Wandering Mind

Note to self: Skip the veggie burger and fries before practice… I ate a little to close to practicing so it added a few challenges into my practice. For one, trying to find anything that closely resembled uddiyana bandha and I didn’t even bother with twisting or revolves past standing. My focus was good tonight for the most part. I turned the music off again, I think I’m a bit too dependent on it for rhythm, drive, something… and I need to lengthen my breathing a bit. Sometimes it’s good but it can disappear quickly.

The other challenge tonight was starting my practice just before 8:00 which is late for me. As I wasn’t doing all the poses I skipped around a bit and added a few core strengtheners, did a couple of drills. I think to help with keeping my elbows in I’m going to do sirsasana with pincha mayurasana arms. I tried it tonight and it was a good challenge and I know it’s something I need to work on. I also played with folding in and out of uttanasana while holding a sand bag over my head. I think that may really strengthen my core and lengthen and strengthen the hamstrings. Anyway, it felt good tonight.

After my internal episode two weeks ago I’ve been trying to be less attached to my expectations when I go into the studio. I found it to be helpful in last night’s class although we were warned it would be a strengthening class before hand. Tonight I was supposed to meet a couple people to practice with so I went in with the idea of mixing a little energy, commenting on occasion (it was really the only reason I practiced so late. Otherwise I would have practiced earlier). They weren’t there when I got there so I did my meditation, still not there, and instead of being disappointed I looked at it as an opportunity to practice in silence, slowing and deepening my practice. So I start into Surya A and I’m in downward dog of the third one when in they come… so I thought "Damn them! Why can’t they be on time!" Just kidding… I was extremely happy they made it and I found a happy medium as it gave me the opportunity to stay deeper in my practice while still sharing energy with others. Finding balance and being flexible… sounds like yoga to me. Oh, speaking of balance. As I mentioned I was a bit tired and a bit bloated from dinner so when I got to utthita hasta padangustasana I didn’t want to do it…At All… so I said to myself "Self, you don’t want to do this, which means you need to do this, so do it." And not only did I do it, after I got through the pose on both sides I went to the shelves and used them as a stationary spotter and took the pose even deeper. I was quite pleased with myself and my hamstrings felt pretty good, too. Ok, I’m rambling now. Good Night!