Soaring Shavasana
I have no idea what to blog about... my time down here is really different this time around. Having The Daughter here means that I'm doing very little engaging in the personal interaction here in Tulum. Pracitce yesterday was Mysore style. The Daughter has been begging me to practice while she's here so she came with me. I figured that she would do a few things, stay for 10 minutes and then leave... she actually stayed the entire two hour practice. She practiced off and on... watching people, trying the poses she was seeing... she never made a peep... so quiet and respectful. I was actually pretty proud of her. It was interesting for me though.. it was so hot and humid and I was feeling so strong that I knew I could have this out of body practice... but I was distracted by her. I was worried she was distracting other people and I was distracted by making sure she wasn't. About halfway through the practice I felt a lot of anger welling up. I was so angry that she was distracting me and I really wanted her to go back to the room... I asked her but she wouldn't budge. I realized then that I just needed to let go... and I did.... In the end, I asked Alison to help me with dropbacks/standing up. She told me I'm not using my legs at all. No real news there. She also told me to make sure that my quads were burning by the time I was done.
So this morning's practice was Improv and someone asked for Kapotasana... we did about 6 backbends in preparation and, of course, I listened to Ali and my quads were on fire by the time we go there... so though I could get into Kapotasana and get my toes... my quads were so strung out I couldn't get up :) We also did a lot of arm balances and shoulder opening (variations of Pincha Mayurasana).
Time here is going quickly... the weather is perfect... The Daughter seems to be having a great time with her playmate. Speaking of which...off to find her.
Comments
Your backbending blogging is inspiring me to get into my own backbends these days...so thanks!
Posted by: YogaChickie | February 1, 2006 12:04 PM
All two hours? At her age? I am impressed. She is to be commended. Without being there to know whether you were going "overboard" or not, I think you too are to be commended for caring and watching over her. Too many parents today don’t have enough concern over what their children are doing or where they are.
Posted by: ciodude | February 1, 2006 12:32 PM
"She told me I'm not using my legs at all."
That is an awfully frequent phrase you're hearing these days...lol...and I'm constantly hearing you in my head "USE YOUR BANDHAS!" Awww wish I was there!! I would die for some heat and humidity in the studio!
Miss you!
Posted by: Tiff | February 1, 2006 2:08 PM
Ok Googling didn't really help this time.
Bandhas? "An introduction to the bandhas - interior body locks used in yoga. There are three bandhas - Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jhalandara Bandha. Each bandha is a lock, meaning a closing off of part of the interior body. These locks are used in various pranayama and asana practices to tone, cleanse and energize the interior body and organs. When all three bandhas are activated at the same time, it is called Maha Bandha, the great lock."
This was the most understandable description I got back and it still left me wanting. At first I thought it was some obscure muscle group that I had never heard of. Is it more of a mental exercise? (then something physical)
Signed ConfusedCIOdude
Posted by: ciodude | February 1, 2006 9:43 PM
Super lamens terms...mula bandha and uddiyana can be basically thought of as the abdominal area and the pelvic areas (we suck those in)...jhalandara is when you say lock your chin to your chest...or like the uncomfortable sensation you get when you try and look at your belly button...
Posted by: Tiffany | February 1, 2006 11:59 PM
Been there many times with the kids. I had to teach A's improv class this Saturday because H couldn't and John brought 2 of the 3 kids, not something I wanted but what could I do.
The dynamics for us are certainly different when we bring the kids to Shasta but everyone seems to enjoy them on the outtings as well.
It is freezing here so enjoy that warmth.
Kiran
Posted by: kiran | February 2, 2006 10:35 AM
OMG, I'm such a dork.....completely disregard my voicemail message (although, it wasn't much of one LOL) of yesterday. I completely SPACED out that you were in Maya Tulum. Which sounds LOVELY, btw...and I agree with ciodude.....your reports on backbends (well, any of your yoga talk) is inspiring...I'm not healed up yet (enough) though, so I won't even try.
and I completely understand that distracted/worring/parenting feeling. Like you have said many a times on this blog:
It's ALL yoga. :-P
*muah*
Posted by: Angel | February 2, 2006 8:03 PM
I don't know if you have any transportation, but the Panaderia on the maih highway (the only road that goes through Tulum, unless you go off into the colonia, but you'd have to do that on purpose and you wouldn't do that) has The Best Empanadas In The Entire Country. If you get a chance, try them. Also, the chicken sinaloa style is something not to be missed (anywhere in the country). Don't know if anyone in your crew is eating meat...
Posted by: kathy | February 5, 2006 9:18 PM
I'm not done. :) If you have transportation, there is a lovely lagoon just north of you in Akumal. Here is a link to it on our website and if S is too scared to go snorkeling she can see fish and walk about them from the flat rocks.
Here's a link http://www.hopalog.com/?p=148
The name of the lagoon is Yal-Ku. It is in Akumal and really nice.
Posted by: kathy | February 5, 2006 9:27 PM