Okay, so now it is the sacrum

Since I have been getting incredible advice from you guys and gals about my ailments, lets chat about one more.

Now, it's my sacrum. This time I injured it bowling of all places! I was bowling (which I haven't done in over 7 years) with a ball that was way too heavy for me (because it was a busy night and all the light ones were gone). And with the first roll, I felt the left SI joint separate, and owee!!!

So, I've been practicing anyway, and it really isn't bothering my practice...but does anyone have any tips on resetting or soothing the sacrum? :) And, anyone out there with this type of problem, which poses do you find irritate it?

Thanks to all! :) Namaste! And Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

Sternum in Supta Kurmasana

Ouch! My sternum is sore! I've been trying to make a strong effort to open the chest (drawing the shoulders down and back) in Supta Kurmasana, but the pain is getting worse, I'm thinking my ribcage may crack in half! Anyone else experience this?

My blog has turned into a request for advice lately, I guess that is because I'm encountering new frontiers in my practice that I hadn't reached before.

Thanks for all the comments on standing up from backbends...going to work on it and get back to you! :)

Dropping Back

Okay, so I never thought I'd say this, but.....dropping back is fun and feels lovely.

BUT< how the devil do you stand back up? :)

Morning Mysore

For the past week almost I have been practicing morning Mysore with Russell Case and his wife Sally Evans. They are visiting, and have regular classes in Taipei. They are fantastic. If you get the chance to do a workshop or mysore or visit them, do it! :)

They work as a team, adjusting in what seems like every pose, and they are on the same wavelength, so from day to day, I'm not sure who gave the adjustment. Russell has managed to get me to do dropbacks by myself in the first four days of class.

It feels really good to practice Mysore style so early in the morning. Our mysore program was cancelled at my regular studio, so I'm going to have to switch, or get my butt out of bed and practice at home.

I'm teaching often. I gave up my permanent position at a studio in a small town north of Austin. It was a dance/yoga/massage/spanish tutoring/cpr training/etc/etc place, and I couldn't handle the owner's small-mindedness about yoga. The worst part was that she would talk about yoga as if she personally practiced it and would give advice/diagnose students.

Anyway, so now I'm subbing A LOT at Yoga Yoga here in town, and I'm loving it. It is nice to pick up classes when other parts of my life are slower, and resist the urge to sub when I don't have the time. I'm hoping to be on their regular schedule starting this summer, but we shall see if they have room. It also has a nice yogic community feel to it. People encourage chanting, instead of fearing it :)

Yoga, yoga, yoga

February 1st-3rd I was fortunate enough to attend a weekend workshop with David Swenson. It was fantastic. I had only ever attended a mysore style class with him. He has the most wonderful way of making anything about Ashtanga yoga accessible. There were several asanas, or parts of asanas, or little issues that I was close to "getting", that I "got" over that weekend. I plan to do his 40 hour teacher training as soon as humanly possible.

February 9th and 10th I taught 5 yoga classes! A restorative, prenatal, ashtanga, hatha flow, and private lesson! I'll never do that again. It sounds wimpy, but teaching three classes in one day is just not comfortable for me. Maybe it comes with experience, but props to those of you who manage to teach so freaking often! I have three regular classes a week right now, and sub whenever I can squeeze it in. That is more than enough for me.

My practice is about three times a week right now, which feels perfect at the moment. Not too aggressive to aggravate my back, not too few and far between to regress. And it seems to be enough to keep my mind at an even keel.

Tonight, the hubby and some friends and I are going to a Yoga/Wine/Chocolate party at a Lululemon showroom. The event is free, so the hubby and I decided it is how we would celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm excited about it, and plan to buy a piece of clothing from the showroom, because I don't have any of theirs yet, but have heard good things....seems kinda pricey though. In the past I've found spending more money per item, and buying less items is the way to go...so we'll see.

It is so obvious

It's obvious to me now that I avoid blogging about my practice when I am disenchanted with it. For the past couple months, I have not had a very regular practice. Here and there, and sometimes nowhere to be found.

So, as you have guessed, I am feeling a little better about it, so here I am blogging again. I went to a workshop this weekend with Russell Case and Sally Evans. That was a great way to kick start my practice back into gear. He is very insightful and focuses on the details of every movement in a way that I had never done before.

The morning mysore has been cancelled near me, so I will be venturing forth on my own, or in evening led classes. I'm okay with it, I like the freedom of the mixture.

Oh, and I'm finally teaching a couple led primary series classes every week. Really fun to have a regular gig!

30,000 Neuroscientists Walk Into a Bar....

Okay, it wasn't a bar, it was a convention center in San Diego (see picture below). And there is no punchline to the joke, it was just a "clever" way to get you to read my post :)

I just returned from a conference called "Neuroscience" in San Diego. Over 30,000 scientists presenting the newest data, meeting with one another, talking with vendors of the newest products, and taking courses. It was crazy, overwhelming, and most of all, inspiring. I wasn't presenting any data myself, I was there to soak it all in. Every time I eavesdropped on a conversation anywhere near the convention center, I heard phrases like " the inhibitory action at the synapse", "C57/Bl6 mice differ from Jackson in their ethanol preference", & "dendritic spines experience local long term potentiation". Really cool to be around so many people with a common interest.

Now, I'm back in the lab, and raring to go with all the new things I've learned in the past week.

