THE JOURNEY & OTHER 'NEWS'

My personal practice continues to regularly include urdhva dhanurasana.  Since the last post, I have been able to push up and hold for a bit longer, and on two occasions I added a 4th urdhva (prior, it had been just 3).

As well, I listened to a webinar by Doug Keller (2 Wednesday evenings, completed this week).  I learned so much (as I always do from this gentleman).  Head position - lots to know about that; the action of the legs in setu bhanda (bridge) and their impact on my pelvic rotation (or 'nutation', as he calls it -- new and strange word to me); diaphragm's effect on ribs and, hence, the back bending; too many more actions and nuances to mention.

I plan to go back and re-listen, and to review all his great diagrams, since I am sure I missed some things.

One of my issues with Urdhva Dhanurasana has been that I am coming to my toes in order to get up - that's not a bad thing, according to Doug. It activates the hamstrings enough to allow the quadriceps to soften. This softening releases the quadriceps' pull on the pelvis (which affect its nutation and puts more pressure into the low back). So, coming to the toes is a good modification. Now - to get the feet flat.  I'm thinking that once I get up, using the tiptoes, then apply his further instructions, the feet will more easily come to flat.

It's a lot to think about when you are bending your back, holding yourself up, trying to breathe, etc., etc..  One thing I know, is that the only way it will happen is if I keep practicing it and getting more comfortable with it.

And, another thing I know, signing up for the webinar with Doug was one very smart thing for me to have done.

So, I am off to my space to practice. Wish me good practice!

Hope you have a great Friday!

ALMOST DISCOURAGED (but not quite)

Well, after my post earlier this week, I did 2 practices in my home (with Christina online).  Both times, I felt weak and that same gripping was present.  The backbends were less than pretty.

Rather than give up (thanks to Rory Regina), I went back out this morning.  Not that I planned to do the backbend, but rather that I wanted to spend a full 90 minutes on the mat. The side benefit to all this is that I am feeling stronger, better able to practice many poses.  I stuck to the plan -- 90 minutes leading to Mermaid (again with Christina).  While my mermaid was a bit lacking, as I lay on the mat I decided to try the urdhva (backbend) again -- 3 times.  Higher, higher, higher.  No gripping, focusing on keeping elbows close together.

After the third, I rested with a smile on my face.  I CAN do it; I CAN'T give up.

Other news from the week -- I've started a 2-part webinar with Doug Keller.  Great stuff and worth every penny to hear him speak.  Granted this type of learning takes a bit of discipline -- you have to listen, you can't ask questions (during the presentation), but I still learn and I have access to the recording(s) for many months to come.  So, if I missed something, I'll be able to go back and review.  And, coincidentally, this webinar focuses on backbends.

About questions, I am reminded of the workshop I attended many years ago with Donna Farhi.  Unless her tune has changed, she had strong feelings about questions during workshops (as in, don't ask because you already know the answer).  Now that philosophy sounds harsh, but it does make one think. This poem, which came from her website, about sums it up:

I beg you . . . . to have patience with

everything unresolved in your heart

and try to love the questions themselves

as if they were locked rooms or books

written in a foreign language. Don’t search

for the answers, which could not be given you

now, because you would not be able

to live them. And the point is, to live

everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps

then, some day far in the future, you will gradually

without ever knowing it,

live your way into the answers.

– Rilke

I am rambling -- going from topic to topic.  Must be the effect of the backbends.  

Hope you have a great Saturday!

UPDATE ON 'THE JOURNEY TO URDHVA DHANURASANA'

It's been a week since I shouted to the blog and Facebook worlds my efforts working towards Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel pose / backbend / bow pose).  I am happy to report that my efforts continue on this previous-to-me elusive pose.

Continue, in that they progress AND are not always successful YET continue.  Every other day, I trek out to my home studio, work through a practice using Christina Sell's online classes, then give UD (urdhva dhanurasana) 3 tries.  Most days with success.  

Yesterday, not so much.  Not sure why -- muscles felt sore, the practice I'd selected was challenging, arms got tired, one of my left gluteal muscles decided to grip (painful).   

I made it to the top of my head, but the gripping kicked in for the first 2 and as I began to push up, the 'sensation' in my backside brought me back down - quickly. I lay there for a few moments, thinking and cursing, wondering why and what to do to get that muscle(s) to calm down and leave me be.  Then I did a bit of stretching, and gave it another try.  

Third time, I came off the top of my head and pushed to arms straighter. In the background, was my glute threatening to grip; I could sense it.  I'm not sure if the stretching helped, but at least I got one UD in and then called it a morning.  

This past week, I asked another yoga teacher to observe me doing the pose and to offer feedback.  Her comments -- I am coming higher than I may believe I am (yippee!), and I need to turn hands in and keep elbows a bit tighter to midline.  I am still coming up on toes, tho once during the past week I was able to come up and then place feet flat (for a moment).  

So, the journey continues. That is the big news in this post. Why? Well, as I explained in the last post, once I put something out there to friends, family, world - I tend to lose my focus and my efforts shift in another direction.  The fact that I am still working towards the elusive pose is major for me. Commitment is my guide on this journey. 

Another insight for me is to work on something, experience discomfort, try to shift body positions to a more optimal alignment.  When I'm doing this, I often find myself thinking of my students.  As in, 'I ask them to do some of this stuff and they tell me something hurts (glute gripping?).'  I hope this work will contribute to my becoming more aware and more empathetic. That will be an added great outcome to this effort.  

Off to teach two classes today; both Gentle and both in Temecula.  

Hope you have a great Tuesday!