OK that's putting it a bit strong, slightly miffed with myself perhaps.
Practice (primary) was hard going last night, at first I started to put it down to the stiffness I've been feeling lately but then I realised that along with that I just feel heavy and slow and awkward.
I thought OK I haven't practiced Ashtanga for a bit, bound to take a while to get back into it but then I checked my practice diary, fifteen mornings practicing ashtanga in the last month as well as the usual Vinyasa karma practice.
I haven't been practicing Ashtanga everyday though, some of the Vinyasa Krama practices have been quite light as I've worked on the book and focused on perhaps just the one Subroutine and it's prep (had skipped my evening practice to write the days subroutine up too).
Ashtanga is very good at giving structure and discipline to the rest of your life, I've lacked that you have to do more of the work, stay focused more in vinyasa karma, easy to let things slip.
So on thinking about it I've eaten a lot of crap, lots of biscuits floating around at work at the moment, I've had a cheese and onion malted granary fetish lately too, so big lunch on top of the junk. And eating in the evening too, usually I only eat breakfast and lunch or breakfast and dinner but recently I've been eating a lot three times a day. I usually water down my wine, like they do for kids in Italy, a quarter glass of wine topped up with mineral water but Pinot noir ( my favourite grape) has been on offer and I've had a couple of straight glasses of that of an evening. Sake at the weekend with a little too generous servings of Japanese food, a martini..... few too many Cinnamon and raisin cookies in bed with the Sunday papers......
OK, not horrendous perhaps but I tended to be very disciplined in my eating, a light breakfast and lunch or dinner, no alcohol, no snacking and a full on practice....or two.
No wonder I felt heavy
and slow
and awkward.
Hopefully back on track now though, getting up early still but for the light, shorter VK practice with more time for extended pranayama and meditation. Jump on the mat for a Full Ashtanga practice as soon as I get in at six and then finish off writing up the subroutine post before going up to Nietszche ( my Chinchilla who's feeling the cold too at the moment, spending most of the evening buried down between my ankles under a blanket, heaven for him but extreme tapas for me as I can't move). Cut out the crap and eat a little better from today, thank you Ashtanga for the reminder..... 'though by now, I shouldn't need one, bad yogi.
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11 comments:
True that! Ashtanga does give structure to not just the practice but life... feel it too... feel it coming back too... Im excited.
I would also say it is not horrible what happened, is just that the tamas dominated for a bit, and you did not force things, now satvas is returning... good observations... :-)
I had to smile. Food has indeed a huge influence on the practice. Nice that a man makes the same experience. I eat very healthy lately and my practice soared.
Back to the basics always.
Namaste
Ursula
For me you are one of the most disciplined persons I know (be it in real or virtual). I mean, who manages to maintain two Yoga practices daily over a significant period of time without living in the famous Himalayan cave? I was often wondering how and when you get all of this done. It seems you never miss a practice and in my opinion this is something super-yoga-hero-like, I don't know. So don't be too hard on yourself for this little lapse of being a normal, humanly Yogi.
Bettina
I'm with Bettina on this one. Truly, I can't help but marvel at the structure your life: 2 daily asana sessions, pranayama, meditation, the job, AND a relationship. And all on 2 small meals a day?!? You must run on concentrated prana. And your mysterious M must be a strong, sweet, and independent person to be supportive of you and your practice.
It's coming back Claudia ? : ) I'm excited on your behalf. Think I missed that evening practice, writing up the subroutines this month has thrown everything out a bit, slipped into some bad habits.
No, don't have the metabolism I had at 20 Ursula, need to remember that. The odd martini or indulgence is one thing but need to go a little careful if I want to float.
Thank you Bettina, your comment made me smile and my day, the super-yoga -hero-like bit has me itchy to jump on the mat as soon as I've downed this espresso. Personally it's the mum's with a couple of kids who still manage to squeeze a practice in everyday that i find superhero-yogi-like or those who go out into the cold to a shala early every morning before work, I'm kinds spoiled, no kids to worry about and a ten minute cycle to work. Thank you again though.
Thank you Megan, your comment came in just as i was posting mine. Was wondering about you this morning, wanted to check if I'd missed your Swenson report
The mysterious M, she is indeed, I never see her, she works 12 hour days in London and is one of the main reasons I've kept this blog up when the going has got tough, it's the only way she gets to see me. She likes the video's where I'm small and hopping about : )
Hi Honey x
A better practice, strange though, it's as my head is the same but my body older, still have the technique to get in and out of everything getting just as deep, landing tight drop backs just as softly but it's like i'm dragging my body through it. Perhaps I need a detox and then lots of green veg.
I will from now on choose to be miffed instead of ashamed of my shortcomings. Great lesson in the very first sentence, no need to overreact. And your answer to Megan is the most romantic thing I've read lately. The other limbs are always making an appearance on this blog.
Thank you Serene, i'll probably be in trouble for mentioning M though, as well for her finding out through the blog (again) that my back has been playing up.
I still hope VK is also enough to keep on track, but a bit harder I an feel that as well...
I think it is but perhaps you have to be more disciplined and stay focussed. Ashtanga seems to remind you constantly to watch what you eat etc. or you really feel it in the following mornings practice.
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