I used to get up and practice around 6:30 am 6 days a week. Always felt a bit of pressure on work days. If I didn't start on time I would feel the need to rush through Standing or finishing. More often than not I'd end up with only a 5 min Savasana (can almost hear (0v0)'s tut of disapproval). This week I've just given up on it. My practice space has been compromised a little, just not the same practicing with a computer keyboard tapping away in the background. Thought about ways to divide the room in two but nothing seemed to work. Find it's important to me, that sense of my own space to practice, no distractions, mind can wander enough as it is.
So I've moved my practice to after work. I get in at 6pm and have the house to myself until at least 8pm. My body is loose from the day and having just cycled home I'm all warmed up. Finding it a revelation. As my body is so much looser I'm able to bind more deeply and get further into a pose. My calves are finally touching the floor in Pashimottanasana I'm able to grab my wrist in marichyasana D rather than just link my fingers. Legs are starting to go more over my shoulder than just behind my neck in Eka pada sirasana and my backbends are so much higher and I'm able to walk in further. Best of all I can have a good fifteen min Savasana. I have time too to really take my time in Standing and Finishing and am starting to love them again. Feel too that I have that extra time to really work on things too (dropbacks?) and/or start wandering into 2nd series.
4 comments:
Hi Grimmly
It is true that the body is warmer at evening practices because of the activity of the day. They say, however, that the mind is not as settled then as in morning practices. The body stiffness felt in morning practice gets looser with time. But in any case, it seems you're enjoying the schedule and having time to do the complete practice without rushing, and that is very valuable.
Cheers,
Arturo
Hm. Well you are taking good long savasanas now, and of this I approve; but to achieve this you have foregone one of the most traditional aspects of practice--doing it before dawn.
Between the hours of 3 and 5 is preferable. That's a.m., Sprout.
I don't know what we will do with you at the High Commission of Rules and Regulations.
Something tells me that since you have the self-ownership thing down, you won't care either way. We here at the HCRR don't really understand the self-ownership thing though... we hear me might be allowed to practice it someday soon though, maybe after we can stand up from backbends.
:) Kidding. BTW, the jumpback is a nice little clockwork mechanism now. You've arrived.. I wonder if your blog will now trans-substantiate in to thin air.
True Arturo, less settled in the evening but it's a nice way to GET settled and leave work behind. Repairing an awful vintage wooden flute this week, only thing held me together was knowing I was coming back to my practice. Besides, sometimes used to feel the day was over at 9am and couldn't wait till the following morning. Guess it's the difference between starting your day with your practice or your day revolving around it, enjoying the latter at the moment.
Ahh yes the HCRR, you'r the guys trying to ban those fun yogamatic mats, now come on surely the marxist in you was tempted by the Che one, you din't think "wow, cool" for just a moment,must have been a real struggle. There's this great pic of martin walkng up a path wonder if i can turn it into a mat.
Did think about trans- substi-thingy-ing the blog now, but think I might take it into intermediate and all those crazy 2nd series transitions. Fell a little torn about leaving Primary behind though, reminded of your post about leaving 2nd and moving on to third.
by the way, whats sprout?
No! I resist Che' commodification! Though shalt not bow down before craven images of the almighty! The great I AM is too great for statues and yoga mat idolatry!
Um, ok. I tend to have Old Testament on the brain on Sundays. Sorry.
I've seen that image of Martin on the Path. Hilarious mat concept... only $89.99 USD, but they don't use manduka.
Sprout is like saying Young Jedi Knight or something.
As for changing the content of the blog to the new edges in second series (What? There you are in yoga nidrassana? Oh heavens, what next.)... yeah, that's the whole trick of this system. There's always an edge of challenge to incorporate into your meditation and equanimity. But you knew that.... Have fun with this 2S nonsense. Susananda's blog is a rich resource for the anatomical details this can bring up.
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