Is it wrong to listen to the Cricket while practicing Vinyasa Krama? I'm not talking about Radio 5 live obviously, but Radio four's test match special, that would be OK, wouldn't it?
The Ashes are on. Do I have to explain the ashes? England lost to Australia at the Oval in 1882 ( forget 1066 this is the only date that matters in British history) somebody burnt the bails and put the ashes in a little terracotta urn, symbolising the death of British cricket.
Every two years these two mighty nations do join battle, over five matches, to gain/regain possession of the Urn (actually the urn never leaves Lords ). Currently, WE have the ashes having beaten Australia in 2009 and are now in over in Australia for the 2011 ashes tour.
Given that the matches are played in Australia I wake up for practice, in the UK, around the time of the final session of the day at the Gabba. This morning I woke to find our noble batsman had declared at 517 for 1 on the final day and had put the Australians in for the last couple of hours. I was sorely tempted to have the radio playing in the background while I practiced but it was pretty much certain to be a draw so I resisted, this time. But what happens as the series hots up, as it was I sneaked a look at the score on my itouch before going into my long paschimottasana.
It's a well known fact of course that Yoga, like baseball, derives from Cricket. Why else would the yogi cultivate one pointedness if not in preparation for facing spin or bodyline.
Practice Diary
This morning was Vinyasa Krama. I think I might settle into a straight forward core VK practice on Monday's, long stays in the key asanas (paschimottanasana, maha mudra, inversions) and a shorter practice to give me time for a full session of pranayama. Nice too after the madness of Sunday's third series. Really felt it this morning, arms shoulders, legs, sure I was walking bow legged when I go out of bed from all those LBH postures. Can you practice third only once a week, I wonder.
After the two preceding six day Ashtanga weeks, last weeks morning practice turned out like this
Monday - Primary
Tuesday - Intermediate
Wednesday - Vinyasa Krama (asymm/seated focus)
Thursday - Vinyasa krama ( Bow focus)
Friday - primary
Saturday - Vinyasa Krama (core asanas)
Sunday - Advanced A
Evening practice was a bit hit and miss, think I managed to get on the mat only about four times and sometimes just for a handful of Surys before Pranayama and meditation. I should start putting that in the diary too and getting it settled again now morning practice is stable.
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9 comments:
Ha ha ha ha, are you going to publish your book on how exactly yoga derives from cricket? Filling in the blanks for us? A few days ago I was also not able to put an audiocast down and I actually had it playing while in practice... My mind was of course in the story rather than in the asana but it was easy to put the body in automatic and have it run throughout them, of course this is not recommenddd and probably yoga plashphemy I have not done it again... But just to try it and take a look on the dark side it was fun
Oh man, this happens to me: the kids are watching some movie in the room with me while I practice (our house being, essentially, one room) and I can't help but be half-watching, and then I find I'm craning around to see, lingering in down dog to watch upside down, it's absurd. I can't really ask them not to watch because it does keep them occupied so that I can practice at all. Unoccupied kiddos=no practice. Does a practice even count under such circumstances?
Yes Claudia, watch out Mark Singleton, it's clear the development of asana coincided with the introduction of Cricket into India. Notice the stretching movements of the wicket keeper, the Pranayama of the fast bowlers and the high state of samadhi of the umpires.
i feel it's a slippery slope, you start with listening to cricket and end up in Sirsasana watching Oprah.
Maya , perhaps you need to practice blindfolded like john Scott see here http://grimmly2007.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-do-straight-leg-jump-through.html
HA HA HA, can I twit that? pleaseeee
you start with listening to cricket and end up in Sirsasana watching Oprah.
hee hee
And I feel that MS is now probably full of fear!
Of course, twit away.
Of course you can listen to cricket. As any Indian national will tell you: Cricket is Mantra :)
Trouble is I suspect it's only uplifting when we're winning! Of course the beauty of Cricket is that you seldom know whether you are winning or not, as those rather over-confident Australians found out...
Thanks Grimmly for rubbing it in.
Not fun watching as an Australian seeing our so called bowlers could not take a wicket in two days ( Marcus North isn't a real bowler ).
Have to say I love practising when the test is on.
Might be going to the match on Sunday after morning practice ! One of my husband's friend had already pulled out because Australia is doing so badly ( he is such a girl )
It is quite obvious yoga is derived from cricket really - or is it the other way around ?
Still distinctly remember going to an Ashes test in my home town a few years ago and seeing Ricky Ponting doing downward dog between overs !
Floss
Thanks for that Mike, somehow I suspect Ramaswami wouldn't be too disappointed in me if i did, he mentioned cricket quite a lot on his course.
Hi Floss, not rubbing it in, just a draw.... although a draw at the gabba pretty much counts as a win and of course it wasn't us for a change, on the back foot clinging on for the draw. Be interesting to see how they respond. Ricky Ponting a yogi... perhaps Durvasa, See today's newsletter from Ramaswami : )
I'm ashamed to say I've never been to an ashes test, most envious. Must look out for you on Sunday, hold a sign up say Punter is a yogi.
Ricky Ponting as Durvasa ? I guess ' grouchy old sage not to be messed with ' could fit him !
Floss
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