We're just warming up!

Are you ever lucky enough to arrive "early" for a yoga class?  I'm usually the gal who is there just a moment before the instructor begins with just enough time to find a spot, unroll my mat, and sit down.  Truth is, I don't know what to do with myself if I do happen to get there any earlier.  Do you find a pal and strike up a conversation, only to have it overheard by everyone else in the room and need to awkwardly end it when the instructor comes in to begin?  If not, do you sit there like an anti-social dolt completely avoiding eye contact? (that would probably end up being me!)   There is only so long you can scrutinize the sole of your foot.  Maybe you take yourself as a serious yogi and begin a meditation of some sort.  Come on, isn't it just easier to sneak in at the last second?  **Although, I must admit that my sneaking in at the last second is rarely planned or thought out - it's oftentimes the result of suburban traffic or straggling kids.
On Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a studio yoga class (hey, I broke down and bought a class card, so I have 10 classes to squeeze in before the end of summer!), and I got there a whole 3 minutes early.  I hadn't scrutinized the schedule, and when I arrived, the instructor informed me that it was a level 2/3 class.  I asked if I needed any special props, and she said "Well, you know your own practice, so get any blocks, straps, or blankets you need..."
The class wasn't packed - maybe 8 students - I grabbed a blanket, and easily found a place to unroll my mat that wasn't awkwardly close to anyone else. I found a comfortable seat, and waited for the class to begin; I was the only one sitting still.  The guy in front, decked head-to-toe in Lululemon (even his mat!) was doing some spinal twists.  The lady next to him was busy rolling her hips over a bolster.  The chica two mats away from me was doing some Pilates warm-ups, and the gal right next to me was using a strap to do some forward folds.  I started wondering if maybe the teacher had poked her head in and given some instruction to these early-arrivers that I had missed.  This was a "Level 2/3 class", afterall!
I refused to be intimidated by these go-getters.  I just sat in my "criss-cross applesauce" comfortable seat and waited.  I didn't do any breathing exercises, no warm-ups for me.  I kept it in the back of my mind that if it was a level 2/3 class, I was about to be worked over pretty hard, and I didn't want to waste any bit of energy on some impressive warm-up techniques.
You know what?  Sitting still worked for me.  Sure, I felt a bit awkward being the only one in the class who was not loosening up, but by the end of practice, I'm quite sure no one was wondering why I hadn't done any pre-practice exercises.  Then again, if they were wondering, it doesn't matter.  I didn't come to the class to impress or justify anything to them.  I came to the class for myself.  If I want to wait for practice to begin by sitting there patiently, I can sit there patiently.  No need for pre-practice gymnastics or bizarre breathing patterns.  On Saturday, they were my three extra minutes - three minutes without whining 5 year-olds, a beckoning pile of laundry, or neighborhood leaf-blowers.  Just sitting there and enjoying was the proverbial calm before the storm of the "Level 2/3 class".
Next time you find yourself lucky enough to arrive 3 minutes early for a yoga class, by all means, do what you feel most comfortable doing as you warm-up,  waiting for practice to begin.  Just know that if I'm on the mat next to you, I'm going to be enjoying my 3 minutes to the fullest - by sitting there and doing nothing.

ps - I made it through the class, for the win.

"It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity" - B.K.S. Iyengar

YJ Talent Search? *-FAIL-*

Yep, that's me.  Vying for the the 2nd annual Yoga Journal Talent Search.  I tried to enter, but I can't - the dang photo is too large.  And you can't see my face.  And I'm not wearing brightly colored clothing so the judges (do you think they'll give me bonus points for the cool zebra pillow on my couch?) can't fully see the extension/articulation/alignment of the posture.  And it's a posture I've only just begun to experiment with.  I haven't "mastered" it yet.  Which begs the question:  Have I mastered ANY poses?  Savasana may be the only one...
So folks, this is what you get when you don't read the "rules" of a contest.  When I tried to submit my entry, a message popped up, saying that my photo was too large.  I decided to click on "the rules" to see what size jpg they were looking for, and instead I saw all the aforementioned helpful hints and guidelines for the submissions.
Back to the drawing board I go.  Do I continue to practice my Wheel with extension, working my way to "mastery"?  Or do I go with King Dancer? Not as impressive, but I'm certain that I have better alignment (check out my left foot angling out on this Wheel...not to mention the right leg is less-than-perpendicular).  Maybe Warrior III - that's a posture that makes everyone nervous.  Good thing my husband likes playing around with his camera - because I think he's going to be practicing by training his lens on a lot of yoga postures in the coming week.  Once I submit, I'll give you the info on how to vote for me - that is, if you think I'm "Talented" enough to be in Yoga Journal magazine.  Now, off to ponder this whole "mastering" a pose bit...and to find some yoga pants that aren't so dang black.

