Enjoy the beautiful weather!
I could go into a long post about going outside, but I think I'm just going to go outside. :-D
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
King Pigeon
I've made progress! I am in the beginning stages of getting to full expression in King Pigeon. I don't know if it's because my muscles were all warmed up, but I was able to grab my toes! Quad flexibility isn't really the issue, it's more in the back. I'm excited! I plan on practicing King Pigeon a lot more to increase my spinal flexibility. I think that will help me in push up into wheel. Lots of Chaturungas for strength, lots of King Pigeon for spinal flexibility. Maybe some Camel Pose and backbends in Tadasana.
A strap helped me get my hands to my toes... I have a yoga mat bag strap at home that can double as a regular strap as well as two blocks and a pillow. I really have to try to remember to utilize them more.
I did a little yoga yesterday in the yard of my friend's house. Even better, I had a girl friend practice with me. That kind of brought me confidence... yeah, I might be able to do this instructor thing. That was pretty fun. And I have to practice outside more.
I may be getting more people on board for Wanderlust Yoga in the City! I want to drag them to Community Classes to get them started. So exciting. I love yoga buddies.
Namaste.
A strap helped me get my hands to my toes... I have a yoga mat bag strap at home that can double as a regular strap as well as two blocks and a pillow. I really have to try to remember to utilize them more.
I did a little yoga yesterday in the yard of my friend's house. Even better, I had a girl friend practice with me. That kind of brought me confidence... yeah, I might be able to do this instructor thing. That was pretty fun. And I have to practice outside more.
I may be getting more people on board for Wanderlust Yoga in the City! I want to drag them to Community Classes to get them started. So exciting. I love yoga buddies.
Namaste.
Friday, April 18, 2014
My history with yoga.
So I kind of came out of nowhere with this blog. I was attempting a lifestyle blog when I realized a major lack of focus made everything a mess! But here I am now. I've kept those other posts on their relevant blogs for nostalgia, and possibly digital hoarding. But, like I said, here I am now...
I wish they taught yoga in high school P.E. class. I don't know if high school me would love it as much as I do now, but I think I would. I do remember my first yoga class ever: I went to the free classes they taugh at Mizzou's Rec Center in 2006. My best friend, Tammy dragged me to it. Actually, it was more like, "ok." It might've been Iyengar yoga -all I know is that it definitely wasn't Vinyasa. I loved those. They were calming and Yin, although not restorative. Those classes were linked with the Mental Health Center; a psychologist, Terry Wilson (yes, I totally looked it up!) taught them. I guess they offer more classes now, which I think is phenomenal. "Integrative Yoga Therapy" sounds really interesting in general.
Fast forward. Radio silence on the yoga front. I attempted to do yoga at X-Sport in 2010, but found the classes too repetitive and only somewhat challenging. I wanted more variety and more yin than yang like the first classes I went to at school. That ended in a couple months.
On the on and off I would practice at home on my own. Mostly just holding stretches, not really any flows. My experience at X-Sport didn't lend itself to cultivating a practice at home.
Fast forward some more to the end of January, 2012. I heard about Community Classes at Core Power Yoga. Still repetitive, but challenging at least. Found a Groupon for a free month for $39 there. Score! February was the best month of 2012 because of that. I found myself practicing more intensely. I learned a couple flows. I would practice on my own when I wasn't attending the Community Classes after that.
Summer of 2013 found me deep in a dark depression. I'm not sure if the breakup of a relationship triggered it, among other things, or if I tend to get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the summer. (All I can say, is that I think this summer will be different. :-) ) But come August of that summer, I was out! I started getting out of bed early. I would practice yoga. Yoga was a wonderful, low-cost (well, FREE!) thing to do that would make me feel great!
Perhaps, that upswing was a mania (just like Ian on HBO's Shameless). I was hospitalized twice. I lost my job. Yoga would've keep me saner if they offered it in the hospital I was in. I did what I could on a folded up blanket, but I truly think classes would've been immensely beneficial (and not just beneficial for me). I am, however, inspired to bring yoga to facilities such as the one I was in, and maybe even P.E. classes. I want yoga to be my life(!), and I want to bring the joy of yoga to as many people as I can.
Since then, I've been practicing: at home, Community Classes, and regular CPY classes since I am a part of a great program: Yoga for Trade.
Right now, maybe it's just this very moment, but I feel as if I am in a muddle. Trying to (still) pick up the pieces of last summer. (Still) job hunting. (Always) wanting to make yoga my life. My ego wants me to get arm balances and inversions before I even TRY to become an instructor. I need funds to become trained. It's really just trying to put the pieces back together in a way that makes sense and is hopefully fulfilling. And I've got a lot of ideas in my head. My intent is good, but perhaps my practice should be better. -Is that just my ego? All I know is that yoga is a part of my life that is here to stay, and I want to make it an even bigger part of my life. I'm looking forward to growing my practice as I grow myself.
Namaste.
I wish they taught yoga in high school P.E. class. I don't know if high school me would love it as much as I do now, but I think I would. I do remember my first yoga class ever: I went to the free classes they taugh at Mizzou's Rec Center in 2006. My best friend, Tammy dragged me to it. Actually, it was more like, "ok." It might've been Iyengar yoga -all I know is that it definitely wasn't Vinyasa. I loved those. They were calming and Yin, although not restorative. Those classes were linked with the Mental Health Center; a psychologist, Terry Wilson (yes, I totally looked it up!) taught them. I guess they offer more classes now, which I think is phenomenal. "Integrative Yoga Therapy" sounds really interesting in general.
Fast forward. Radio silence on the yoga front. I attempted to do yoga at X-Sport in 2010, but found the classes too repetitive and only somewhat challenging. I wanted more variety and more yin than yang like the first classes I went to at school. That ended in a couple months.
