Iyengar Course 2 Week 34 (Ariana)

Dog on the Blog

For the most part I felt like I was just going through the motions, plodding my way through this sequence. I can't wait to be done with it, but I will stick it out. Next week will be the last time.

I thought it might be interesting to photograph my variations of the pose and juxtapose them with photos of Iyengar's classic version. Turns out is very difficult to photograph oneself in an asana. It is also very distracting and for me defeated the purpose of practicing. Then my dog, Roscoe, came into the picture - and all his fur on my clothes and mat. He sheds constantly.

Working my way backwards-
Savasana- I came out of it to make lunch. I was hungry. Towards the end I noticed that my thoughts were fixated on daily details. As soon as I observed this I took a step back mentally. I visualized the earth then the galaxy, then the universe then the multiverse. Then I zoomed in again to sensations in my body. I did this micro to macro thing a few times. Then I remembered something I read in Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki about the oneness of duality-

"This is the most important teaching: not two, and not one. Our body and mind are not two and not one. If you think your body and mind are two, that is wrong; if you think that they are one, that is also wrong. Our body and mind are both two and one. We usually think that if something is not one, it is more than one; if it is not singular, it is plural. But in actual experience, our life is not only plural, but also singular. Each one of us is both dependent and independent."

These were nice thoughts, but my mind had not calmed down. I was hoping to find some space between the thoughts.

Pranayama-Nadi Sodhana
Towards the end I tried filling the lungs from top to bottom rather than bottom up. I had seen a short video clip of Leslie Kaminoff talking about the difference for him so I wanted to try for myself. My breath was much longer this way. I decided it might not be ideal to breathe that way for Nadi Sodhana so I stopped after a few times.

Uttanasana- I could have stayed in it for much longer. It felt very relaxing and releasing.

Dhanurasana to Parsva Dhanurasana was fun.

Twists were good.

I skipped Kukkutasana and Garbha Pindasana. I did half lotus with my strap once again. Still don't get why it is easier with my right leg. I don't know if that will ever change.

I skipped Janusirsana even though it is one of my favorite poses. It just did not feel right after Supta Virasana. Instead I did Down Dog and Prasarita Padottanasana with a twist.

Ustrasana- very mild back bend. I did not want to push it.

Navasana and Ardha Navasana were very hard.

Tried Chakrasana but my momentum comes to a halt when my toes get to the floor overhead.

Shoulderstand- good and strong with most of the variations with a strap.

Headstand- a downright mess. Very heavy and shaky. But somehow I wobbled in the pose away from the wall.