Fifty Rounds of Sun Salutions

For the first time in my twenty-two months of practice, I did over fifty rounds of sun salutations in an hour-long class. Although it is only half of one-hundred-eight rounds, definitely a test of core and endurance.

Personal stamp-mark.

Just Turn Up For Practice

On how much I contemplated if I should practice in my last post, mind you, I was not being lazy, especially Thursdays being my 'must-go' practice day, just that I was feeling under the weather for the past week. Instead of doing my usual class, opted for a less vigorous hatha class followed by Led. You might be thinking Led is pretty strong class, you are right, but it was all about my own practice. Before class knowing of my injured back and hyper-mobility, my Led instructor told me to only do half of what I normally can and to engaged my muscles more. I told her I was feeling under the weather and have not been practicing much. She gave me a pat on the back and said to do what I can. I am glad I made the right choice and turned up to practice last night. Maybe it was my instructor asking how I was, maybe it was the familiar faces who I practice Led with, maybe it was me spending time on the mat. Not only have I been sick, I have been feeling pretty down lately with all the things that are happening in my life right now but for the first time all week, I had a genuine smile on my face and I actually spoke without feeling that words were forced out of my mouth.

I may not had a stupendous practice, some days you are at your best, some days you are not, but it was those other smaller things that made my night.

Practice Hiatus

On one of the longest practice hiatus of 2014: once was over the Lunar New Year and the other time was when I hurt my back badly a couple of weeks back. Feeling under the weather for the past two days, spammed meds and turned-in early. Sitting here stoning in the office, not sure if I am able to practice a little today.

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On the Low

Have not been having my usual practices due to major class changes, which super bums me out. My weekends are no longer the same, really miss my vinyasa and flow classes. Try to practice as much as I can but without my to-go classes, am undoubtedly side-tracking. Not to mention my recent and on-going emotional turbulence have been affecting my practice, something I am totally not proud off. I am trying.

No new asana this week, or any achievement unlocked.

What An Ashtanga Led Class Feels Like

I had the one of the most awesome practice last night in Ashtanga Led: one and a half hours of pure goodness. There was only six of us in the class, with five of us regulars. My instructor could go faster with the sun salutations, explained less on the seated postures as we know them almost by heart, and more importantly, she could teach things for more advanced practitioners on jumping-back and gaze-point. Plus, she did handstands which she normally will not do.

It really felt what a Led class should be, how the teacher guides his or her students with their practice.

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Asana Unlocked: Sirsasana II ('Half' Tripod-Headstand)

Definitely making progress with Sirsasana II ('Half' Tripod-Headstand): tried practicing center of the mat today for the first time and succeeded without wall support.

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One piece of advice: know your limitations and do not get ahead of yourself. Without the wall support, I know for sure that my limit was to stay in the half variation, with both knees on my arms. Most, I would try to get one knee off my hand, bent. Knowing my core is not strong enough, stretching one leg straight up is out of the question as I risk toppling over. Worst, I might twist or sprain my neck in the attempt of doing so. I have experienced toppling over numerous times trying headstand without wall support but with tripod-headstand, the risk of a neck injury is way higher. Be safe.

Asana Unlocked: Sirsasana II (Tripod-Headstand) with wall support

Did my first ever full Sirsasana II (tripod-headstand) earlier using the wall as support. 

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Major achievement considering less than one week ago I did my first ever half-tripod-headstand with wall support. 

Wrong foot placement in Janu Sirsasana B (Head-To-Knee Pose B)

Was practicing Ashtanga this morning (not a Led class) and I was towards the back end of the studio. In Janu Sirsasana B (Head-To-Knee Pose B), as I was folding-forward, I happened to catch a glimpse of those in front of me: they had their foot placement wrong. The foot that is on the bent leg should be flexed, parallel along the thighs, not pointed to the side. I am pretty sure those that caught my eye have been practicing longer than I am, and yet they are doing the pose not quite correctly.

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Not A Good Day To Practice

Had a long day today, feeling rotten to the core and was running around earlier in the day. Not in the best condition to practice, plus it was the time of the month. Bad combination. Did two intense classes back-to-back: a seventy-five minutes Led class followed by an hour of Power. I believe my Ashtanga instructor could tell I was not having a good day: I was not jumping back and forth with my vinyasas, and I struggled with the chaturanga variations. In Power, my arms totally gave way in arm-balancing poses like kaundinyasana and total fail when I tried to do forearm-balance.

Would be worst-off if I did not practice, least it helped take some things off my mind, no matter how little.

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Asana Unlocked: Sirsasana II ('Half' Tripod-Headstand) with wall support

Pulled-off Sirsasana II or Tripod-Headstand (I did the half version) earlier using the wall as support and stayed for more than five breaths.

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New Asana: 'Foot-under-armpit-bind-standing-forward-bend'

Shall call this pose the 'Foot-under-armpit-bind-standing-forward-bend' as I cannot find this pose anywhere on the internet. The closest pose is Yogadandasana (Yogi's Staff Pose).

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Pretty much similar to the above, except the hands are bound and standing on the front leg. It requires opened hips to get the foot "hooked" under the armpit and strength in the ankle joint to keep the foot in place. We were instructed to come to standing with the arm bound around the leg, but I found it much easier to come to come up first and then bind, probably due to the lack of core. What I did wrong and was corrected was that my foot should be flexed, I had my foot pointed, in order to protect the ankle.

Asana: Unknown

Steps:

1. Seated with both leg stretched to the front.

2. Bend the left leg to the chest.

3. Place left foot under the armpit or along the bottom of the upper arm.

4. Flex the left feet, not point.

5. Bind left arm around the left leg and bring the right arm behind the back and clasp both hands together.

6. Bend the right leg close to the chest.

7. Slowly rise to a stand.

8. Once upright, slowly bend forward into a forward-bend. 

Asana Unlocked: Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance) with wall support

My first time ever kicking up into Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance) and held against the wall during practice this morning.

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Coming out from the pose, I was grinning with disbelief, more so as I was not having a good day; kept getting distracted and tried to not exert my right mcl further. Have been working on forearm balance for sometime now, incorporating it at the end of my weekly vinyasa practice. All this while I can barely kick myself up, let alone to have my lifted feet remotely touching the wall. Not until last week that I felt I was finally getting there: the hovering feeling with both legs off the mat. Though woobly as I was losing strength in my arms and shoulders, I managed to kick-up for the second time and stayed a few breaths. Much attribution of my success to my flow instructor who deconstructed and worked on this pose in class before leaving for his training overseas. Word of advise, it not only takes practice, more importantly, it is about conquering the fear of falling flat on your face and believing that you can do it.

Asana Unlocked: Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance) with wall support
Short-term Goal: To kick-up and hold for five breaths against the wall
Intermediate-term Goal: To have one feet off the wall; to press-up instead of kicking-up
Long-term Goal: To press-up with both legs
Final Goal: Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance) without wall support