This isn't yoga, but it's a nice thing. Get out that big blue ball you got, with every intention of doing daily exercises on it. Sit on it with your feet on the floor, and bounce up and down 200 times. Jill told me about it a couple of years ago, long enough ago that… Continue reading Bouncing up and down, standing on one leg
Month: March 2008
Weighted and upside down
Creaky though I am, I went to two classes this week. Yay! No matter what, I never work as hard at home. And it is so nice to have a teacher see what you're doing. Last night in Lisa's restorative class, we did two things I can and will do at home. In the seated… Continue reading Weighted and upside down
This post is just for me
No practice this morning. Sluggish day, even with a 40 minute walk. I must remember this! Extra sleep doesn't make up for no yoga.
Nice practice this morning
It wasn't much out of the ordinary. As usual, I was sleepy and didn't have much time. I did seated forward bends, downward facing dogs, dolphin poses, and whatever you call Chaturanga on your forearms. A couple of Parsvottanasanas (what is the English for that? Standing forward bends?), Jathara Parivrtanasana (reclining twist), Viparita Karani (legs… Continue reading Nice practice this morning
Even the bedridden
My teacher recently sent me a piece of the Yoga Sutras about obstacles to practice (1.30): "These obstacles are disease, inertia, doubt, heedlessness, laziness, indiscipline of the senses, erroneous views, lack of perseverance, and backsliding." I struggle with several of these, or maybe all of them. It's good to know that other people have struggled… Continue reading Even the bedridden
Practice delusions
I was looking at my list of post titles, and misread "Practice decisions" as "Practice delusions." That's a pretty good idea for a post too. For example, I think I'm practicing every day, but some weeks I miss a couple of days. Or maybe I think my hips are open and my head is in… Continue reading Practice delusions
Where I practice at home
I use the basement family room. The dog is afraid to come down here, because an aluminum softball bat was leaning against the wall and happened to fall on the cement floor just as he was passing by. I'm sorry he's such a chicken, but I'm glad he doesn't come down and get on the… Continue reading Where I practice at home
Ardha Chandrasana – half moon
I almost didn't practice yesterday. I had indigestion and felt stiff and tired. But finally I shoved myself down the stairs to my practice space. I was going to do a few restorative poses and be done. But instead I got out Yoga: The Path to Holistic Healing (B.K.S. Iyengar), and looked up indigestion. Hmm,… Continue reading Ardha Chandrasana – half moon
Paying attention
On one level, it's about becoming more flexible and more able to do the poses. On another level, it's about increasing body awareness. With time and practice, you get so you can pay attention to subtle changes in your body, and to exactly the teeny shift in, say, your right calf muscle, that puts you… Continue reading Paying attention
Bread and butter poses
Sometimes I call these hobbyhorse poses. They're the ones that are most beneficial for me to do every day. That doesn't mean I do them every day. Everyone's bread and butter poses are different, although some remain the same. Mine: Supta Padangusthasana (reclining big toe pose), for hips, hamstrings, and adductors Parighasana (gate latch pose),… Continue reading Bread and butter poses
Practice Notes 