Day 8 – BEST CLASS YET!! Guess who locked their knees in Dandayamana – JanuShirasana (standing head to knee pose)?? Even though it was only briefly each time it felt like a huge accomplishment. So huge that the whole reason I only locked my knee the first time for about half a second was because I was so excited I lost my concentration! I almost felt like the class should stop and everyone should clap…yes, it feels like THAT big of an accomplishment!
This is what the pose looks like:
I’m only on step one of this pose. Trust me, its harder than it looks. If you look close you can see that you have to have all 10 fingers interlocked UNDER the foot!! Go ahead and try it
Day 9 – what is this? do my legs looks more muscular already or am I imagining it?
Day 10 – Dear Ustrasana AKA Camel Pose, I loath you, and think you must loathe me too. You may not look so hard but you make my heart race, my stomach queasy and my head spin. You have even, on occasion, made me cry. I want you to know that I am not giving up and one day I will kick your ass and show you who’s boss.
From “an open letter to a new student on their first class” by Barbora Simek
“It’s okay to feel emotional. This is a safe space, we’ve all been there.
Remember this is a place of healing and sometimes your body hangs on to your emotions
even when the mind has released them. Just cry, everyone will think it is sweat anyway.”
Day 11 – For a night owl like me getting up for the 6am class is never my first choice, its usually my only option on that particular day. I do have to say though, that when I have completed that class I feel so good and ready to take on the day, no matter what it throws at me. I also find that I feel more clear headed all day and able to concentrate much better. Does this mean the 6am class will become a regular part of my practice? Ummmm probably not! I just can’t see forcing myself out of bed that early if I don’t have to….then again who knows what will change by the end of these 30 days!
Day 12 – Today it was hard to get to yoga class. I was supposed to go in the morning but something came up and I needed to do mom stuff. So, instead I went to a class later in the day. I was really tempted to hide in the back of the room because, to be honest I was there just to do it and get done. I made myself take a spot right at the front and I made the commitment to do my best. As the instructor said “if you can, you must”. I had a great class and saw some great improvements. Tomorrow I have to get up for the 6 am class. I’m not looking forward to that either, but I will do it.
Day 13 – BLAH! Bad day. Could not find focus, could not find stillness. Definitely did not work as hard as I could have. I could blame it on the 6 am class time and the fact that we had a bad night here and I got maybe 3 hours of sleep all night….yes, ok, lets do that.
Day 14 – Two weeks. Its gone by SO fast. I feel good. Sore but good.I am making sure to set an “intention” at the beginning of every class. Today my intention was to stretch further and hold it no matter how uncomfortable it gets.
This weeks tips for a better class:
Do not eat anything for at least 2 hours before class. Trust me on this, not even a bite!
Definitely do buy the No Sweat laundry detergent. It gets rid of all the sweaty smell. They do sell it at the studio.
I have found that getting myself into the room at least 10 minutes before class starts is absolutely necessary. Just sitting and adjusting to the heat and enjoying the quiet stillness is way better than going in right before class starts. I find I am much clearer headed at the start of class now that I do that.
Still looking at ugly toes….pedicure booked for this coming Tuesday.
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