My practice today

This summer’s focus on home practice has motivated me to take a look at my personal yoga practice.   I have needed to examine this area for a while, and it looks like the time is now.

For many people, just finding the time to practice their yoga is a challenge.  With the exception of the weeks I’m rehearsing a play, I manage to carve out yoga time with no trouble.

But here’s what happens.

I distract myself.

I set up my mat, and do a dog pose.  Then I start thinking about what poses I want to do that day.  Then I go to the book shelf and take down 2 or 3 yoga books.  Before I know it I am immersed in pictures and illustrations – so many choices.

I look up at the clock, and an hour has passed.  Oops. Gotta fit in a quick headstand, shoulderstand and savasana.

Today I was determined to get on my mat and just do the poses.

So, I wrote out a sequence of poses on a sheet of paper, put that sheet next to my mat, and went for it.

No radio, no tv, no books, no nothing.

Just me and my yoga.

Here’s what I discovered.

  • Four minutes is a long time for adho mukha svastikasana with the left leg in front.  My left hip feels like a tangled knot.
  • I need to ask Lou if she will teach maha mudra.  In 16 years of yoga practice, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it taught in a class.
  • Viparita Karani is a nice cooling pose to start off with. 8 minutes of ease and quiet.
  • I need to keep the books away from my mat for a while – and trust my intuition about what and how to practice.

Here’s the sequence from today’s practice:

  • Viparita Karani – 8 minutes with legs on wall
  • Adho Mukha Svastikasana – 4 minutes each crossing
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana
  • Prasarita Padottanasana II
  • Utthita Trikonasana, Utthita Parsvakonasana, Virabhadrasana I
  • Parsvottanasana – 2x each side
  • Gomukhasana
  • Paryankasana – supported
  • Sirsasana  I – 3 minutes
  • Maha Mudra – 2 x each side with 3 breaths each side
  • Salamba Sarvangasana I
  • Halasana
  • Parsva Halasana
  • Supta Baddha Konasana
  • Savasana

I like the sequence, and found it to steady my nerves and clear my head.

For this coming week, I am thinking of seeing what happens if I do my practice before I sit down at my computer or read the paper.  We’ll see what happens.

Now off to the pool for Memorial Day celebration.