Like our weather today... In the midst of practice we heard this gigantic thunder sound. I realize some of you actually think we are kidding, those of us here in Southern Cal, when we say we don't go outside when it rains, we don't own umbrellas and, at the mere sign of H20 pouring from our skies, the 6pm evening news will have some fancy logo along the lines of Storm Watch 2006. The first thing I thought was "Damn, the drive to L.A. tonight is gonna blow hard if it rains!" Along with over zealous newscasters, the one truth about rain and Southern California is that no one knows how to drive in the rain.

Everyone in the room kinda went "What was that?" Then dutifully went back to practice.

Practice... I can sum practice up in one word. HOT. Practice was hot. Practice was hot enough that I literally felt like I had just walked out of a steamy shower. I'm not much of a sweater and I was so wet that I almost lost it coming out of Bhujapindasana today. All my yoga clothes were dirty so I wore these too big Prana pants I have... the absolute wrong thing to wear on a hot and humid day in the studio... they were getting in my way right and left. I almost got up and went and bought a new pair of studio pants I was so annoyed.

My spot was taken again today. I found myself less attached to it than usual, however.

Dwi Pada sucked today... and not because I couldn't get into it but I just don't get how to keep my legs there. There's no pain so I know it must be something with technique. I watch other people do it and it seems their ankles are right behind their heads... for me, just putting my leg behind my shoulder, my legs are long enough that my foot is all the way above my head. I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to be doing with those legs. I have vowed to someday catch site of JMS doing Dwi Pada because he has really long legs too.

I tried to feel my breaking point in Bakasana today, after Utkatasana and after Bhujapindasana and Supta K... sadly it is the movement of slightly coming forward in an attempt to kick my feet out that pulls the pressure across the chest. It's that movement that my now defunct pec muscle object to... kicking and screaming they go.

My new question in Laghu Vajrasana is not how to get up. I can get up everytime now... it's that when I have my hands on my ankles and then bring my head to the ground, my wrists turn and my elbows bend and then hit my feet. As I've mentioned I'm wondering if this is a natural bend due to the wierdness of my forearm in general (hyperextension) so today I tried to straighten the elbow but I couldn't figure out how to get it over my heel... so I just kept my wrists turned slightly with the elbow coming over and bending on the top of my heel. I have to own up that this makes getting up much easier because I can use the force of the elbow turning back when I come up to help propel me. It's not much of an assist but it is one nonetheless.

Everyone was busy when I did Kapotasana today... so I did it myself. I was fairly surprised then when I, on my own, grabbed mid-foot. I stayed down there for 5 breaths and right as I was about to come up I felt Tim above me. I knew I couldn't handle an adjustment without getting some full breaths in so I popped up. When he gestured to ask what I was doing I told him I needed air. He responded with the observation that given the temperature and humidity in the room, there was way more air "down there" than sitting up. I didn't even want to get into the fact that, dude, I can't BREATHE when I'm in that pose! :) Someday breath will come.... so down I went again. I wish I could say the second time isn't as hard as the first... when the breath comes I imagine so will the comfort level (is anyone with the except of uber-bendies comfortable in this asana?). I'm not having problems coming up anymore and my calves have been quite happy (aka silent) the last few practices (I'm attributing this to drinking SmartWater for the electrolytes although it could also be the 800mg of Motrin I took this morning). Backbending felt lovely... I felt like I had control over all my standups except one although I do believe my feet are turning considerably out. Just call me Quacker. I did all 5 dropbacks without issue. When backbending is good for me I feel awesome after...

My kids have been scooped off to the Del Mar Fair. I'm packing up my bags for L.A. as I type (no really I'm a great multi-tasker)... I just realized I left the power cord for my laptop in L.A. the last time I went so I'll have no laptop until tomorrow. That might be a good thing... that leaves me with a T.V., a book, a bottle of water and a bed in the hotel room.... and a 5:30 alarm set for practice at Yoga East tomorrow.

Ciao.