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November 29, 2005
The Easy Day
All the cards were stacked against me for yoga this morning.
A. I really probably shouldn't be doing much yoga given that my doctor says the collagen (whatever that is) isn't "solid" until 6 weeks.
B. I went to bed on time but The Husband has been snoring lately and then The Daughter came into bed, kicked the covers off all night long then finally at 3am decided she needed them and proceeded to wake the entire bed up trying to find them. In other words, I had no sleep.
C. I got up late but ate some yogurt anyway.
D. The phone rang, my niece made another "mistake" and I needed to talk to her... it was nearing 8:30 so I finally told her I'd come get her after yoga and we'd go to lunch.
E. I was then late so I knew if I had to take The Daughter to school, I'd never make it. The Husband graciously offered to do it.
F. Then I realized my car was COMPLETELY out of gas.
I put in $5 of gas at the nearest gas station and made it to yoga. When I got there Kiran and a couple other people were standing outside. Then I notice that my best friend's wife (BFW) was there today! What a surprise. I tried to introduce her to a few people but I messed up one guy's name because I had Kiran's husband's name stuck in my head for some reason... then I felt bad.
It seemed like today was the day in the studio for everyone to hem and haw over starting. Usually at least one or two people come in, throw their mat down and get down to it but today people were chatting and whatnot and I couldn't decide if I wanted to be there. I mean I really WANTED to be there but I knew I wasn't in for something amazingly wonderful spiritually or physically. In the end, I knew it was about discipline so I stood on the front of my mat and was the first one to begin.
Surprisingly, I had a wonderful, absolutely wonderful practice. Uttanasana was no big deal from the first one which is surprising since I haven't done any yoga for 3 weeks I guess. I was even able to do vinyasa (still without a chatarunga, not sure when, if ever, that will come back) though I did not attempt jump throughs... I really wanted to but I told myself that would be pure stupidity so I willed myself to not try them. Though sun salutations and the first standing poses were fine (I knew Tim wouldn't adjust me much but I have to say I really, really missed my usual and regular morning adjustment in Parivritta Trikonasana)... I was really nervous when I got to Prasarita C because that was sorta the doorway last recovery period. I was pleasantly happy when there was nothing associated with it, no fear, no pain, no holding back.. in fact, it felt good. When I stood up Tim asked "So, how is it?" I said "No pain!" My hips were surprisingly happy in Hanumanasana today... in fact, I didn't even need to use my hands at all. I guess that practicing with The Daughter is paying off. As I moved through seated I wondered if I should stop at Navasana.... I was feeling fine and there was no pain. I didn't want to strain myself or overdo it but I decided I was so happy I was going to keep going. I was having thought during my practice today.. how could I not but I was also have decidely perfect moments of blissful breathing. In the end, I was stunned to find that I could bind in Supta Kurmasana this morning without help... granted it was a pretty slippery grasp of the fingers but it was there and without the pain in my sternum I had been feeling pre-second surgery. I wonder if the scar tissue the doctor found really was the cause of that pain. I really, really enjoyed Konasana today... I would have stayed down there forever if I could have. By the end of first series I decided I was going to go ahead with my second series poses.... and I decided I wasn't going to use anything under the heels for Pasasana... if I could bind in SuptaK, then I should be able to bind Pasasana... I did. It was tentative and my heels were definitely further off the ground than in the past but bound and twisted all the same. I felt a bit of pulling in the external side of my breast in this pose... bordering the feeling of "Yea, probably shouldn't be doing this." After Pasasana I had a hard time remembering the sequence! It's only been 3 weeks but 3 weeks filled with all kinds of things in the brain. Krounchasana felt wonderful, my leg was fully straight and it was an exhilerating high while doing it... Tim helped me in Bhekasana as I just couldn't get my chest off the ground, too much pull through the sides since you are also pushing your heels down... The only place that it really really hurt was in backbends. I did all 6 but they weren't pleasant and I decided against dropbacks today... there was a definite uncomfortable pull through the incision on the left side.
Of course, today is the blissful back on the mat day... tomorrow and subsequent days will be the grunt work of getting back to the practice.
Yesterday I emailed my new director and jokingly made reference to scheduling some meetings in San Francisco during Guruji's tour :) I then had to explain why I'd ask that... man, the guy must think I'm a freak already. But, who knows, put it out there and it might manifest. In the very least I'll take a day off and go for a Sunday/Monday deal.
Posted by ashtangagirl at 11:08 AM | Comments (1)