Day 40

It's Day 40....I did it!

I got up early this morning to practice because as soon as I've posted my blog, we are off to Montreal for the weekend! I've mentioned before that I'm not keen on early morning practice because my body is stiff and it can feel painful and even dangerous to do what I enjoy doing most, so I have to practice with even greater awareness and respect for my body. My back in particular. Today was no exception. It was meditative, gentle and considered. It did feel good to practice before breakfast and start the day in that way but I know I couldn't, or rather wouldn't want to do this every day. I enjoy the flexibility of choosing what I practice and when, depending on my state of body and mind each day. And this is the way I shall continue to practice.....

Thank You Blog and Readers for being here to encourage me, silently or otherwise, giving me the motivation to make it to Day 40 and Beyond.....

Namaste.

Day 39

By the time my late afternoon practice time arrived today, I was holding a lot of tension in my body. It felt good to hold some strong postures and breathe...and breathe some more. Slowly, the tension started to release from various parts of my body. My jaw, my shoulders, my lower back....my mind....

It dawned on me during my practice that both my blogs will conclude this weekend. I made my final post on The Asian Chapter today and tomorrow is Day 40 and the end of this blog. It wasn't intentional, just the way it worked out. I know that I must find another outlet for my thoughts though, as I appear to have become rather fond of blogging. Maybe it's time to journal more, keep the thoughts to myself for a while and see what evolves.

Along with the rest of this side of the world, I awoke to the horrific news from Japan this morning. I always like to dedicate my practice to someone who I feel needs a bit of extra love, strength or compassion and today my thoughts were with Japan. Sending love, light and healing energy.

Day 38

For me, the best thing about having a daily practice is that I get to check in with my body every single day. Not to mention my mind and what sort of thoughts are floating around in there. Not just on the days when I have time to notice or decide to do a yang class because I am feeling strong, or a yin class because I feel the need to go inwards and to be kind to myself, but every day. I have the freedom to choose my practice each day, but in order to do that, I need to be aware of how I am feeling and where I need to be compassionate with myself.  Each time I practice, even if I think I know the answers to these questions at the beginning of my session, by the time I'm done I have usually discovered many new things that I hadn't noticed upon first glance, and I get to leave my mat knowing just a little bit more about myself, in both body and mind.

Day 37

Today I wasn't feeling 100%. I don't often feel "under the weather" and it wasn't much, nothing serious, it didn't stop me from getting on with my day and my To Do list, but it did mean that by the time 5pm came around, the only yoga I was capable of was restorative. This time, I had the room AND all my props...my set-ups were a bit rusty and in need of some practice, but I think the hour I took, just relaxing and surrendering my body into the support of blankets and bolsters, did me good. I always "plan" to do a weekly restorative session but I'm ashamed to say that has never materialised as a habit.

I do know how beneficial this simple practice can be and yet I rarely invest the time it takes to practice it. As my science teachers always used to write in my school reports..."Caroline could do better"....

Day 36

Today I enjoyed a mid afternoon yang & yin session, ending with a spot of meditation. And it was just a spot...but it's better than nothing. I've had the thought a few times during meditation recently, that I should meditate more. Seems somewhat unfair to be getting that message during meditation itself, but they do say that this is when our wisdom strikes...when the mind is still and there is space for it to come through.  I'm not making any rash commitments right now, but I am now thinking about a 40 day meditation.

Day 35

When I started this, it was hard to imagine how Day 35 would feel, it seemed a very long way off!  I'm happy to report that it felt perfectly normal actually. Well, almost. Today was the first day that I practiced in my New yoga space, in the basement. It's still not finished but I am bored of having to make space in a normal living area every day when there is a nearly-finished room just waiting for me... so I dusted it down (the builders don't do cleaning), took my new Buddha from Laos down and found a home for him, cleared the energy and freshened the space up with some invigorating and cleansing essential oils. After all that effort, it was feeling good.

Today I was back to my normal yang practice and my body welcomed it, although it seems Journey Dance does keep you limber, because there was no stiffness in my body today....it felt great!

Day 34

Today I returned for Day 2 of the Journey Dance workshop which included more yang practice, amongst other things. Thankfully it was much more grounding for me than yesterday though. After yesterday's session, I was left in a rather odd place which left me reluctant to go back for more this morning but as it turns out, I'm thankful for the gentle persuasion that got me back there for part II.

My afternoon yin practice, to balance my earlier yang activity was most welcome and once again, restorative and relaxing. Today my body was happy to receive it and I feel better for it.