Day 14 – 1/13/16
Timer on; trusty red sweatpants that say “love”…on; floor as clean as it’s going to get…
Today was a good yoga day, though, I started late because I had a meeting with my music director for the next show I’m doing until 9PM, and, then, of course it takes about 40 minutes to get home…and then I had to walk the dogs, etc., so…I’m finishing just in time…it’s 15 minutes until midnight…And, I’m going to have to turn around and do this tomorrow morning because I have stilt class tomorrow that will let out late, so…I’m going to have to do the practice in the morning, or…be damned…or something…I don’t think I’m really damned, if I don’t do the practice, but…I was raised Catholic and my guilt for my own discipline, is strong, to say the least…
Anyway, as I was saying, yoga was good today, but I’m tired because it was a really long day…my back is hurting a bit today because I did some Catherine Fitzmaurice poses before my NACL training yesterday, and The Camel-esque series of poses really “hurt so good,” yesterday, but…not “hurting so good” today…I must be tired…I’m doing John Mellencamp phrases…
So…in order…is where I’m supposed to stay focused, and I didn’t accomplish that yesterday, so I should get back on that horse today…
I start and finish with meditation, and then I created a warm-up series of Figure 8s with my legs and neck rolls (mainly because I have neck issues; always have…) and the Figure 8s were put in because the Love/Acceptance theme landed them in this practice. I’ve never really implemented a yoga warm-up before and I have to say, I like this one.
According to the powers that be in THE YOGA HANDBOOK by Noa Belling, one of the reasons for devising a warm-up is: “…because this focuses attention on the breath and encourages deeper breathing to increase the oxygen intake, which in turn enhances energy levels and concentration in preparation for Yoga. These exercises serve to wake up the body in the morning or wind it down at the end of a busy day.”
Well, “FACTS!”, as my students say… This warm-up tends to wake me up in the morning and prepared me for the rest of the winding down I needed for the end of my busy day, especially today…I’m not sure if it enhances my energy levels and concentration…I’ll check that when I’m more awake tomorrow morning.
Until today, I haven’t really noticed the differences of this sequence in the morning vs. the night, but tonight, I did. My head is quieter, and reflection is harder because I’m too tired to reflect. I am not sure what this has to do with Love/Acceptance, but…I guess warming one’s self up could definitely enhance the energy levels between two people and create concentration that allows one to focus on another. I have the saying that “Showing up is a skill,” and in the long-term relationship arena, I think it is important to remember that enhancing the energy in another person and creating concentration that allows focus is important to keep devising in the relationship or else it will get stale…
Alright, it’s midnight…time to sleep…
Day 15 – 1/14/16
Timer on…
Well, today was fine; I didn’t end up doing the practice right away in the morning…I had a lot of grading to do and I couldn’t calm my mind until it was graded, so…I went to the library to use their wi-fi and corrected all of them. Then I came home, and the practice went very smoothly. I have some things being delivered today, so…I was able to stay focused and finish.
Yesterday, I talked about the importance of a warm-up in the practice. The next thing on the list is the sitting or lying poses…
The first pose is Baddha Konasana “The Butterfly”.
The benefits according to THE YOGA HANDBOOK:
The next pose is the Vajrasana/Virasana (“The Diamond”/”Hero”). This pose is what began the 69 Days of Mourning sequence I did last year. I like this pose, as well…
The benefits according to THE YOGA HANDBOOK:
These are not, again, “hard” poses for me or for this sequence, but…I have always liked these two. And, lately, I have been doing them with the toes stretched in the opposite direction from the floor. I like what that version is doing to my feet. It’s making them feel stronger and more flexible. I (also) hope the added benefit will be a quality of life choice that will help my feet stay strong and flexible for life.
That’s all for today…Thank you!
