Home Practice Take 1

Today (OK it was actually 3 days ago now that I'm finally getting to edit and publish this post) was my first attempt at a home practice since beginning my yoga teacher training with East Meets West Yoga. I'm proud to say that it was the longest I've ever managed, topping out at just over an hour!

Unfortunately, I still don't feel like I can put together a sequence of poses that are thoughtful and productive - and by productive I mean working towards something. I kind of just move. I've heard a lot that this is just what you do when you start out but I think my biggest complaint with my home practice is that I don't have the juicy, open, warm and fuzzy feeling at the end like I almost always do after a class. One class in particular last week, Carrie's Open Vinyassa on Wednesday left me feeling strong, open and simply content. I want that feeling from my home practice - and I'm determined to get it.

I guess I should note that I did my 3-3-3 medication exercise just prior to practicing today. I'm not sure what impact that had if any. As I sit here typing I'm watching the video of my practice (yes I recorded myself and no I don't think it means I'm cocky or obsessed with myself) its really all about watching my alignment. Can I see the things that feel good and the things that don't feel so good?

Here are some things  I noticed:

• My downward dog looks better than it feels. It feels so heavy in my shoulders and wrists lately. I was sure it must look awkward and uncomfortable. Go figure. Another problem I have with my down dog is the length of it. Is it too short? I feel like when I roll out to plank and back again I'm never at the right distance. I have to slide my feet back in plank (or slide forward like I'm going to lower to chaturanga and I know that ain't right!)

• I could use more length in my upper back and less movement in my head. 

• On my jump forward I need to get my hips higher in the air, there isn't enough room for legs when I get there and I end up bending them deeply and/or landing too hard. 

It feels like my feet are
sliding farther and farther apart

• My butt sticks up a little in plank, I wonder if that has to do with my persistent need to pull my hip bones to my ribs. That is not a very clear way of expressing that. We've been talking in training about building a language to communicate clearly and let's just say I'm trying.

• My transition from warrior 2 to triangle looks as uncomfortable as it feels. My warrior two stance always feels short so I spread my feet farther to where it feels yummy but then when I try to transition to another pose it always feels way too long.

• No surprise here but I lose my belly a lot. I need to work harder on constantly engaging my core. Which is funny because we were just talking about in class how this phrase means nothing.

• I'm short changing my plank when I roll forward and move to side plank
  

OK so those are a lot of things and the video is still going! I guess I can say I have my work cut out for me!


Now upon re-reading this I'm being pretty hard on myself, focusing a lot on what's wrong with my practice when in reality there were a couple things that looked really good or I was able to do that doesn't always happen...like this side plank variation. Today I had it on my right but not my left, other days I can't do it all and once in a while I can get both sides.






My pincha mayurasana (forearm balance) has been a work in progress now for almost for two years! I can't seem to pry myself farther away from the wall and I definitely find open leg variations easier than legs straight but I'm getting there!






This last picture is just for your viewing pleasure. I found it hilarious!  Anya actually made a number of cameos in my practice (she seems extremely interested in the camera!). But during my savasana....this is classic. Enjoy!