On the on and off I would practice at home on my own. Mostly just holding stretches, not really any flows. My experience at X-Sport didn't lend itself to cultivating a practice at home.
Fast forward some more to the end of January, 2012. I heard about Community Classes at Core Power Yoga. Still repetitive, but challenging at least. Found a Groupon for a free month for $39 there. Score! February was the best month of 2012 because of that. I found myself practicing more intensely. I learned a couple flows. I would practice on my own when I wasn't attending the Community Classes after that.
Summer of 2013 found me deep in a dark depression. I'm not sure if the breakup of a relationship triggered it, among other things, or if I tend to get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the summer. (All I can say, is that I think this summer will be different. :-) ) But come August of that summer, I was out! I started getting out of bed early. I would practice yoga. Yoga was a wonderful, low-cost (well, FREE!) thing to do that would make me feel great!
Perhaps, that upswing was a mania (just like Ian on HBO's Shameless). I was hospitalized twice. I lost my job. Yoga would've keep me saner if they offered it in the hospital I was in. I did what I could on a folded up blanket, but I truly think classes would've been immensely beneficial (and not just beneficial for me). I am, however, inspired to bring yoga to facilities such as the one I was in, and maybe even P.E. classes. I want yoga to be my life(!), and I want to bring the joy of yoga to as many people as I can.
Since then, I've been practicing: at home, Community Classes, and regular CPY classes since I am a part of a great program: Yoga for Trade.
Right now, maybe it's just this very moment, but I feel as if I am in a muddle. Trying to (still) pick up the pieces of last summer. (Still) job hunting. (Always) wanting to make yoga my life. My ego wants me to get arm balances and inversions before I even TRY to become an instructor. I need funds to become trained. It's really just trying to put the pieces back together in a way that makes sense and is hopefully fulfilling. And I've got a lot of ideas in my head. My intent is good, but perhaps my practice should be better. -Is that just my ego? All I know is that yoga is a part of my life that is here to stay, and I want to make it an even bigger part of my life. I'm looking forward to growing my practice as I grow myself.
Namaste.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Another great class.
Admittedly, I haven't been doing yoga as much as I would love, but I'm keeping at it.
In class, I tweaked my Crow's hand positioning, and I was able to hold it for longer (or at least I felt more sturdy).
I can push higher into Wheel, and my Headstand it getting better. I'm able to get my hips over my head, I just need to find my balance to bring my legs up. Tripod Headstand is easier for me than Supported Headstand. The only thing is that my legs fall off to the side in Tripod Headstand, and I get afraid of hurting my neck. In Supported Headstand, I feel more supported, but I can't quite get my legs up.
I'm looking forward to the time in my practice where it clicks; I remember those "aha!" moments with Crow and Shoulderstand. (Although, it's been a while with Shoulderstand... I remember the fear of hurting my neck, and one day I just did it.)
I'm also looking forward to the day that my arms are strong enough to do Handstand. As I can tell when I push into my Wheel, and with my Chaturungas, my arms are getting stronger: I didn't backtrack as much as I thought when I took a break because of my knees.
What I should do is practice more arm balances. I don't know... my body just feels too heavy sometimes. That doesn't mean I shouldn't practice it! I just need to get over my ego and keep trying. :-)
I'm really excited for the Wanderlust Yoga in the City on May 31st. I'm actually going to be able to drag a friend who has never really done yoga before. I'm hoping to turn him into a yogi. One day I want to go to an actual festival, but that doesn't make me any less excited for Chicago's Wanderlust.
All in all, I feel amazing. Thank you, yoga.
In class, I tweaked my Crow's hand positioning, and I was able to hold it for longer (or at least I felt more sturdy).
I can push higher into Wheel, and my Headstand it getting better. I'm able to get my hips over my head, I just need to find my balance to bring my legs up. Tripod Headstand is easier for me than Supported Headstand. The only thing is that my legs fall off to the side in Tripod Headstand, and I get afraid of hurting my neck. In Supported Headstand, I feel more supported, but I can't quite get my legs up.
I'm looking forward to the time in my practice where it clicks; I remember those "aha!" moments with Crow and Shoulderstand. (Although, it's been a while with Shoulderstand... I remember the fear of hurting my neck, and one day I just did it.)
I'm also looking forward to the day that my arms are strong enough to do Handstand. As I can tell when I push into my Wheel, and with my Chaturungas, my arms are getting stronger: I didn't backtrack as much as I thought when I took a break because of my knees.
What I should do is practice more arm balances. I don't know... my body just feels too heavy sometimes. That doesn't mean I shouldn't practice it! I just need to get over my ego and keep trying. :-)
I'm really excited for the Wanderlust Yoga in the City on May 31st. I'm actually going to be able to drag a friend who has never really done yoga before. I'm hoping to turn him into a yogi. One day I want to go to an actual festival, but that doesn't make me any less excited for Chicago's Wanderlust.
All in all, I feel amazing. Thank you, yoga.
 |
| This is where I'm at right now. |
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| This is where I will be one day. :-D |
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Feeling good.
Feeling good today. If only the sun was out, but, hey, I'm definitely thankful to be.
Weather not to bad. One hour session.
Getting better at Crow, and trying to engage stomach muscles more. Arms need some work too.
My goal right now is to continue practicing as best I can and eventually get teacher trained.
In building playlists, I checked out The Heavy. If you like the Black Keys, you'll like The Heavy. Also, along those lines: Alabama Shakes.
Weather not to bad. One hour session.
Getting better at Crow, and trying to engage stomach muscles more. Arms need some work too.
My goal right now is to continue practicing as best I can and eventually get teacher trained.
In building playlists, I checked out The Heavy. If you like the Black Keys, you'll like The Heavy. Also, along those lines: Alabama Shakes.
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