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Feeling Splendid

Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 
Like many, I am self-quarantined in my home for the time being.  I work from home, and carry on a normal day-to-day routine, but I've had to come up with some interesting ways to feel accomplished:

    1.   Eating Healthy- I've been eating properly for the past few weeks.  It sucks, but it makes me feel balanced mentally and physically.  I'm a "nacho's/pizza/hot-wings/what-are-your-app-specials?" kinda guy at heart, so the continual stream of vegetables, fruit, salads, etc. is disappointing and boring at times; good news is, I'm used to it now.

    2.   This Blog- I was dedicated to this blog long before the quarantine, but this blog is extremely useful to me in that it encourages me to get up at 4:15AM, and on my mat by 5:15AM.  The physical/mental/spiritual benefits of my practice cannot be denied as essential when human contact is being limited.

    3.   Household Chores- When I'm blue, I notice that cleaning up can alleviate some of the morose feelings.  I'm making efforts to force myself into doing at least one obscure chore a day.

    4.   Let The Sunshine In- This one is a fairly traditional mood-booster.  I open the blinds, and let the sunlight in.  When the sun is setting, I turn on more lights than necessary in my house. 

It's 5:35AM as I type this, and I'm rearing to go.  

Time to sweat it out.....

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 (Part II),
I'm writing this post-practice update a bit later in the day than normal.

Today was the third day this week that I went through my full sequence.  This includes a strenuous series of back-bending at the "finale" of it all.  The sequence I follow puts back-bending at the end, as you must be fully warmed up before going into them; in the 10+ years I've maintained a practice, back-bends are the only poses where I've hurt myself (noting serious....but definitely pushed it when my body wasn't ready).

Show at right, Urdhva Dhanurasana, or Chakrasana, or "wheel pose" is a marvelous way to realign,
and strengthen your body.  It ages you in reverse in that it corrects posture, and opens up the front of your body; it sounds terribly "meta" and "hippie-dippie" but I feel like it also makes you feel proud, strong, confidant, and cures any depressing thoughts that are moping around in your head.

Today's back-bending sequence was good, but not at its peak, full potential.  I move through a sequence of six bends (three bridge poses and three Urdhva Dhanurasana), before continuing with my closing sequence.  I felt my left shoulder "catching" while I lifted up into the full upward bow.  This perpetuated into all three of my full back-bends and I decided not to push it.  The "catch" was an easily identifiable muscle going from my left shoulder joint, down the length of the left side of my spine; I don't know the name of the muscle(s), and don't need to, to know that they were "raising their hand" and warning me not to continue.  I left it at that, and didn't push it, as I've done in the past.

I'm feeling marvelous with myself, my purpose, and my yoga practice, and delighted to share this version of myself with the world.

Namaste



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