It's not a Soap of course, just practice, each one following the next.
See previous post
Updated: The way back - Six weeks off regular practice...Manju looming ever larger
But narratives can be useful sometimes, artificial as they are. I've had a few people get in touch already and say they tooallowed their practice to slip for one reason another and are either struggling to get it back or have been wanting to start.
Home practice can be hard, shala practice too but if you can get to the shala, a big IF I know, perhaps your half way there, harder perhaps to bail in a crowded room, nowhere to hide.
In some ways it's easier practicing at home, don't have to get dressed, get in the car to drive to the shala. No thoughts of being judged by anyone other than ourselves (I'm sure you KNOW your not but can imagine it playing on the mind)....I don't know of course not being a shala Ashtanga, tell me in comments perhaps how it was for you coming back to the Shala, your Way back.
The thought struck me this morning that I was so glad it was summer, wouldn't like to have to try to rebuild my practice in winter.
Another thought struck me yesterday, how closely related our practice and our discipline is in Ashtanga, we lose one the other is threatened. As my practice slipped I allowed my discipline to slip also, little by little.
Will be ready for that next time....I hope.
Want to write more on that but haven't figured the way into the post yet.
Monday 8th June
Went into this one planning on practicing up to Navasana, that's the plan for the week, come back slowly
Sury's were the same as yesterday, see the video on yesterdays post.
Standing was better, felt more committed to the postures this morning. If I'm going to practice I'm going to do each one by the numbers, focus on alignment, protect myself, don't want to risk pulling a muscle after having not practiced for so long.
Loosened up enough by Pachimottanasana to go for a straight leg jump through rather than Sharath's hop, went well. Joy in Purvottanasana as the sun played down my body. Knowing I was only practicing up to navasana I could milk it a little, take my time, engage a little more not worry too much about conserving energy.
Also I was sweating a LOT it was 83 in the home shala, might have thought it a problem if I was doing a full practice, half a practice I was happy to sweat.
A few twinges, especially in Mari A with the right knee bent and Baddha padmasana too curiously enough, went straight into yoga mudra. Feel like the illiac crest is pushing right up into where ever that (those) Kidney stones happen to be hanging out, come on boys, time to move on, leave the nest.
Took three breaths a posture in the inverted/shoulderstand postures from finishing rather than the one breath from yesterday, want the Kidney stone to go DOWN but surely a handful of breaths inverted wont make too much of a difference.
Pranayama, meditation.....Nice practice.
It should be a nice practice, it's early in the week, expecting a crash around Thursday this week or the next.
See previous post
Updated: The way back - Six weeks off regular practice...Manju looming ever larger
But narratives can be useful sometimes, artificial as they are. I've had a few people get in touch already and say they tooallowed their practice to slip for one reason another and are either struggling to get it back or have been wanting to start.
Home practice can be hard, shala practice too but if you can get to the shala, a big IF I know, perhaps your half way there, harder perhaps to bail in a crowded room, nowhere to hide.
In some ways it's easier practicing at home, don't have to get dressed, get in the car to drive to the shala. No thoughts of being judged by anyone other than ourselves (I'm sure you KNOW your not but can imagine it playing on the mind)....I don't know of course not being a shala Ashtanga, tell me in comments perhaps how it was for you coming back to the Shala, your Way back.
The thought struck me this morning that I was so glad it was summer, wouldn't like to have to try to rebuild my practice in winter.
Another thought struck me yesterday, how closely related our practice and our discipline is in Ashtanga, we lose one the other is threatened. As my practice slipped I allowed my discipline to slip also, little by little.
Will be ready for that next time....I hope.
Want to write more on that but haven't figured the way into the post yet.
Monday 8th June
Went into this one planning on practicing up to Navasana, that's the plan for the week, come back slowly
Sury's were the same as yesterday, see the video on yesterdays post.
Standing was better, felt more committed to the postures this morning. If I'm going to practice I'm going to do each one by the numbers, focus on alignment, protect myself, don't want to risk pulling a muscle after having not practiced for so long.
Loosened up enough by Pachimottanasana to go for a straight leg jump through rather than Sharath's hop, went well. Joy in Purvottanasana as the sun played down my body. Knowing I was only practicing up to navasana I could milk it a little, take my time, engage a little more not worry too much about conserving energy.
Also I was sweating a LOT it was 83 in the home shala, might have thought it a problem if I was doing a full practice, half a practice I was happy to sweat.
A few twinges, especially in Mari A with the right knee bent and Baddha padmasana too curiously enough, went straight into yoga mudra. Feel like the illiac crest is pushing right up into where ever that (those) Kidney stones happen to be hanging out, come on boys, time to move on, leave the nest.
Took three breaths a posture in the inverted/shoulderstand postures from finishing rather than the one breath from yesterday, want the Kidney stone to go DOWN but surely a handful of breaths inverted wont make too much of a difference.
Pranayama, meditation.....Nice practice.
It should be a nice practice, it's early in the week, expecting a crash around Thursday this week or the next.
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| Amazing grapefruit this morning (with a little honey) thank you sweetheart |
5 comments:
Hi Grimmly,
I have just started practicing again after a 6 month layoff. This is by far the longest break I have had since I started practicing Ashtanga in 2004. During the last 6 months I have been doing bodybuilding training and gained about 30 lbs (from 180 lbs to 210 lbs). This definitely makes the comeback quite a challenge. In the past I always practiced in a shala but right now I am practicing at home. More later ... :-)
"Thoughts of being judged by anyone other than ourselves" -- that's been the real lesson in going to a shala for me. I have plenty of faith in myself, but tend to feel uncomfortable around others. So a good bit of the shala work is *not* physical, but about learning to play well with others -- riding the ox back into the marketplace, to use a zen concept.
Best wishes as you continue the come back!
I find the slightest extra weight throws me out a bit, get so used to practicing at a certain body weight, same if I drop a couple of kilo's all feels out of synch. Good luck with the road back Jan,
'learning to play well with others'
: )
I find that the lighter I am the easier the practice. No out of synch feeling. Actually feels like I get more and more in synch the lighter I am. I started yoga to heal injuries from powerlifting. I started at about 220 lbs and went down to 165-170 lbs. My "best" weight for ashtanga so far has been around 80 kilos. I have been at that weight with very low bodyfat levels while competing in Athletic Fitness/bodybuilding, and also at the same weight with less muscle and more fat. Pretty much the same feeling and flexibility at that weight with or without the extra muscle and fat although the extra muscle/strength makes some parts of the practice easier.
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