results!
I've been very consistent in my yoga practice for the past several months. I go to Vinyasa Flow on Thursday nights at Namaste Oakland. The teacher is Sparkle Thornton and she is a-maze-ing. Yoga is like anything. If you want to improve at that thing, you have to do it. You will improve more consistently if you do it, consistently. I started my experience with yoga on an occasional, drop in basis. A class here an there, sometimes twice a week, sometimes once a month. Now that I've really invested in my practice I'm able to move into more advanced asana.
Yoga is not just asana. It's meditation, it's pranayama, it's a lot of things. The asana practice, what we generally think of as yoga in the States, is focused on making the body a better seat (or "asana") for the soul. Literally, making your body a better place for your spirit to inhabit. I find it meditative and healing. My asana practice is not focused on getting to any particular pose. It's about strengthening and relaxing my body and my mind. When I am in class I let all other concerns drop away. It becomes apparent pretty quickly if I am distracted when I am in a balance pose. It is practice in being fully present and fully aware of the moment. It's also a very good strength and stretch session for my running/biking/swimming/mommy self.
I love Sparkle as a teacher. She has very welcoming, energizing prana (energy, vibe). I feel very safe in her class. Another benefit to consistency is that Sparkle and I have talked about my particular challenges (hello hips!) and she has observed me over time. She offers excellent hands on adjustments. She also offers the most advanced asana practice I've ever taken. There is no standard class, every time I go it is different, there is no auto pilot, no coasting through (unless that's where you are today!). She offers variations on asana that are far beyond anything I've ever seen outside of a magazine or promo shot. It's nice to be humbled by how far there is to go, to know that I'm nowhere near topping out so it's fine to keep working.
Last night we were working on headstand. I'm not confident in the strength of my upper body. After nine months of downward dog the strength is there, I have some serious guns. I just don't believe in them yet. So we set up for head stand and started kicking up. A couple of weeks ago we did headstand and Sparkle helped me up into the pose and supported me. It was helpful to feel where I was trying to go. I just gently kicked up with my head on the ground and my hands clasped behind my head. I knew I wasnt' going to go all the way up on accident so I was relaxed. My kicks were effective and I was getting good air time. I kicked a little bit more and I felt the weight come into my arms and neck. I didn't panic, I laughed. It was awesome! I had good hang time but I didn't push it and came down and relaxed into child's pose. It was very significant for me and I'm looking forward to where I'm going to be with headstand next year!
Yoga is not just asana. It's meditation, it's pranayama, it's a lot of things. The asana practice, what we generally think of as yoga in the States, is focused on making the body a better seat (or "asana") for the soul. Literally, making your body a better place for your spirit to inhabit. I find it meditative and healing. My asana practice is not focused on getting to any particular pose. It's about strengthening and relaxing my body and my mind. When I am in class I let all other concerns drop away. It becomes apparent pretty quickly if I am distracted when I am in a balance pose. It is practice in being fully present and fully aware of the moment. It's also a very good strength and stretch session for my running/biking/swimming/mommy self.
I love Sparkle as a teacher. She has very welcoming, energizing prana (energy, vibe). I feel very safe in her class. Another benefit to consistency is that Sparkle and I have talked about my particular challenges (hello hips!) and she has observed me over time. She offers excellent hands on adjustments. She also offers the most advanced asana practice I've ever taken. There is no standard class, every time I go it is different, there is no auto pilot, no coasting through (unless that's where you are today!). She offers variations on asana that are far beyond anything I've ever seen outside of a magazine or promo shot. It's nice to be humbled by how far there is to go, to know that I'm nowhere near topping out so it's fine to keep working.
Last night we were working on headstand. I'm not confident in the strength of my upper body. After nine months of downward dog the strength is there, I have some serious guns. I just don't believe in them yet. So we set up for head stand and started kicking up. A couple of weeks ago we did headstand and Sparkle helped me up into the pose and supported me. It was helpful to feel where I was trying to go. I just gently kicked up with my head on the ground and my hands clasped behind my head. I knew I wasnt' going to go all the way up on accident so I was relaxed. My kicks were effective and I was getting good air time. I kicked a little bit more and I felt the weight come into my arms and neck. I didn't panic, I laughed. It was awesome! I had good hang time but I didn't push it and came down and relaxed into child's pose. It was very significant for me and I'm looking forward to where I'm going to be with headstand next year!