OH, and to include some yoga in this post. I did not manage to practice while I was there.... ;)

It has come to my attention....

that I haven't posted in a while. so here goes :)

I registered for week 1 at the new shala in Florida in March. I have not yet met Guruji, so I am really excited about it. Anyone else going? It would be fun to meet some ashtangi.net folks :)

I've been working at the lab waaaaaay too much lately. 10 hrs a day, 7 days a week...when you include practice, this is a twelve hour day...include traffic and, well, I don't even want to think about it. I'm having trouble finding time to even eat...whew!

I hope you are all well.

Updates and Stuff

The results of the MRI were really good. No damage to the bones or disks of my spine. It is a muscular issue. More physical therapy to come. I'm so relieved, I can handle the work of PT.

In other news, this is really silly to be excited about, but I just kicked up into handstand for the first time (well the first time in 20 years). I have a thing about inversions...so it was fear, but I just did it here in my bedroom, and it was really fun!

I've been assisting M, teaching Mysore classes. I'm learning soooo much about adjustments and how to best teach the sequence, especially to beginners. I'm hoping to start teaching my own classes in January.

My practice seems to be slowly coming back as well. I'm currently doing through the Marichi's without skipping any vinyasas, and the back feels solid. My backbends are coming back, too. I'm doing morning Mysore again, after a brief stint in led evening classes.

Hey, anyone have any tips on how to work on opening the shoulders so the hands can touch in Prasarita Padottanasana C? Either while in the pose, or as a prep for it? Oh, and while I'm at it, any tips to come to Sirsasana with straight legs?

Hope you are all having a beautiful weekend. Namaste.

Magnetic Resonance

Today I am meeting with a doctor to review my MRI ... I can really relate to people who don't like to see a doctor ever, because they don't want to know... even if something is going on, no news is good news.

My audition to teach ashtanga for a local studio went well. I feel I am being groomed to start on their schedule in the spring. They have scheduled me for a couple weekend workshops with well-known ashtanga teachers for free! They say it is on an "educational credit". And I am mentoring with M.

If this post seems kind of bland...that is because I had five hours sleep last night...booo. I usually get 8 at least, and I like it that way. I feel fuzzy.

I'm not as serious as you

I've been taking led classes in the evenings lately. I've been skipping out on morning mysore, partly to practice with my hubby, and partly because I've missed the group energy of the led class. But for some reason, and I'm sure it is all me imposing this feeling on myself, I feel less serious about my practice. Like I'm no longer "hardcore" and what not.

I'd like to take a poll, leave a comment if you would be so kind: Do you practice Mysore style in the AM or led classes any time of day?

Also, in your comment, if you want to be even kinder: Do you think that Mysore style classes in the AM are more "hardcore" than the led ones?

And by hardcore, I mean more devoted, more serious about the practice, all around a more committed ashtangi :)

Walking in Tadasana

After seeing the chiropractor yesterday, I've decided that I absolutely have to improve my posture. This hunching over at my desk, hunching over the lab bench, hunching over while in bed with my laptop, etc etc has got to stop...I realized today I even hunch over when walking! I am what my chiro calls "head forward". Granted it isn't a huge shift forward, but apparently every millimeter forward, the load on your back, especially upper back (ah ha!) is exponentially increased.

As a result, I have made a new resolution to walk in tadasana. This is really strange and even more difficult. When I place my head over my shoulders, over my hips, over my sits bones, over my ankles, it feels like I may fall backward, yet when I catch a glance of my reflection I am perfectly upright. I'm finding that my core tightens up much more...and I feel as though I'm thrusting my hips forward, but I'm not. And then when I let myself fall back into my old habit of walking from walking in tadasana, I realize just how bad my posture is...it is a dramatic difference.

Next week...sitting, sleeping, cartwheeling, showering, running, biking, in tadasana!

Ah Marichi, how I have missed you.

Today M gave me through Mari C. Hurray! I really missed the shoulder opening and binding in the marichi's.

My husband sent me an email in the middle of the day that read "I want to go to E's 7:30 pm on Thursday and M's 10:30 am on Saturday". Yippee! These will be his second and third led classes ever. Going to these led classes with him is harder than I remember led classes to be. I don't know if I work harder because of the group energy, or they are just faster, but I am surprised by how tired I get!

Hey anybody own the Prana Goucho's? I am considering them, but am worried they are useless for ashtanga...hmmmm, headstand in flared legs....I see london, I see france :)

Hurray!

My husband asked me to "ashtanga him" last night. I think maybe he has caught the bug :) I called the postures through warrior 1, and then we did yoga mudra, padmasana, and utiplutih to close.

My practice continues. Slowly, slowly. One by one we go. I am still doing primary through Janu C with only very mild discomfort. The thought occurred to me today while in savasana that soon I may have to get up earlier and work harder! In all my worrying about my back, I didn't realize that I was really getting used to my little practice :)

Like a Virgin...

Sore for the very first time...

That sounded gross...My husband and I went to an ashtanga led primary yesterday during free yoga day here in Austin. He emailed me today to say how sore he is. There is nothing like the soreness you feel your first few hundred times of a led primary class.

That was his first Ashtanga class ever! Other than me walking him through surya a & b and a few poses from standing here in our house. It was really fun to share it with him and I secretly hope the bug got him the way it did me after my first class.