Notes on my Practice...it is a LONG Post **you've been warned**

Yesterday I went to Mysore practice at Balance. It was great to see my teacher there. She & I talked earlier this week- we talked through some of my roadblocks with my teacher training & my practice. I am very lucky to have a teacher I admire and enjoy studying with so close to home.

I did get some pointers to work on during my home practice. One I keep hearing over and over from several different teachers "tuck the tailbone or lengthen the tailbone to the floor" which ever version you like best.
It seems (and I have noticed in my pictures and videos) that I have a sway back. My tailbone is always out there waving hello to the passers-by.
I mean it takes ALOT of concentration for me to lengthen it to the floor. It almost feels weird to my spine. I suppose this is an engrained habit that is going to be hard to break. And Of course I need to ensure I do not over tuck it taking the natural curve out of my lumbar.

Anyway, practice was sweaty. We agreed I will keep up with 1/2 primary (working up to Navasana then closing). This way I can build my strength and really focus on the quality of those asanas rather than moving through the entire Primary series exhausted and compromising form. So little by little as I gain my strength in the Primary series we will add more and more.

I can't explain why I found myself back in the Mysore practice or at an Ashtang studio. I mean I've tried lots of other styles when I thought Ashtanga wasn't for me. I can't explain what keeps drawing me back. So I try not to over analyze this anymore. Ashtanga is what is getting me on my mat every day...so why over think that (right Nicole?)

I am also giving myself one full year to dedicate to the Primary series. In November 2010 a group of us are going to for a week long practice with in Miami Kino Macgregor and Tim Feldman.
So I have a year to dedicate to this practice and I am not going to give up again. Seriously if I start questioning this practice again because my mind starts telling me "You can't do this practice it is too difficult" "why are you here" and so on...I want you guys to say No. You made a promise to yourself now keep it. Give me tough love! :)

So the reason I want to stick with this is:
a) I always give up when the practice starts getting to intense, or an injury- which in my head gives me full persmission to just walk away from primary series. But I shouldn't. I should just modify and adapt rather than throwing it out the window.

b) I've never stuck with a truly dedicated Ashtanga practice. Always letting my ADD or monkey mind swing me in another direction either due to boredom or frustration

c) By the time November 2010 rools around I want to really reap the benefits of a full week of mysore practice and workshops with 2 amazing Ashtanga teachers. I want to show up with my practice (at whatever point is will be at during that time) and just lay out at thier feet saying "here is what I've got to work with". I want to be able to gain something from this experience. I have a full year to work with. This should allow me to show up and gain some insight. Raher than showing up withe a 1/2 assed attempt to my practice (does that make any sense?)

In other Ashtanga related news I was able to purchase this amazing Pendant. The idea behind this pendant is so sweet and I was happy to finally be able to contribute as well as be reminded of SKP jois message. "Do YOUR practice and all is coming." See I take that transalation as Your practice. Be it meditation, asana, kindness, etc...Just do your practice and everything will fall into place.

So in other yoga related news I am asking for this for my Christmas present
Not sure if I will find it under my tree but it was worth a shot to ask for huh?

And, I was asked to lead a gentle yoga practice during the break session of a Zazenkai. I intend to do so at their next one. Just some gentle asana to help with a full day of sitting meditation. I was honored that they asked me.

In other news my allergies are worse then they have ever been. Seriously. I am debating on going to see an allergist. I was tested last year to see if my allergies changed, and they have. But the past 2 weeks I've been waking up severly congested and havnig to live on Benedryl. Not good I know. But it is a requirment to be able to breathe and function. So far the ONLY medicine that is helping with this is Benedryl. So I am so sleepy most of the time.
Last night during our meditation with Bhante it took every ounce of energy I had to remain present and awake. I wanted to sleep so badly. So it didn't affect my meditation and I was not able to gain much from it rather than the idea that I need to see an allergist and get this under control. I mean this morning I woke up with my entire right nostril closed and unable to breathe. That is not how one should wake up!
And I can not continue to walk around in a zombified state either.

Sorry for such a long post, but my fingers kept going on the keyboard. :)
Have an amazing day!

Mysore

Today I hopped out of bed at 5:00AM and headed to Atlanta. I had a nice sweaty Mysore practice. I Only did the primary series up to Navasana. By the time I got to backbends my upper body was exhausted. My techer gave me some wonderful adjustments and some advice on things to work on during my home practice.

I really like getting to Balance once a week for mysore. It helps keep me grounded.
Okay on with the day!
xoxo

Back from Asheville and back to my routine.

The weeekend in Asheville was wonderful. Learned lots of helpful adjustments, sequences, played around with different variations of Sun Salutes, did Viniyoga one evening, Yin Yoga, a master flow class, watched videos on Krishnamacharya and BKS Iyengar.
Now to work on my papers, reading assignments and keepnig up with daily asana, mediation and journaling practice.
The whole experience is pretty fun and awesome.
I took Monday off from practice. With it being a Moon Day and getting back to work and my rountine. It was nice to take the day in stride.

