Ok… my job made it seem impossible for me to attend the classes. Or maybe I’m just making an excuse? Whatever are my reasons, it does not make my yoga practice not a serious workout. I will remember what my teacher told me: I will get better in time. I can do most difficult poses. I just have to practice.
I learned that for Suryanamaskar A, my hands should not be stiff and I should be able to sweep it like a wing. With timed breathing, I place my hands infront of my feet and put weight on them. Then raise my heart, look ahead. Then still putting weight on the hands, I tuck my chin in, arch my back and with a wave-like movement, I position into downward dog.
To go back to standing position, I should bend my knees, tiptoe and hop back near my hands. Reverse the movement.
Prasarita C has a different approach. Instead of flexing the fingers outward, I have to flex it inwards. It’s a lot harder and kind of not ergonomic.
After my Navasana, my teacher made me do a handstand! It felt weird but I was ecstatic.
My Kurmasana is still problematic. My hamstrings are still tight. My teacher made me practice an opening for it (open legs, knees bent, fold forward). Chin on the floor.
The Urdhva Dhanurasana and the practice of dropbacks—I was taught to spread my feet on the mat, reach my hands up and let them fall at the top of the mat. Again, put weight on it. Then, like a pendulum, on an inhale, I should swing my hands up as I bend my knees. For the exhale, I should be able to arch back and let my hands fall on the mat. Bend the knees upon inhalation and throw my upper body/arms back up.
Oh yeah, I was taught the jump backs. I should put weight on my hands, stick my hips up (on tip toes) and should be able to do a reverse jump through. It made a lot of sense!
Note: I will not use sticky soap before yoga. I can’t do the Gharba Pindasana well even if I spray a lot of water.
