Working past the friction point

I took in an evening class tonight - 7:30 to 9:00. It was a Level 1 class, which I felt would do me more good as I work past the "friction point", as I call it: that achey "OMG, this is too much for my body" thing that happens when I've left yoga (and overall movement in general) alone for too long.

It felt good to go slowly. I was reminded by tonight's practice of the importance of frequency when it comes to physical exercise. i also, just now, remembered something Pat told me a couple years ago: "It's better to do a little, a lot, than a lot, a little". Words to live by, for certain.

Two things I noticed tonight:

One - my breathing has been rather shallow lately, and by focusing on deep, controlled breaths, I really noticed a difference not only in my alertness, but my posture.

Two - my hip flexors and those darned muscles just opposite them - forgotten what they're called - have been REALLY tight, to the point of being almost impeding. Cross-legged postures were quite challenging tonight.

I plan to head back tomorrow for Pat's lunch time class which runs shy of an hour, so it'll be a good break in the middle of the day.

Renewed Enthusiasm

I renewed my yearly yoga membership back in mid-December. Today in class I felt like a newbie. Carolina led the Level 2 instructional and I felt a bit like a fish out of water. I noticed in my most recent post I used the word "clunky". I would have to say that a more accurate term for the way I felt this morning is "sore" or perhaps "stiff".

True to Turtle form, I was slow.

Everything ached this morning, and I thought for just a minute about the fact that I'm fast approaching 40. I remember two years ago, commenting to my friend Norm about a bit of a struggle I had loading the van one day. He said,

"Well, Dude, you're almost 40."

'Nuff crazy talk.

A day of rest, then back on Monday. Off now, to rest.

Namaste.

Return to "normal"?

Wow, I haven't posted here since February??

It would seem that the Universe has diverted my attention away from documenting my yoga practice. It's also quite significant in that I returned to the yoga studio only today for the first time in five months. It would seem that when I needed it the most, I neglected actually using it. The month of May was killer, and June was a close second - stress-wise anyway.

Nevertheless, I returned today to a quite satisfying practice. I chose to walk to the studio - about a 2KM jaunt - and it got my metabolism moving for the first time today. I've been spending a great deal of time sitting, over the last couple days.

Audra was instructing today. She's a pretty gentle soul. She didn't adjust anyone in the class today - likely because the outside temps were bordering on winter conditions. Allowing the body to do what it will is a big deal when it comes to taking charge of your practice. You take charge by letting go, and I think it's a lesson from which everyone would benefit.

My body was clunky (is that an industry term?) today as I made my way through the Primary. I wonder if the reason I had such a great practice is that I did quite literally let things happen as they would. If my body said 'no', I complied. If my body said 'rest', I did. I truly felt as though I had this incredible focus on only me, and that was a liberating feeling.

In terms of routine, I think things are making their way back to 'normal' in comparison to the craziness of mid-year. There's a little fall-out to deal with in the non-yoga world this week, but I feel centred and ready to face it full-on. I likely won't blog about it because it's personal, but I will say that the strength I took away from class tonight is going to aid me in the upcoming life challenges.

Namaste and peace,
TG

In a way, it's exactly like going to the gym

I discovered this on Friday when I returned to the Mysore class in the morning. My right shoulder not only ached, but was downright painful. I've been concentrating on controlled lowering in Chaturanga - pushup if you will - and learned from Audra on the previous Wednesday that MOST people rush through lowering and don't get the benefit of the strength training. I was pleased with myself for taking it on, however what I had done was common to a lot of people who go to the gym.

I'd done too much.

You see, what I had also learned about people who go to the gym is that they use it, sometimes, to release stress, anxiety and sometimes even anger. I'd done just that since I had gone to Pat's class Thursday at lunch, followed by a 7:30 class Thursday night with Carolina. Here I was at a 7:30 Mysore instructional on Friday morning... what was I thinking???

Later that afternoon I addressed my shoulder issue with my student massage therapist, Rashida. She didn't seem to be concerned one way or the other except to say that it appeared that the work we'd done over the last two weeks seemed to have reversed itself. We'd managed to level out my scapula to within one centemeter (from seven at the beginning of the treatments). Disappointing, to say the least. I began to wonder if I'd ever be fixed. I started doing math in my head to figure out what this treatment would cost me in dollars at a massage therapy clinic. It seems my little stint at the yoga studio not only over exhurted my body, but my budget as well. If I had been paying for the treatments, it would have translated to a $350.00 oops. I'm not sure I need any of those, really. Either Rashida was looking for payback, or simply being 'cruel to be kind'. That day she dug around my shoulder and arm pit to the point of almost-tears on the part of her client. Today, Sunday, my shoulders, neck and anything directly connected hurts.

