So I have restarted my yoga practice. I attend yoga classes at More Yoga Aldgate in London. Keeping my joints well oiled feels really great, accompanied by a bit of pain in muscles I did not expect to exist. I am also getting this feeling of community that one has in Western European yoga schools – the yoga tribe.
Most of the asanas that look good on Instagram are too difficult for me. I cannot straighten my legs, I struggle with arm balances and backbends are a foreign land to me. But I do have the willingness to show up everyday and see where it takes me. Obviously I follow the suggestions of the teachers. They seem to enjoy king pigeons, side crows and those poses where one lifts their entire weight while sitting in the log pose.
As the new year is a good time for planning, I have set myself a few dream poses I would like to dedicate some work towards. Already I discovered despite hundreds of chataranguas done so far, I am struggling with lifting myself up from a push-up. Maybe I could start here before moving on to anything more ambitious? But the thing is, I want to give my maximum no matter what I do during the class, just following the teacher guidance. And also put a little bit extra effort with a goal in mind.
Bird of paradise (Svarga Dvidasana)
One of my teachers said this pose is pretty useless, except for looking complicated. Yet I am given so many opportunities to practise it, I may as well try to do it properly. I suppose I can do this pose. I easily move from humble warrior to a bind. Then I get to stand on my back leg, with the front one lifted and bound. But that front leg is bent, not straight, and my back is curled. And I feel like I am never going to get there. It seems like a hamstring issue.
Forward folds and hamstring stretches are fantastic for grounding. Alexander Lowen recommended doing that and getting your body to vibrate, to get the best flow of energy through your body. It is associated with feeling of security, connection with yourself, nourishment and taking care of your home. When your home feels safe, it is easier to ground. When you are grounded, it is easier to create a home yourself. It is the best thing to start my list of challenges for the year. More grounding translates to better flow of emotions, so increased ability to feel more. Less time wasted on useless stuff and living more fully.
I am going to forward fold shit out of myself this year. I may try to do some splits, standing splits and maybe open my back a little bit more.
Wheel (Urdva Dhanurasana)
Opening my back brings me to my second challenge of a pose. I remember after the first year of the practice, I did the wheel pose for the first time. I was so excited. Back then I was practising gratitude – I would have a good things jar next to my bed. I remember how proud I felt writing down on a piece of paper “I can do wheel” and putting that in my jar.
It is pretty hard for me, years ago I practised boxing and that bent my back in the opposite direction. Spending a lot of time hunched in front of the computer or with a book is probably does not help either.
My idea to go there is simple: do wheel. Well, also maybe other things: fallen star pose to open my shoulders, melting heart pose, puppy pose, camel pose or bow pose. I like the idea of having enough muscle in the back to get where I want to go actively, rather than submit to gravity, so I would like to spend a lot of time in cobra pose. Just to build them muscles.
Crow (Bakasana)
Okay, I am afraid. I fear losing control, I do not feel I have any, to start with. I feel like it is certain I will fall. I figured I could have more control over my own self in this pose by strengthening my core muscles. Knee to elbow, boat, lots and lots of planks. I have many opportunities to do that during my Monday, Tuesday and Friday classes. These things are hard to do on my own, so it is good to have a teacher that challenges me on this. At least I can do a side crow, so one day I will do the regular one for sure. Probably some proper push ups would help too.
Just one thought – I recall some discussion around chakras. Correct me if I am wrong, but core work was corresponding to the solar plexus chakra and manipura work was supposed to strenghten the will power. Is that not it?
Dancer (Natarajasana)
It feels like all elements of this pose have been covered before. Stretching my hamstrings, mastering standing splits or splits maybe, increasing my back flexibility and testing it out by practising mermaid pose or king pigeon (if I manage to do it one day). All that while standing on one leg and staying balanced. It is like a final exam – do you know your practise well enough to do it and not focus on it too much at the same time? That is how I see it, and that I exactly why I want to test it out like that.
Pincha (Mayurasana)
I am not a big fan of jumping into any pose. I want to stretch my hamstrings enough to be able to fold forward and lift one leg at a time while transitioning my weight onto my hands. From a dolphin pose, which so far I hate. This would obviously start with the hamstring stretching routine, and doing more dolphin. And that is where I get to the areas I do not know what I do not know.
A nice thing about these goals is that while they clearly give me physical hardship, I can tell there are mental challenges related to that as well. Working towards comfort in poses unattainable so far should help me find ease in my head, in things that could be easier for me. I do feel like learning new things – I guess I am more grounded. In fairness, I have someone to come home to every day, and this is my boyfriend and my cat. Being home feels safe now. It feels cheerful and energetic and warm. Being grounded is the starting point for any growth we can have.
But looking at where I am and where my goals are, it may be a homework for two or more years rather than just 2022 😀
Do you have any goals in your yoga practice that you are working towards? How would you plan that journey?
