Winter is the best time to prepare your body for physical activity. It is the time for workouts, for stretching, building the muscles and nurturing our essence. It is a time that we can use for healing, so that the wings we spread in Spring let us fly high and far.
My personal practice has been on and off in the last year. I did a shit ton of mental work though, eliminating blockages and hurdles that kept me off the mat. I feel sheer joy and pleasure when I return to the studio and see things that used to bother me and no longer do that.
What would I like to achieve at the end of this darker time of the year?
- Lovely backbends and upper chest openers
- Lovely handstands
- Lovely folds
All elements of our bodies are so intertwined! I cannot achieve one goal without exercising the other.
I know my handstands are not going to happen if I fail to ground properly via my hamstrings or work on my core.
I know my hamstrings are not going to relax as long as I get startled and stressed. So I need to work deep into my hips, psoas and, actually trust myself in the handstands.
Maybe the backbends could happen on their own. Well, maybe a bit of psoas work and leg stretches to aid the process.
I know some dates are more significant than others, but. If I want to do something, is there anything that can stop me from starting any time I want?
My yoga resolutions:
- Leg stretches – Saddle, Crescent Lunge on the Knee with King Pigeon (Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana B)
- Psoas work – Twists, Virabhadrasana 1, Virabhadrasana 2, Trikonasana, Skandasana, Setu Bandhasana with a block
- Core work – Yoga Drills from lovely Krissy Cook, Plenty of Side Planks in many variations, push ups and Navasana
- Hip work – Baddha Konasana with a strap, laying on the belly, Pigeon; later on King Pigeon, Natarajasana
- Hamstrings stretches – Prasarita Padottanasana variations, Intense ankle stretches with a block, Janu Sirsasana, Paschimottanasana on a block
- Back of the neck stretches – Halasana
- Backbends – Shalabhasana (we want to strengthen the muscle too), Dhanurasana, Urdhva Dhanurasana, Wall-drop
- Handstands – As my teacher used to say ”To learn how to do a handstand, one has to practise handstands”. Okay, let’s add to it, there’s are only benefits to having strong shoulders: Ardha Pincha Mayurasana (the dolphin pose)
- More leg work – lifting legs above the blocks without using the strap or any other support
I am thinking about starting my practice with a set of sun salutations. Then practising each of the elements for a week and adding one more the week after.
As soon as I managed to get a release from sitting in front of my computer every day, I am feeling way more connected to my body. Somehow it started speaking to me and telling me now that it craves a fresh, green and juicy salad. Or nice and warming soups. Or, well, potatoes 🙂 Could that be a beginning of a new beautiful adventure with health?
