Love the one you're with
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Another good practice today. Deeper into Savasana than I've been in a loooong time. Felt really good. I'm trying not to compare my practice now to my practice from 6 months or a year ago. I don't think I really can, it's just not the same practice better or worse, it's something completely different. I like that. As I get stronger I keep wanting to add in more poses but I'm holding myself back through January. This month is about getting these poses as strong as possible, then I'll add a few poses and take a month or so to get them strong, then a few more, etc, etc, etc. I've been engaging my legs, specifically my quads, more than than ever and I already notice the difference. I started to go back into chatturanga between upward dog and downward dog which is a lovely way to kick ones own ass (yogicly speaking, of course) and today for the first time I realized when my hands are on the mat 95% of my weight is on the heel of my hand. So I started trying to press my fingers down into the mat to the point of just barely lifting the heel of the hand off the mat. That is not easy for me to do. I probably only did it 7 or 8 times today and my forearms feel like I've been climbing for a couple of hours. So, yeah, Practice is good. Short enough to do things better.
Full day at work today. I guess the holiday is over. I made sure I was out right at 5, though so L and I could get our practice in before it got too late. We're meeting with a doula tomorrow, sort of interviewing each other. I'm interested to hear her ideas behind what a doula is... L is a doula and I have heard her talk about it but it seems different to me to bring a stranger in. I'm sure she'll be fine, L seems to already like her but I think I just need to listen to her ides and I'm sure it will alleviate any concerns (they're all ego based, anyway). And I'm finally getting my state inspection on my truck tomorrow, too. That's only 6 months past due.
9 & 9 and ready for more.
posted by Chris at 6:35 PM Permalink
3 Comments:
What differences do you notice when you engage your quads so carefully?
1/10/2007 4:08 PM
Excellent question, Don.
1. It's made my knees stronger/more stable.
2. I get better feet, or feel a better connection to the mat.
3. It helps to engage Uddiyana Bandha.
4. It releases my hamstrings.
5. Better Balance (see no. 2)
6. My knees naturally align in virabhadrasana 1 & 2 and I get a better lift on the back thigh.
7. It allows me to release my glutes in back bends.
I could probably go through just about every pose I've been doing and list some benefit but these are the ones that came to mind most quickly.
1/10/2007 6:19 PM
Neat. In my style of yoga "firm the thighs" or "engage the quads" is a standard instruction. I was curious to hear how an ashtangi would describe it. I regularly see the difference in 1, 2, 4 and 5 in myself and my students. I haven't noticed 3 or 7 yet in myself. I'm contemplating knee pain issues these days, so I'll have to think about 6 during my practice and see if that makes a difference.
1/11/2007 10:39 AM
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