighting with my stiff upper back (a whole career in front of a computer!) and trying to let it coil. I coil now anyplace anytime: I may sit in the toilet and lift my chest up, trusting that nobody sees me. The hamstring of right leg was ok today, I stay in the kurmasana until the pulling goes away. Some days I just can't stay there with straight legs.

My first blog-day

2006-09-18T12:37:00.000+02:00

Hi you'all ! I wonder if there is anyone out there who'd see my brand-new blog by accident.

I decided to just write down my ashtanga experiences, and nothing more, just to clarify my thoughts and experiences, put down what I learn and feel during and outside the practice. I will not tell to my blog (or you guys out there - if there are any) about my personal life, my family, my cat or my job, not even of my country, since I do wish to stay anonyme.

Today I did just a brief practice, up to Triang Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana (what a name, I'll never learn that one!). I try to save my energy to the other days of the week, as well. I do other stuff than ashtanga as well, so I don't practice six days a week. I think about it seven days a week, anyway. Some days it is really nice to do just the sun salutations. And it is funny how stiff one can be during the first one of them...