YOGA: MY RECENT ROUTINE CHANGES
September 30th 2008 04:18
For a couple of weeks, I have been restless, lazy and sinussy. This has led to less Yoga, and even when practicing, less of a positive result. A few days ago I began to concentrate on the matter of my sliding participation, and focus on a return to a devoted practice. I am serious about Yoga and want to get in deeper with my involvement, not fade away!
My first 'day back' from two or three weeks of half-heartedness resulted in my feeling as if it were the initial day lived all over again. My body was shaky and achy. My head was filled with the churning problems of life rather than a focused attention. Even so, it was beneficial both physically and spiritually to force myself back into regularity, after a sloppy fortnight.
The weather where I live is currently warming up towards summer from winter, and as usual, skips the warm days of spring. I am not sure if it is because I have moved to a home situated close to the coast and sandwiched between ocean and escarpment, or because the seasons and climates are changing, but there seem to be only two seasons where I currently live. Whereas spring and fall should offer times to slowly change between winter and summer routines, it appears to be necessary to make a dramatic sudden changeover.
Winter Yoga needs to follow a hot shower immediately. Only then am I able to practice my Asana routine without a thick winter coat and hat. Even so, I need to wear ugg boots and gloves, along with thick, warm clothing. My winter practice needs to start with a short Savasana and progress quickly into leg raises, the plow, and then a shoulderstand. The duration of this depends on my sinus status mainly, though usually lasts for a minute or less during menstruation. Continuing, I slide down into a desk-fish combination and dependent upon time and heat, either go directly to Savasana with Pranayama or indulge in locust-cobra first. I then tend to do the second half of my routine, involving neck, head, and eye warm ups, seated spinal twist, and if not too cold a short meditation. Finally progressing through the first 3 moves on sun salutation, triangle, and an extended - and oftenly coat-covered - Savasana.
Summer Yoga allows for an extended routine, providing time is also available. I used to alternate the two main sections of practice and not meditate til a separate time; however, now I feel I prefer the winter layout with summer adaptations. I extend the Savasana sessions, including extra Pranayama practices. I also add in wind relief with leg raises, lion pose before standing Asanas, and may also indulge in the bow, crab-wheel, and plow before and after a shoulderstand of longer duration.
By the close of 2008, I intend to attempt to add both headstand and crow to my current repertoire, in the for of occasional additional practices to my regular routine.
My first 'day back' from two or three weeks of half-heartedness resulted in my feeling as if it were the initial day lived all over again. My body was shaky and achy. My head was filled with the churning problems of life rather than a focused attention. Even so, it was beneficial both physically and spiritually to force myself back into regularity, after a sloppy fortnight.
The weather where I live is currently warming up towards summer from winter, and as usual, skips the warm days of spring. I am not sure if it is because I have moved to a home situated close to the coast and sandwiched between ocean and escarpment, or because the seasons and climates are changing, but there seem to be only two seasons where I currently live. Whereas spring and fall should offer times to slowly change between winter and summer routines, it appears to be necessary to make a dramatic sudden changeover.
Winter Yoga needs to follow a hot shower immediately. Only then am I able to practice my Asana routine without a thick winter coat and hat. Even so, I need to wear ugg boots and gloves, along with thick, warm clothing. My winter practice needs to start with a short Savasana and progress quickly into leg raises, the plow, and then a shoulderstand. The duration of this depends on my sinus status mainly, though usually lasts for a minute or less during menstruation. Continuing, I slide down into a desk-fish combination and dependent upon time and heat, either go directly to Savasana with Pranayama or indulge in locust-cobra first. I then tend to do the second half of my routine, involving neck, head, and eye warm ups, seated spinal twist, and if not too cold a short meditation. Finally progressing through the first 3 moves on sun salutation, triangle, and an extended - and oftenly coat-covered - Savasana.
Summer Yoga allows for an extended routine, providing time is also available. I used to alternate the two main sections of practice and not meditate til a separate time; however, now I feel I prefer the winter layout with summer adaptations. I extend the Savasana sessions, including extra Pranayama practices. I also add in wind relief with leg raises, lion pose before standing Asanas, and may also indulge in the bow, crab-wheel, and plow before and after a shoulderstand of longer duration.
By the close of 2008, I intend to attempt to add both headstand and crow to my current repertoire, in the for of occasional additional practices to my regular routine.
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At least I know I am not alone and won't give up, I enjoyed doing nearly everyday throughout winter and was worried starting my swimming routine again had killed the yoga....
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