Do Yoga at least 3x a Week

Shoulder surgery (rotator cuff repair, December 08) means no Downward Dogs for awhile. But I’m PT’ing and I WILL return!

Back, back, back, and so relieved to be. Two classes this week and it’s only Wednesday! Will try for 1 or 2 home practices this week in addition, and … that’ll be getting my asana in gear in a big way!

Just so you know – one of these day’s I;m going to incorp this goal into the goal above this on my list, which is an all-inclusive fitnes one, rather than recording it separately here.

Sending post-class warmth on a damp chill grey day…

Today I am happy to report that my broken left foot has healed sufficiently so that I can do Sun Salutes! It feels so good to be back. Next week I’ll return to class… but for now, I’m back to at least 3X a week home practice.

Home practice is what I did today – put on soothing music, but know what? I liked the quiet much better…

Practiced the “Basic Solar Flow” sequence on the Shiva Rea DVD Yoga Shakti.

As always, once I start doing it, no problem, much joy.

(Well, one small problem… discovered, and this sounds like a children’s primer, “The Cat Shat on the Mat.” I washed it thporoughly but there was still the residual stink… definitely not saatvic! finally got my upstairs, not-shat-upon mat. Right now the befouled mat is soaking in soapy bathwater…)

The class teacher, who I greatly respect, is going to be out the rest of this month and a good chunk of November. She sent her students an email that listed a basic daily practice. I printed it out, push-pinned to the back of the appropriate door in my house, and did it tonight.

Although the sequence is much less than a full class, and much less than most of my tapes, I still feel it will allow me to be regular woth, and I feel good about it. Maybe I might even, eventually, work up to daily on it?

End of week: 2 out of 3. Really missed that 3rd practice! But… today a new week begins.

I was never so happy to be on my mat and in class yesterday (Monday)! Always amazes me what a work-out anusura gives my triceps…

So okay, that’s one down for this, the week of Oct. 15-21.

One down, or should I say, down dog? (Except there were MANY more than one yesterday)...

Glad to be back here, checking in with y’all, too.

Hey, all…

I am back in the wortld of the vertical. I went to my beloved anusura class this morning and sweat-sweat-sweated myself into a good state.

Thanks for reminding me to chill out and just be sick while I was. I appreciated it, and heeded your words.

Had hiked, done abs yesterday – was looking forward to doing yoga, tho all of a sudden I was feeling – a little – funky. Figured, a yoga session will put me right.

Put on my Shiva Rea DVD anyway, untolled map, began her Basic Solar Flow… a little way into it, thought, “This does not feel right. I do not feel right.” Kept on. Then.

STOPPED.

“I really do not feel well. Doesn’t S” (yoga teacher) “always talk about honoring where your body is today, right now?”

Let myself feel what I was feeling.

Achy. Lower back pain (kidney area). Chills. Stomach upset. Slightly runny nose.

A-ha! Edge of flu!

Went to bed, slept more than 12 hours, have continued to sleep most of the day.

Since I usually will-power myself through any kind of illness, this is a big lesson for me, and one of self-love.

As a further lesson, I have hereby decreed for myself that this week shall by 10 days long instead of 7, so I can achieve ALL my weekly goals and not feel “I let illness sideline me” but rather “I took care of myself body, mind, and soul.”

And now… back to bed.

Did two short and distracted practices earlier this week… finally today, Saturday, I did a nice 42 minute focused practice with the Shiva Rea Yoga Shakti DVD… she has the most soothing voice, and the practices (there’s quite a variety on this tape) are carefully talked through, tho there’s also a turn-off-instruction, music-only opttion. Filmed in Kerala, South India, the setting and mood is flawless… deeply, deeply relaxing and without pretensions. Here modifications of classic sun salutes, basic standing poses, twists, etc, are just a tiny bit different from the anusura I do in class, so I get very engaged following it.

Feels like the first time I have slowed down this week. Also, that my spine has straightened, shoulders back – less like carrying the weioght of the world on my shoulders. (What kind of way is that to feel anyhow?)

Okay, Labor Day Weekend had sort of a # of positive but unscheduled occurences, SO…I decided to start my workout week TODAY, Monday.

Did this by going to an anusura class. BOY she worked us hard… I was drenched in sweat. This is good!

Friday: 40 minute Seanne Corne tape.

Saturday: 95-minute tough swat-drenches satisfying anusura class.