Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation.  These twelve poses were the focus of last weekend's teacher training.  And the topic of all my reading assignments and written homework for my third session.  WOW!  I have my work cut out for me.  My first order of business is to work on my Chaturanga.  My belly drops and my back isn't straight. So I will be spending a lot of time with my stomach on a block to teach myself to lift up!  It's going to take all of the four weeks to undue the last 10 years of bad practice.

Wish me luck!
Peace~

Samskara

Samskara - loosely translated as "deep impression".  I learned about this in terms of my yoga practice this weekend during teacher training.  It seems that for the past decade I have been doing certain yoga poses incorrectly.  This was a tough fact to learn while doing these poses in front of the whole class!!  These movements have been so deeply ingrained in my mind and body that the adjustments my instructor made actually felt uncomfortable.  But after a few moments of being in the posture I realized that my feeling of discomfort was mainly mental because physically the pose actually felt better.  Of course now the real work begins.  I need to undo all my samskaras and get out of the vicious cycle I've created.

I don't go back to training until the 3rd weekend in November.  Between now and then I will need to work with props to try and teach my body a new way of moving.  I'll keep you posted!

Namaste'

Anatomy Weekend

Happy 10-10-10!  This weekend was my Anatomy Intensive for my teacher training.  That translates into 12 hours of learning about bones - muscles - movement and such.  My poor brain is full.  I actually think I dreamed about lateral flexion last night! It was great to see everyone again and to spend so much time with like-minded people.  We learned so much; information I can't wait to utilize in my practice.

This week I will finish up some reading, write out my teaching script for Prasarita Padottanasana, read my last two Sutras and practice my alignment.  I'm a little nervous about the "quiz" this coming Friday, but I'm trying not to stress.  I need to remind myself that this is YOGA and there's no stressing in YOGA!

Have a great week.
Peace~

Recovery

WOW…that’s really the best word to describe my first weekend of yoga teacher training.  It’s honestly taken me until Wednesday to recover.  It was 27 hours of full-on yoga.  I won’t lie and say I’m not overwhelmed.  I’ve been practicing for over ten years and in the first few hours I realized how little I knew.  This is certainly going to be a journey.  I’m going to learn a lot about yoga and a lot about myself.  I will need to push myself daily to stay on top of the homework and remind myself that I am worthy of this challenge. 

Do something everyday that scares you!  I certainly am.

Countdown

Less than a week till I officially start my yoga teacher training.  I have to be honest and say I have mixed emotions about the whole thing.  I'm nervous (can I do this?), excited (WOW..I'm really going to get into being a yogi), stressed (how much TIME is all this homework going to take and what about losing a weekend a month?).  So you can see I'm a bit off center right now as I allow my "thinking mind' to take over. I've decided that the most important way to spend these last few days is on the meditation cushion.  I need to reign in my monkey mind and get focused on having fun and letting life go where it needs to.  

Stay tuned....the fun is about to begin!

Namaste

 

A Brief Guide

A Brief Guide to making the most out of life.  Courtesy of Zen Habits.

Less TV, more reading
Less shopping, more outdoors
Less clutter, more space
Less rush, more slowness
Less consuming, more creating
Less junk food, more real food
Less busywork, more impact
Less driving, more walking
Less noise, more solitude
Less focus on the future, more on the present
Less work, more play
Less worry, more smiles
Breathe


Namaste

Daily Practice

Happy Labor Day!
I hope the weather where you are is as gorgeous as it is here in Virginia.  I am blaming this gorgeous weather for my reluctance to get on my yoga mat.  I know I need to practice.  I want to practice.  I just can't seem to make the moves TO practice.  What is that about?  Why is it that we have the most difficult time doing the things that are best for us?  Eating right. Getting enough sleep.  Being nice to everyone. I have started getting up early before work and getting on my mat for a 20 minute practice.  I just can't seem to (1) extend that practice and (2) have a weekend practice. I found a great blog that is tackling this very issue.  Jenna has announced her goal of practicing everyday for the next year.  Go Jenna!  She said that now that she's made this decision to hit the mat everyday she no longer has a mental argument with herself.  She just knows she's going to practice.  I think this is something I need to adopt!!  No questions; just actions.  What are some things that you avoid though you know they're good for you?

Om Shanti

Image via ravensongyoga.com