Have you ever wondered about the delicate little leaves at the base of a rose? Apparently, they’re called sepals. The bulky section just under the flower is called the receptacle. At its core is the flower’s ovaries (seeds).
just showing up
I recently read an interesting article about yoga’s potential benefit to the stress response of the brain. I use the word “potential” because not everyone who is doing yoga is actively practicing being calm and mindfully present at the onset of the discomfort that yoga will often induce. Despite my own efforts, I am not always about to achieve this – but I try.
This morning’s mysore practice, for example, was difficult long before I arrived at the studio. Honestly, had I not messaged my instructor beforehand, I might have returned to the warmth of my bed. Since I had already committed however, I had to show up.
And show up, I did. The room was already packed, with 20+ ashtangies already into their practice, when I arrived. I rolled out my mat, took my place at the front of it, and began. My body S-C-R-E-A-M-E-D with DISCOMFORT right from the first forward fold. Ugh!
In the past, I would have listened to that voice telling me to GET. OUT. OF. THERE. – but not today. Physically, I showed up; I couldn’t back out now.
I did my best to stay with my breath but found, all too often, that my practice was wildly out of sync with my breath. I tried to connect and, when I did, it got easier. Not easy, but easier than initially.
It’s a process and everyday I come to my mat is different. As long as I don’t expect to be where I was the day before, it’s okay. Good even. But if I show up expecting it to be better than the day before, I risk being disappointed. I am finding that it’s better to just show up… and let what happens, happen.
I am finding that this approach is a good one for life as well. [Read more…]
my oh mysore
I attempted my first mysore asana practice this morning. Unlike an instructor lead ashtanga practice, mysore is self-paced and therefore the focus is directed inward. While everyone takes on the same sequence, in this case the primary series, each yogis’ journey is vastly different.
The instructor circulates the room, offering assistance in helping each yogi achieve the posture to the best of their body’s ability. For me, this was much further than I ever imagined my body could go. It was transformative and very encouraging for it gives me hope of what is possible — albeit far from easy.
As I practiced, I observed my body go from waking-up during the initial phase to becoming somewhat beaten down in the middle of my practice. I kept on moving through the sequence, noting how my body was so fatigued that my upward dogs had become cobra and my hop forward had dwindled to nearly a crawl. Then, midway through the seated poses, something amazing happened. My hop gained height and I was able to return to upward dog without shaking. I was still tired, but at the same time I was also energized by the practice.
The whole mysore experience was quite a process which is obviously much more than just the physical. Erika, our instructor describes the practice as a “mirror for the mind.” I think she’s right.
chocolate cheeks
We are our worst critics. I know this to be true. However, the camera doesn’t lie. Photos taken of me before last nights dinner dance brilliantly show the bits of dark chocolate I’ve reached for during the work day in the past many months. The revelation stared me in the eye as I developed the images. It’s now clear: I’m getting fat in my down time.
And it’s not just in my face. I’ve been noticing it around my mid-section and chest as well. Even worse, I can FEEL IT. The sluggish, heavy sludge does not feel good day in and day out.
Well, I refuse to sit idly by and let that happen. It’s time to take action. I may not be able to run right now, but there are plenty of things that I can do which I am not.
- I can go for short walks now. I walked a mile during my lunch on Tuesday and my foot seemed to tolerate it okay.
- I can peddle on the spin cycles at the gym. I tried this a few weeks ago and found that as long as I didn’t do standing climbs, but stayed down in saddle, I was okay. Of course I only did 30 minutes but it’s been a couple of weeks.
- There’s no reason I can’t do weights.
- I can stop reaching for the salty chips and sweets.
- I can ask for your support and encouragement. I NEED IT.
Itsy Bitsy Spider
