Skip to main content

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation.

Feeling good, but wanting to work up some heat this morning to burn it out on my mat.

Calf muscles are incredibly sore today.  I blame Tuesday's Tae Kwon Do class, as the effects of my martial arts classes almost always hit me in a delayed way (I.E. not feeling any soreness or muscle stiffness until 2 days later, etc.).

Time to sweat it out.

Thursday, October 18, 2018 (Part II)
For whatever reason, I haven't been able to totally clear my thoughts on my mat, as I practice.  Part of the Eight Limbed Yoga is Dharana; focusing and concentrating your mind.

I caught myself, usually in sitting positions, having remained in the pose for a longer than usual time.  Typically, I hold a pose for five inhales and five exhales before moving to the other side.  I would realize that I'd been holding a position, thinking about something, and not moving out of the posture.  This isn't "bad", but I typically try to focus on one thing while I practice. 

I may "double-down"on this lack of focus tomorrow just for the sake of being experimental, and let go of some of the control that I put into my practice.  Don't get me wrong; control is an essential part of life, but you have to ensure that you can release it occasionally, and be ok with that release. 

Physically, the practice was strong, and intentional with my usual areas of pride and fun (backbends, plank poses, padahastasana, Marichyasana C), peppered with my usual areas of strain and displeasure (seated forward bends, Utkatasana).

Today was wonderful, thanks to the start of it on my mat.

Namaste

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monday, February 13 2017

Monday, February 13 2017 Groggily woke at 5:00am this morning.  I've had coffee and I'm on my mat but may not do a physical practice this morning. Monday, February 13 2017 (Part II) Did prayer/meditation on my mat and went through my standard warm-up routine.  That's all I have in me.  I'm going to move through my day slowly and with care and come home to crash in my bed. Namaste
Post a Comment
Read more

Re-Building + Persistence

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Re-building a routine is hard. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning and did not want to get out of my bed. I'm on my mat as I write this, however, and will be beginning my practice shortly.  I've found that, like most habit changes, the 3rd day "hump" is usually the most difficult; get past that, and you're golden. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. As always when we push ourselves through something we don't want to do, it feels good when it's done and over with.  I'm feeling wonderful, connected, and ready to address the challenges the day might throw at me. Namaste
Post a Comment
Read more

Asana

Monday, March 30, 2020 After no physical practice/Asanas on Friday, and no yoga over the weekend, I notice that it's difficult to stay motivated and dedicated to my practice at times.  Additionally, I ran a solo-10K this weekend (the St. Louis GO! Marathon/Half-Marthon/10K was cancelled, like most public events), and the additional tenderness in my feet, legs, etc. definitely told me not to get on my mat. Monday blues/malaise, essentially.....a "negative mind"... When I'm on my mat, feeling like it's pointless, and that the day ahead is pointless, and that the efforts I'll expend to make things better are pointless, I can go back to the foundations of my life.  First, what do I live for?  I live for God.  That is my attempted mantra every day. It is not for me/you to understand the purpose of anything.  Pulling yourself out of an equation is very liberating in that you're no longer attached to the result. It's 5:27AM as I type this, and it...
Post a Comment
Read more