Delight the world with compassion, kindness, and grace.

Challenging poses!

tittibhasana
(are you kidding me with that name?)

It seems that everyone has a yoga posture that presents them with challenges.  It could be a simple pose that you visit every week or it could be something as challenging as the posture you see to the left.  What the heck is that gal doing?!?  It's a rather challenging advanced posture called "Firefly Pose", or Tittibhasana.  It was featured in this month's Yoga Journal along with a step-by-step on how to prepare yourself for entering what I think looks like a rather impressive pose.

This step-by-step approach is essential to mastering any tough postures!  Begin with babysteps, mastering your "foundation", and you can build your practice to include even the most challenging poses.  You can't start building a skyscraper without building a first floor.

For Firefly, it turns out that the "first step" is just a more intense forward lunge with the shoulder under the forward knee, instead of tucking the knee into your armpit.  For now, I think I can work on taking my lunge deeper and becoming familiar with the new feeling of having my shoulder under instead of over.  This is what yoga has always been about - shifting your comfort levels, testing your limits, and once you're comfortable, shift them again.  It's the only way to let your practice grow.

This is purely "the physical" - you can certainly apply this yogic philosophy of pushing the limits of your comfort levels with your mind and attitude.  Perhaps it will help you in a tough new relationship or one that has been troubling you for years.  Take baby steps with your postures, take baby steps with your relationships and be surprised at how much you can grow and feel better about your place in the world!

So, will it take me weeks or months to get that shoulder under the forward knee?  I'll have to start opening up my hips if I want to get there...

Mind, body, and spirit are all one; they cannot be separated.  To make progress in one, you must make progress in all.

ps - for those of you with an advanced practice, Kathryn Budig has a weekly blog where she posts "Yoga Challenge Poses" with step-by-step instructions to build your practice to include these extreme pretzel postures ;) Click here to read more!

POW! - Pose of the Week

This week's pose: Crow - because we're not quite done with inversions!

Well, a lot has happened since I last posted a Pose of the Week for you. There was Christmas (totally ate too much!), there was New Year's (totally drank too much!), there were 3 sessions of Bikram (totally sweat too much!), and now here we are - finishing up my series on inversions. Before you think that I've totally inverted you too much, Bakasana (known as Crow or Crane) is only technically an inversion because your hips are above your head. Whenever I find myself in Crow, I don't think of it as an inversion so much as a balancing act!

Bakasana is a fun little arm balance which strengthens your wrists, forearms and abs (OH yes, you will feel your abs in this little pose - it's unwittingly half of the posture. If you aren't using your abs to support your core, there is no way you'll find yourself in Crow/Crane). This posture also improves your digestion (ahem, c-o-r-e-!-!) and opens your hips and back.

There are a lot of ways to get into this arm balance. Each time I am in class and an instructor shows a new variation on settling into this posture, I get psyched that I'll finally find the secret to Crow. I'll finally be able to fly. I'll finally be able to nail it. Then I get into the posture, and see how much of it involves the abs, and I'm just not as well "developed" in that region, so I can't hold the posture for long.

This past Wednesday, I was able to squeeze in one of Josh's classes, and how pleased was I that he directed us into Crow towards the end of the class, especially given my dissatisfaction with my Bikram sessions?!? It was great! (I dedicate this post to my bestie Liz, by the way. I remember when she shared that she had held crow for a few seconds and it felt so great. We all have had a similar feeling throughout our practices, so we all know she deserves to have that effort honored!)

So, this is how Josh brought us into Bakasana: We started with feel hip-distance apart, and began with a squat. Once comfortably in our squats, we placed our hands on the floor in front of us, with our elbows pressing against our inner knees. Using the elbows to press the knees apart while using the knees to hug the elbows together, we had to engage our abs in order to lift our toes off of the floor. One leg up was an achievement, but both legs up was quite the accomplishment! Yes, I nailed the posture for precisely 3.5 seconds - but I did it! And it felt like flying!

Will you go flying this week? Give it a try...you just might take off with a whole lot of grace!

Whether you give or share, are kind or not, never let your grace fail.