I'm feeling this incredible sense of frustration with keeping healthy. The body, it seems, isn't so simple, and with all the bits and pieces that require constant attention I'm wondering when anyone who is conscious of what's going on with their physical well-being ever has time to do anything else?

Perhaps all of this is simply to re emphasise the point, "Do not push your practice. Yoga happens only in the now. Listen to your body. Be honest with yourself."

I was going to make an 11:00 yoga class this morning, however I think the 4:00 is a better bet. The other Emily is teaching at four, and she's a gentle soul.

I need a little of that right now.

A new soul and a different take on Ashtanga

Gosh, it's been a while since I've posted here. Been taking in yoga several times a week though. I've noticed a decidedly more focused attitude in myself, too. I'm payimg more attention to the correctness of each posture - somewhat A-type of me, I know, which goes against what yoga stands for, but I feel driven about it somehow. Probably much like how those who go to the gym feel about their daily work outs. I discovered a new class, too. Early mornings offer the Mysore Room which is effectively an environment which offers one-on-one instruction on the Primary Series Ashtanga. I decided to go on Wednesday last week, and it was a workout like I've never worked out! I explained to the attending instructor, Audra, that although I'm all for letting my practice "happen", I am interested in at least going in the right direction as far as learning the correct posture for each... posture. This includes things like being mindful of pelvic control in a pushup, wrist creases in downward-facing dog (too much of a crease is an indication of yout weight being too far forward in the posture)and pacing the postures with the breath... oh, and everyone's favourite: core strength.

On Sunday it was Sara who commented to me about my sense of control in Chatarunga (low plank). I was impressed with my progress!

There are two instructors in the Mysore room - Audra and Emily. Emily is shown here with her instructor from one of her trips to Mysore, India. I saw her in passing, but didn't take a class with her until Friday night. She subbed, so it was quite by chance that I bumped into her. Crazy thing was that she recognized me from Wednesday morning! Often the instructors will adjust a posture for you even in a led class, but what Emily did for me took me completely by surprise, and provided me with a rather intense experience. Balance postures are no one's favourite, and I am certainly no exception. I usually hang out in a very elementary state, simply looking for balance and not concerning myself with the full posture of extending the raised leg or binding with my arms, bowing my nose to my knee or any of that. Emily said nothing, but simply walked up, grabbed my raised leg and extended it out in one motion, telling me to grab my toe. I was so completely shocked, I forgot to fall over! There I was, standin on my left leg, right leg extended out in front, and my fingers wrapped around my big toe. Emily of course, was offering couter balance by holding my extended leg under her arm. I now had a feeling of what it was like to be in a deeper expression of a pose that's simply frightened me from day one. She did the same on the left side, and was completely calm about the whole thing. She even encouraged me to look over my opposite shoulder which sounds simple enough until it comes to doing it. Amazing.

A good practice

Today's practice was much better than Tuesday's. I felt more centred, more 'in the now'. I noticed things like a natural progression throughout the class - my practice sped up as my body warmed up, my muscle groups lengthened easily. I also noticed some knee pain in the right. My right knee has been grumpy ever since we replaced the orthodics. We added a lift a week or so back and it's unclear to me whether it really helps or not.

On may way to the change room I bumped into Pat. I said,

"How are you on this balmy day?" (The temps have dipped back down around -22C)

"Blammy.", he said.

I found out after class that he still has brochitis. I offered up what I know about Oil of Oregano, and he nodded, remembering that he had some.

Still thinking about S.'s words from Wednesday.

I haven't been attending classes outside of Pat's noon hour offerings. I simply haven't felt inspired. I suppose that's the way, really, you go when you feel like going. But it reminds me about this thing we call diceplin. Growing up, I believed it to be something of a negative term - that sense of "have to do, against your will", like the little kid who doesn't want to go to school, but because his parents say he has to, he does. Or... 'diceplining a child' meaning, quite litterally, to spank them. Both kinda negative, but I heard a very positive view of diceplin once that I really rather like. It likens it to freedom. If you practice a 'diceplin', you learn and if knowledge is power and with power comes the freedom to act freely, then 'diceplin' is quite a positive thing.

I began to think of the things I practice regularly like a diceplin. Anything that requires a focused attention to it in order to achieve, I suppose, would be a diceplin.

To get away from the notion of 'harsh' being associated with diceplin, that's the key. Perhaps "focused atten to" could replace harsh.