E Roberti
I’m aware that I don’t challenge myself
enough in my asana practice. I tend to stick with what I’m comfortable with and
worry that if I get too focused on trying to achieve advanced postures, my mind
will get distracted with desire/aversion, my ego could get ugly, and I’ll
forget the reason I practice yoga – to quieten my mind, not to become a gymnast! I’ve realized though, that it’s important to
face challenges in my personal practice so that I can observe and work with how
I react to what comes up mentally/physically/emotionally, and take what I’ve
learnt on the mat off the mat and into my daily life. So when faced with a big decision/the death
of a loved one/illness or even over-excitement, I will be better able to deal
with situation, having practiced patience, compassion, acceptance and
non-judgment as I tumbled out of yet another handstand! Sometimes I need to remind myself that it’s
not the result that is important but the journey towards it. The 20 minute
sequence below is focused on inversions – some of which I fear and rarely
practice without a wall. I start with
some warm up poses to wake up the wrists, shoulders, upper back, core, and
legs, and then advance into some inversions, with rest in between and a much-deserved
savasana at the end!
-
virasana –
stretch and circle wrists
-
dandasana –
bring awareness to engaged and elongated legs
-
cat/cow
-
dog x 5
breaths
-
plank x 10
breaths (connect to core)
-
dog - prasarita
padottanasana (awareness of crown of head to block/floor for sirsasana prep) –
bring feet 6 inches closer in prasarita padottanasana for 5 breaths – bring
another 6 inches closer for 5 breaths – uttanasana, interlace fingers behind
-
tadasana – gomukasana
arms
-
handstand –
one leg kick up – uttanasana
-
handstand –
bunny hop practice - uttanasana
-
child’s - dolphin
– raise one leg, raise other leg
-
pincha
mayurasana - virasana
-
sirsasana
2 - bakasana – chaturanga – updog –
downdog – child’s
-
anahatasana
-
child’s
-
savasana
I can totally relate, Emily. It's hard for me to know when to push myself and when to go easy, and I err on the side of caution way too often these days. Nicely balanced sequence.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your perspective on the balance between effort and surrender. It's something I address quite a bit with my students. -- Denise
ReplyDeleteYou truly intend to take yoga off of the mat and into the world. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Taking what we learn in the class and applying it in the real world is not always easy, but this is really what we yoga practitioners are aiming towards!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you are so honest with yourself about holding back. I really enjoyed what you said about ability to handle situations that can be baffling for us by utilizing the yoga "off the mat" practice. Peace, Olga
ReplyDeleteThank you Emily. I love how you draw on your practice when you face challenges in life-off-the-mat. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your honesty and second that with a tendency to over push and never know when to take it easy! It's so hard to find that sweet spot. I love how focused your sequence is, it's very approachable and I really like it!
ReplyDeletereally great Emily! i like your consideration of balancing not doing a practice that just feeds your ego but challenging yourself in your asana practice nonetheless. that is a good balnace to move towards. fun sequence too with all the upside down!
ReplyDeleteYeah, ahimsa can become an excuse for not kicking our own ass, but as you so rightly note, gotta be strong, sweet and brave on the mat to be a yogi when it counts most. Excellent, Emily.
ReplyDeleteA comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there - it's wonderful how you have recognized this in yourself both on and off the mat.
ReplyDeletechallenging yourself can be empowering and in the end really fun! this in turn can help you be more present, more campassionate, etc. I love what you said about taking yoga lessons off of the mat into the world. Fun sequence!
ReplyDeleteSometimes life feels stressful enough, and I want my yoga mat to be a place of pure pleasure, peace, and ease. Thank you for the reminder to challenge myself too as to learn how to better respond and "be with" challenges off the mat.
ReplyDeletegreat lesson and great comments from your peers. need more prep for the bakasana series...like a malasana. don't forget shoulder stand. Also, a few more cool down and or quieting poses would be good at the end.
ReplyDeleteI often find it hard to strike a balance between not over doing it in my practice at times and, at the other extreme, being overly cautious or stuck in my comfort zone. It is so true how the mind stuff shows up in the practice. I like your authenticity. Laura
ReplyDeleteI am with you! I like the distinction you make of pushing yourself to observe more about how you react to tough situations and developing experience vs. pushing yourself to 'achieve' a pose as a marker of success or as a performance. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteGreat awareness of the line you are trying to walk! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you - as a ballet dancer, my job was to perfect and to always aim higher. Some days, now, I am perfectly fine with doing very little asana - nevertheless nailing a handstand. I think balance is key. But, HARD TO FIND! And to discern...:) Love this!
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