Nairam’s Roads

Another more day of practice. It was so horribly cold this morning that I resisted getting out of bed… but then I remember an article I read recently, about a woman who runs marathons. She was saying, most of the times, she doesn’t want to run. At some point, she says “a sure way to not getting to the finish line is not showing up to the race”, or something to that end. Anyway, I got myself inspired, got a gazillion layers on top of me and showed up.

It was nice, very quiet at first (I guess others had the same problem I was having). Practice went smoothly and nicely; K gave me a “very nice” in Prasarita Padottanasana C because I’m really getting deep into the floor with my arms. I’m still skipping the jumping and Janu Sirsasana C, but overall practice felt great. I generally love the Marichyasanas (I have A-C), and spend quite a bit of time in them, but today Marichy C gave me a little bit of a pull just below the shoulder blade on the right side (for some reason, turning my torso towards the right seems much more difficult than going the other way around). I got a little scared, since by now (after the heel pain and the broken toe) I”m a little afraid of injuries, but it seems to have been a minor pull. In fact, I was able to do UD a little better than yesterday, in terms of holding myself up and being able to think that I needed to make my arms straight

In the end, just happy I went, as usual

I had to take another break–Monday through Wednesday–due to work, again. I forced myself out of bed this morning, though, and made it to the shala just a little later than my normal time (which was not great, since I had to park in a space that forced me to get out before 7pm to avoid a parking ticket, so I was a little too attentive to the clock).

Anyway, practice felt great. I was a bit more rigid than last Sunday, but overall I was able to stretch nicely and I started adding some of the jumps (I’m still concerned about hurting my toe while it heals). The most interesting thing for me has been to see that I actually have been looking forward to do the backbends–even in the past few mornings, when I couldn’t make it out of bed, I was sorry about that. Not sure what it is–I’m not good at them, and, if anything, I’m just starting to be able to comfortably lift myself. I don’t even extend my arms properly, and I have to admit that I breathe rather quickly every time I’m up to get to five breaths… but, at the same time, there is something in the opening they provide that makes me feel I need them. Hummmmm I wonder what it is, but I recall Tova’s post on the backbends and the second series (which is full of them) and the opening they provide. Maybe I’m having a little bit of an insight/preview

So looking forward to tomorrow…

Nice practice again Next to Tova and Alfia and Portside, can’t complain

Still doing modified moves for the jumps (basically stepping) and not doing Janu Sirsasana C, but other than that feeling really flexible. Today I worked again on the backbends, and it is established that I can raise myself up (finally!!) The totally kill me, but still, I can see how quickly I’m improving and that I’m stating to be able to curve my back (rather than just raise myself in plank). Very happy and looking forward to tomorrow

Well, couldn’t practice after last Sunday until today. A series of reasons: Ladies’ Holidays, for one, and lack of sleep, another… it’s been a really tough week at work. But today I had to go back to practice, and I’m glad I did–practice was a little rushed (I had an appointment early in the morning, so I could not afford to be late), but still good. I manage to get stretches that were significantly deeper than most of what I have done so far in some poses–including in some of the Prasarittas and Marichi C And… I manage to push up during the backbends!!! This is a totally great development, since I had not been able so far Yay! 

Cannot wait to go tomorrow