This morning however it was back to the mat. I decided to do 1/2 primary. Mid way through Surya Namaskara B I was already becoming tired and heavy...weird.
But I kept going. Since my toe is still acting up I skipped over Janu C and I've been stepping back through my vinyasas rathern than jumping.
All in all not a bad practice. My backbends were tight and Navasana was exhasuting. I could feel the ab work we did this weekend for sure!
Meditation was such a nice ending this morning.

Not much else to report. I have 3 weeks to read 2 books. So I better get started :)
I am teaching Vinyasa Flow on Monday & Thursdays at Lotus Yoga come by if you can.
I like teaching. We keep working towards getting the word out about our tiny yoga bubble.

Road Trip= Teacher Training Part 2

Packed up and ready to head to Asheville for the weekend for Yoga Teacher Training. Can't wait to be back in the mountains and in the "yoga bubble" ♥

Training-in-progress ॐ

The rain keeps pouring down here in Georgia. I beleive my driveway and yard is forming into a pond.
But seriously- we live in the country on 6 something acres of land. We have a long gravel driveway with a gravel parking area...and I beleive there is no gravel left. Just mud. So we need to look into getting that fixed.

This week has been busy. I am looking forward to heading to Asheville on Friday. Teacher training runs from Friday-Sunday. I really love being there. If I could---I'd move to Asheville. I love the area and everything about it. I am also hoping to eat some yummy vegan dishes at Rosetta's Kitchen (thanks Nicole for the tip) The great thing is that they are open late! Our training lets out around 9:00 PM on friday so I think this would be a nice way to end the evening.

In other yoga-teacher-training news. I have 6 papers to write. So Far I believe I've nailed down 2 of my topics.
Biography on SKP Jois
My very large paper about Yoga and Buddhism

I have several other papers to write like book reviews and such. But these are my first two and larger papers. So I need to at least start an outline.
Since I decided to do the biography on SKP Jois I was re-reading Yoga Mala. Since I haven't read this book since I first started Ashtanga years ago--it makes much more sense to me now.
I am not an advanced Ashtanga student by any means. I can only comfortably complete 1/2 primary without complete exhaustion. Granted I believe that will improve with constant practice. But regardless of the styles I try...I always land back at Ashtanga...and I can never understand why so I've stopped trying to.

Also, I am reading the Yoga Sutras (Sri Swami Satchidananda's translation)
I read book one in the past. I am re-reading book One and starting book two. Not a light read. But something you can pick up and digest bits and pieces each time.

Overall I am really enjoying diving into practice, study and training in general.
This Sunday I also assist Stepahnie in her Mast class. That will be a new experience!
Much love!!!
Off to get some work done. ॐ

ॐ Practice ॐ

This weekend was nice. Lots of reading for my teacher training. I finished Erich Schiffmann's book and I am reading part 1 & 2 of the Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda.
Plus starting my outlines for several papers I have to write. Which I haven't written papers in sooo long.

Practice wise; things are moving along. Today I missed going to morning mysore practice at Balance. Instead I did a home practice. Only 1/2 primary series (as I over slept)
Tonight I am teaching a vinyasa flow class at 6:30 at Lotus.
I believe the classes are going to pick up. The businesses on the "square" which is where the studio is located; we all had a Holiday open house. They do this every year. Mind you the "Square" is about 6-7 blocks of businesses. So, I printed out about 30-40 flyers of our schedule and "Your first class is free" coupons. I believe we ended up giving all of them out.
Lots of couples came in to. Makes me consider doing a partner yoga workshop one day.

Anyway, lots to do!
I head back to Asheville on Friday for weekend 2 of Teacher Training and I can not wait to be back in the yoga bubble! ॐ

Opening, Mysore & my Anniversary!

So the grand opening of Lotus went very well last night. I believe there were 30-40 something people coming and going through out the night. It was a lovely evening with really lovely vegan food.
The space looks amazing and we met a lot of the wonderful business owners in the are and some new potential students!
I am very excited and looking forward to being there and taking classes!
Here is one of the only photos I did get of the evening (there was another photographer there)

Elizabeth, Anne, Yvette & Me.

I got home late; in bed by 12:00 something. I was up again at 5:00am this morning and headed to Mysore at Balance.
My teacher was there and the studio was buzzing with lots of ujjayi breathing. And pretty warm too. I started my practice and could tell my body was a bit tired from only 5 hours of sleep. So I only did 1/2 primary up to Navasana then went into closing. I had a lovely adjustment in my backbending.
My new mat did a great job. It did get a bit slick bc it was the first class I've used it at. So I washed it today with some teatree oil and water to get that slickness off and it should be find by next weeks mysore practice.
I plan/hope to get there once a week for mysore (while keeping up my daily practice at home on the other days)
It was great to practice so early and be home in time to work by 9:00. I really love that!

This weekend also marks my 6th Wedding Anniversary and 9 years with my husband.
I <3 you Denver!