Anandaville

Yep, still here! (Day=26 and Pose=6)

    Fascinating...Parivrtta Trikonsana (Revolved Triangle Pose) is considered the counterpose to Trikonasana in the book.  Frankly, I am not sure why it is.  Something Judith Lasater once said about counter poses has always stuck with me.  You should always feel complete after a pose.  Each pose should leave your body feeling great and done.  If you feel your body really needs to move into another pose, then something was wrong with the original pose. 

    As I have considered her idea over the years, I want to add that I feel she must have meant physically complete because energetically we do need to do counters to balance the energy.  When we do something big, we want to counter with something smaller.  When you go back, we want to go forward, etc.  So, not sure why Par Trik is the counter to Trik here...looking forward to playing with that one more!

    I also practiced the arm balance Dwi Hasta Bhujasana (Two Arms Pinched Pose #125).  I discovered I have never straightened my arms fully.  I also discovered why -- it is much harder with the arms straight!  My legs worked much more, pinching the arms, as did my core.  Very enlightening!  I think I just sat down on my arms (and was quite comfortable!)

Still Going... (Day=12 and Pose=4)

So, I continued with that weird fatigue thing until last weekend!  Although it slowed my physical practice, I kept studying the book.  More interesting things...

Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) -- Hands near the pelvis...hmmm always put them under my shoulders.  Pose is definitely different! 

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) -- Top hand is down on the hip?  Who knew!  Also, the bottom hand is flat on the floor again (like Trikonasana).  I found it harder in this pose not to sink into my shoulder with the hand flat, so I added a block to get myself up a bit.

Getting Started (Day=5 and Pose=3)

I got started!  Yay!  I had that weird fatigue I mentioned in my last post until yesterday afternoon. 

Today I got to my mat, but both kids were completely melting down  (hungry and tired) and I couldn't do a very long practice.  I am finding it quite intriguing that things keep coming up during the time I find for my practice.  What am I manifesting?  On my other blog, I was musing about why I don't find much time for my practice.  Mostly it is about not having enough self-love to do what I need to do to take care of myself.  I think it is time for more of THAT practice!

Today I investigated a few poses.  I studied Tadasana (Mountain Pose).  Specifically, I was playing with having arms overhead.  Apparently, Mr. Iyengar suggests doing the pose that way but you can have your hands by your thighs "if it is convenient."  I love that! I must admit, it is often more convenient to have my hands by my thighs!  I find arms overhead is a very different experience.  I feel more powerful and grounded but only if I consciously reach my feet toward the floor as I take the arms overhead.  Otherwise I just feel top heavy.

I have also been playing with Trikonasana (Triangle Pose).  I have always taken my feet extra wide for the pose, but Mr. Iyengar suggests the narrower pose.  I still prefer the wider stance.  I think it just might have something to do with ego!  I can touch the floor much more easily with the narrower stance!  I have also begun placing the hand flat on the floor.  Long ago I learned to keep the bottom hand on fingertips so I wouldn't "sink" into the bottom arm/shoulder.  But now I lift easily so I can keep the hand flat without sinking.  It feels much more grounded!

The best laid plans (Day=1 and Pose=0)

So much for my first day.  I came upstairs from working and suddenly felt completely exhausted.  All I wanted to do was lay down and snuggle with the kids.  So, since this project is more about self care than it is about yoga, I chose to listen to my body.  I laid on the couch and watched a movie with the kids. 

As a concession, I did pull out the book (Light on Yoga) and do some reading.  Did you know the arms in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) "are stretched over the head, but for the sake of convenience, one can place them by the side of the thighs"?  Never knew!  It is usually "more convenient" to me to have them next to my thighs!

Another new realization, the feet in Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) are only 3-3 1/2 feet apart while in Parsva Konasana (Extended Side Angle Pose) the feet are 4-4 1/2 feet apart.  I have always taken my feet to the wider stance in Trikonasana (Triangle Pose).  Kind of curious how this will change my pose...  (Maybe not fascinating, but interesting for me!)

Okay, not exactly the most auspicious start.  I am just getting started!!

Today's the day...

Off to my first practice studying Light on Yoga!  Kind of excited...!