So far I am somewhat sticking to my new-mid-year-resolution, although I'd like to be doing it more than once a week. Then again, as I'm just starting out I think making sure I don't miss a week is quite good.
The last two weeks of trying my hand at ashtanga primary series have been pretty cool. The five sets each of sun salutation A and B are both my nemesis and my ally. I love how sweaty and warmed up they get me, but they sometimes loom in my mind as something I have to "get through". Of course, being the first thing on the to-do list of the series can make them feel that way, but ultimately I am grateful for them. Instantly I am brought nose to nose with my breath. As I match each movement with a breath I can feel the exact moments during a salutation where I have more ease or struggle. My exhale during uttanasana (forward fold) is usually more languorous than during downward dog after the many chatarungas and upward dogs. Being aware of the different quality of breaths during the salutation alerts me to where I need more work.
As my heart rate increases and my body heats up, the breath will naturally follow and quicken as well. Using ujjayi is the best remedy I find for slowing and steadying the breath, no wonder it is a pillar of ashtanga style yoga.
I must say I have made my peace with my jump throughs. I found a great youtube video that broke them down really well and made me feel as though I am closer on my way to doing a "real" one. I liked how the woman in the video said wherever you feel weak, hold there to build up strength. Seems so straight forward, like no duh! But it's such excellent advice when you think about it. Something like a jump through that is difficult, can be practiced in parts, but who's main purpose is flow and smooth transitioning can be practiced in a fleeting way. You don't spend five breaths in a jump through like other poses so if you're not happy with your progress yet, you just keep going passing over it and thinking, you'll try again next time (after the next pose and then after the next). Then each next time you're getting more and more tired so you would spend even less time working on the nitty gritty of the jump through and carry on.
Well, since my goal in sticking with this primary series includes improving upper body strength and core strength I found her advice of holding where you are weak to be just what I needed.
As I hop my feet up to my hands from plank I can keep my belly and upper back lifted for just a moment in order to let my toes rest behind my wrists before hopping them through my hands and extending my legs to hover my bum down to the floor again. The moment my toes rest before extending the legs is my weakest spot and wouldn't ya know it, the hardest moment to hold properly. I can tell my body is sagging and allowing my weight to rest in my feet when I should be lifting even more from the core and pressing down with the arms. Seems gravity defying, trust me I know, but each time I come to that moment instead of hastily passing through I give myself a pause to try just hovering my feet off the floor in the exact position where I want to rest. And ohhh the strengthening! I'm feeling it! It's exhausting and exhilarating. I usually end up chuckling to myself after a few since it begins to bring up feelings of angry frustration. Angry frustration always strikes me as funny.
After thinking about that simple tip - hold where you feel weak - it becomes incredibly applicable for life in general too. If you are to ever improve your weak spots, or overcome your obstacles you have no choice but to stay with them, face them, work on them. Unless you are uninterested in changing/improving or perhaps aren't even aware you have any weak spots. Yet another example of why yoga is good for us! Go yoga whoo hoo! Do it to become aware of yourself, your true self, how you react to difficulty, and do it to train yourself to react in a way that benefits and nurtures you.
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