Anandaville

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!!