Before starting Ashtanga, I did some classes with Anne Nguen. She teaches Tuesday nights at Alhambra. I was completely hopeless with the basic postures, but Anne was calm and encouraging. She gave me a few stretches to help to unlock my shoulders, and I really enjoyed her classes.
Now, six months later, and I went back to her classes a totally different person. I'm a lot skinnier, somewhere in the vicinity of 5kg (11lbs). Not only that, but I'm a lot more flexible, and am now used to a bunch of the basic poses we do in class.
For Anne, it was like she had a different person. She was genuinely excited for me! I love that about her, so warm and generous with her time. What a lovely person!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Moon-day Practice
Because I missed some days while I was travelling in San Cristobal, I decided to practice on the Moon Day. My back was still stiff from the two bus journeys, but I managed a good practice.
One surprise was being able to straighten my legs in Paschimottanasana C. I didn't quite have enough room to push hard enough on my feet to get some internal rotation of the femur, but that will come with time. I'm practiced enough to know that just because I got it today, doesn't mean that I will manage to get it next time, but these things come and go until there's more coming than going, and finally they're a steadfast part of my practice.
One surprise was being able to straighten my legs in Paschimottanasana C. I didn't quite have enough room to push hard enough on my feet to get some internal rotation of the femur, but that will come with time. I'm practiced enough to know that just because I got it today, doesn't mean that I will manage to get it next time, but these things come and go until there's more coming than going, and finally they're a steadfast part of my practice.
Class with Kat
On Thursday I did a yoga class with 'Kat'. I'd heard about her classes from a friend Ticia. Now Ticia said "she's off the planet, first I wanted to kill her, then I wanted to hug her".
Well that pretty much sums it up. She is so nuts that at first I thought she was tripping on LSD. Later though, I just got used to her style, and it was quite nice.
The yoga that she did was incredibly slow. She did mostly Ashtanga style sequences, but incredibly slowly. Then she switched to hip openers, and we did things like sit in half king pigeon for about ten minutes on each side. I've never done anything like that, so it was really painful for me, but good to do something different.
I think I'm going to try to do as many different classes of yoga I can over the next few months. It's good to learn the different styles of teaching, and I'm sure it'll help my Ashtanga practice.
Well that pretty much sums it up. She is so nuts that at first I thought she was tripping on LSD. Later though, I just got used to her style, and it was quite nice.
The yoga that she did was incredibly slow. She did mostly Ashtanga style sequences, but incredibly slowly. Then she switched to hip openers, and we did things like sit in half king pigeon for about ten minutes on each side. I've never done anything like that, so it was really painful for me, but good to do something different.
I think I'm going to try to do as many different classes of yoga I can over the next few months. It's good to learn the different styles of teaching, and I'm sure it'll help my Ashtanga practice.
Travelling
I went on a holiday to San Cristobal de las Casas. This involved two 18 hour bus journeys, which really tightened up my back and hips. Added to this, I wasn't able to practice while there, because I was just too busy. I brought my mat all that way, but just didn't manage to get it out.
It could also have been the cold. San Cristobal was FREEZING!!!
Using this trip as an example, it's made me realise how much of a busy life I lead. As well as work and study, I also try to do a lot of reading, and then there is my yoga and push-ups. That really fills up the day, and on many days, something gives. Unfortunately, it's often the yoga.
It could also have been the cold. San Cristobal was FREEZING!!!
Using this trip as an example, it's made me realise how much of a busy life I lead. As well as work and study, I also try to do a lot of reading, and then there is my yoga and push-ups. That really fills up the day, and on many days, something gives. Unfortunately, it's often the yoga.
Class after push-ups
Well it wasn't so bad. Sure it was a bit tough on the arms, but no harder than when I first started doing Ashtanga yoga. My twists weren't so good because my shoulders are a little tighter than before, but that's to be expected.
A primary series includes 57 push-ups, so in the warm-up I did three extras to make 60. These got added to my push-up total.
Downward facing dog is still a very painful posture. I don't know why it's so hard for me... I have an idea, and it's just the fact that my hips and shoulders are so tight, but still, it just doesn't seem like anyone else in class is having as much difficulty with that pose.
Regarding the Michael Gannon damage, I managed to hold lotus for a few seconds, but that was it. It was also very painful, so I didn't push it.
A primary series includes 57 push-ups, so in the warm-up I did three extras to make 60. These got added to my push-up total.
Downward facing dog is still a very painful posture. I don't know why it's so hard for me... I have an idea, and it's just the fact that my hips and shoulders are so tight, but still, it just doesn't seem like anyone else in class is having as much difficulty with that pose.
Regarding the Michael Gannon damage, I managed to hold lotus for a few seconds, but that was it. It was also very painful, so I didn't push it.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Push-ups
I have another blog. It's http://275aday.blogspot.com. It's a challenge to do 100,000 push-ups in one year. That works out to 275 each day.
I'm interested in what it'll do to my body over the year, and also in how it'll influence my yoga practice. I've so far done 120 of my daily allocated 275 push-ups, and my man-boobs and biceps are killing me. Then there's the led class tonight, the first of the year. With all these push-ups in my arms, I'm a bit concerned for my chaturanga dandasanas! I guess we'll see tonight!
I'm interested in what it'll do to my body over the year, and also in how it'll influence my yoga practice. I've so far done 120 of my daily allocated 275 push-ups, and my man-boobs and biceps are killing me. Then there's the led class tonight, the first of the year. With all these push-ups in my arms, I'm a bit concerned for my chaturanga dandasanas! I guess we'll see tonight!
Book review - 21 things to Know Before Starting an Ashtanga Yoga Practice
I just bought and read this book, and I loved it. It really is a book to read before you start practising, or rather, near the start of your practice. It is full of helpful advice, some new, some old. It's not really a book, more a collection of her blog-posts bundled together for a kindle, but the format works well. At $1.99, it's worth the purchase.
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