Timer on; trusty red sweatpants that say “love”…on; floor as clean as it’s going to get…
Today was a good yoga day, though, I started late because I had a meeting with my music director for the next show I’m doing until 9PM, and, then, of course it takes about 40 minutes to get home…and then I had to walk the dogs, etc., so…I’m finishing just in time…it’s 15 minutes until midnight…And, I’m going to have to turn around and do this tomorrow morning because I have stilt class tomorrow that will let out late, so…I’m going to have to do the practice in the morning, or…be damned…or something…I don’t think I’m really damned, if I don’t do the practice, but…I was raised Catholic and my guilt for my own discipline, is strong, to say the least…
Anyway, as I was saying, yoga was good today, but I’m tired because it was a really long day…my back is hurting a bit today because I did some Catherine Fitzmaurice poses before my NACL training yesterday, and The Camel-esque series of poses really “hurt so good,” yesterday, but…not “hurting so good” today…I must be tired…I’m doing John Mellencamp phrases…
So…in order…is where I’m supposed to stay focused, and I didn’t accomplish that yesterday, so I should get back on that horse today…
I start and finish with meditation, and then I created a warm-up series of Figure 8s with my legs and neck rolls (mainly because I have neck issues; always have…) and the Figure 8s were put in because the Love/Acceptance theme landed them in this practice. I’ve never really implemented a yoga warm-up before and I have to say, I like this one.
According to the powers that be in THE YOGA HANDBOOK by Noa Belling, one of the reasons for devising a warm-up is: “…because this focuses attention on the breath and encourages deeper breathing to increase the oxygen intake, which in turn enhances energy levels and concentration in preparation for Yoga. These exercises serve to wake up the body in the morning or wind it down at the end of a busy day.”
Well, “FACTS!”, as my students say… This warm-up tends to wake me up in the morning and prepared me for the rest of the winding down I needed for the end of my busy day, especially today…I’m not sure if it enhances my energy levels and concentration…I’ll check that when I’m more awake tomorrow morning.
Until today, I haven’t really noticed the differences of this sequence in the morning vs. the night, but tonight, I did. My head is quieter, and reflection is harder because I’m too tired to reflect. I am not sure what this has to do with Love/Acceptance, but…I guess warming one’s self up could definitely enhance the energy levels between two people and create concentration that allows one to focus on another. I have the saying that “Showing up is a skill,” and in the long-term relationship arena, I think it is important to remember that enhancing the energy in another person and creating concentration that allows focus is important to keep devising in the relationship or else it will get stale…
Alright, it’s midnight…time to sleep…
Day 15 – 1/14/16
Timer on…
Well, today was fine; I didn’t end up doing the practice right away in the morning…I had a lot of grading to do and I couldn’t calm my mind until it was graded, so…I went to the library to use their wi-fi and corrected all of them. Then I came home, and the practice went very smoothly. I have some things being delivered today, so…I was able to stay focused and finish.
Yesterday, I talked about the importance of a warm-up in the practice. The next thing on the list is the sitting or lying poses…
The first pose is Baddha Konasana “The Butterfly”.
The benefits according to THE YOGA HANDBOOK:
- Improves mobility in the hip joint.
- Relieves tension in the sacrum and coccyx.
- Relieves tension in the thighs, knees, and ankles.
- Tones the reproductive organs and the bladder.
- Relieves any premenstrual tension and other menstrual problems.
- Helps the pelvic area to prepare easier childbirth.
- Nourishes the lowest energy center, the Muladhara, or base chakra (reproductive organs).
The next pose is the Vajrasana/Virasana (“The Diamond”/”Hero”). This pose is what began the 69 Days of Mourning sequence I did last year. I like this pose, as well…
The benefits according to THE YOGA HANDBOOK:
- Restricts blood flow to the legs, thus directing the blood flow to the upper half of the body, nourishing the internal organs.
- Assisting digestion, and are among the few postures that can be practiced directly after a meal, to relieve the feeling of fullness.
- Helps get rid of flatulence.
- Improves the flexibility of the knees.
- Strengthens and stretches the muscles and nerves in the legs and thighs.
- Helps relieve sciatica.
- Helps to improve flat feet, as these postures help to stretch out the front of the ankle and foot to encourage the development of the arch and instep.
These are not, again, “hard” poses for me or for this sequence, but…I have always liked these two. And, lately, I have been doing them with the toes stretched in the opposite direction from the floor. I like what that version is doing to my feet. It’s making them feel stronger and more flexible. I (also) hope the added benefit will be a quality of life choice that will help my feet stay strong and flexible for life.
That’s all for today…Thank you!
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