2nd series, nice to see you again.

A straight up 2nd this evening, first in ages. I've done the odd 2nd series/VK backbend practice, most recently on Christmas day but can't remember the last time I played it straight and did the whole series without any modifications.

Recently I've tended to practise Standing, the VK bow sequence then pick up 2nd at ustrasana, miss out the leg behind head postures, pick it up again at Vatayanasana, that kind of thing, been laying off the lbw as my back hasn't felt right recently and wanted to give it a break.

So straight 2nd this evening was nice. Despite a little overindulgence over Christmas by ashtangi standards and a lack of practice I pretty much sailed through it, needed to take a breather after karanda but it went back up so was happy to pause for a moment.

The backbends up to kapo are better, using the tuck the tailbone technique and it's making a difference, much easier, no 'strain' (strain doesn't seem the right word, was going to say no or less effort but there's still effort just...not such a struggle). Kapo was toes only but thats' OK it'll come back, only did the one, if I'd done three I'd probably have touched my heels, was taking it easy.

Bakasana no longer floaty but landed, need to work on my arm balances. Had to glance at my Sweeney for the twists, couldn't picture bharadvajrasana in my mind of some reason.

Leg behind head was a bit of a risk but was OK I tend to do the dwi pada entry to sputa kumasana in Primary but that's about it, didn't take my leg as far back on my shoulder as I used to but they felt OK.

Perhaps the cooler weather had something to do with finding the series not too hard, been cursing the lack of heat for Primary but was a blessing here.

Mayurasana, again benefiting from the tuck the tailbone mantra and my Vasyanasana is still nice and tall, can't think why that has improved so much but I'm loving the posture. Supv was well, supv, settled for just rolling over the arm and keeping hold will have to work on getting the leg back mid roll, managed it a few times but never felt it's really nailed.

Headstands are all fine but then they're kind of a strong area for me, lots of time spent in them in VK.

Dropbacks, again fine, though my heels lifted on the first couple.

All in all tolerable, looks like 2nd is back in the game and I'm thinking a good six months of straight Intermediate series with a Friday Primary may be on the cards, time to consolidate and take my ashtanga practice back.

Trying to think how I ended up letting my practice drop off so much, was doing 4th series earlier in the year but I think I'd be starting from scratch with 3rd if I was to consider it, which I'm not. I think somewhere in the year I shifted to a calmer Vinyasa Krama practice, staying in postures longer, more focus on pranayama, you can't play with Ashtanga either you practice it fully committed or not at all.

Not ready to let it droop off that much yet.

This will be in the evenings until spring at least with my VK practice in the mornings.