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!
About Me
- Caroline Chapman
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- I'm 40 something and live in Ottawa with my husband. We're from the UK and just spent the last year or so living in Hong Kong. Three very different countries. Right now I'm not sure how this Blog is going to evolve. All I know is that I have missed blogging from my Asia days, so I'm back. My other 2 blogs have felt like they had a distinct purpose, this one feels a bit different. It feels a bit like a blank canvas on which to start writing and just see what evolves, what transpires. This blog is a bit of a magical mystery tour for me. I want to go somewhere but I'm not entirely sure where just yet but perhaps the only way to find out where I want to go is to start moving. In any direction. And see where I end up.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Day 33
After 3 hours of Journey Dance...Dancing Through the Chakras this afternoon, I was not up for any more yang activity, so today's practice was a relatively short yin practice.
I'm a total novice when it comes to Journey Dance; this was my first time. It was fun, although totally out of my normal realm of comfort to be honest, so I'm somewhat proud of myself for going and trying something new. It was mostly good, but it did churn up some stuff. Emotional Stuff. Dancing through the chakras will do that I guess. I also suspect that is why my usual relaxing yin sequence felt a bit uncomfortable today. I did my best as ever to stay present with the discomfort and sensations in my body, and I used my breath and my attention to dissipate it and largely that worked for me, but today I confess that I was secretly glad when my final meditation was interrupted by a phone call that I couldn't ignore!
I'm a total novice when it comes to Journey Dance; this was my first time. It was fun, although totally out of my normal realm of comfort to be honest, so I'm somewhat proud of myself for going and trying something new. It was mostly good, but it did churn up some stuff. Emotional Stuff. Dancing through the chakras will do that I guess. I also suspect that is why my usual relaxing yin sequence felt a bit uncomfortable today. I did my best as ever to stay present with the discomfort and sensations in my body, and I used my breath and my attention to dissipate it and largely that worked for me, but today I confess that I was secretly glad when my final meditation was interrupted by a phone call that I couldn't ignore!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Day 32
Today's practice was much like yesterday's..and the day before that...in fact, I seem to be developing a regular practice in the content sense. Not that it's identical by any means every day, but there are definitely elements of it that are constant. I like that. My body seems to be learning what it needs to feel healthy and what feels good. This is definitely one of the results I was hoping for!
Happy Friday! :-)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Day 31
I have to say, this is feeling like a habit now. I know that I must practice every day, so I do. I was a bit reluctant again today but I knew I just had to get on the mat. Once I did, there was no question about whether I wanted to be there or not and that is a wonderful feeling. Sometimes we don't want to do stuff...we resist, we make excuses. It's human nature. Sometimes our whole being resists and I'm certainly no stranger to that feeling!
I've been wondering if after the 40 days, I will still be able to summon the willpower, that force from within, that has one way or the other, got me on to my yoga mat for the past 31 days. It's so easy to find something else to fill time with, or to simply lose track of time. As for working full time and maintaining a daily practice...right now, I can't imagine how people do that; although I guess at the end of the day, it's all about priorities! I just hope that I can remember that practicing daily gives me strength in all sorts of ways. In body and mind; it helps me feel calmer, less stressed, less angry and my body just feels so much happier too.
I've been wondering if after the 40 days, I will still be able to summon the willpower, that force from within, that has one way or the other, got me on to my yoga mat for the past 31 days. It's so easy to find something else to fill time with, or to simply lose track of time. As for working full time and maintaining a daily practice...right now, I can't imagine how people do that; although I guess at the end of the day, it's all about priorities! I just hope that I can remember that practicing daily gives me strength in all sorts of ways. In body and mind; it helps me feel calmer, less stressed, less angry and my body just feels so much happier too.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Day 30
I made it on to my mat this morning, for another late morning practice but I was a bit distracted. Some days I just am. To be honest, there are just other things my head would rather be engaged in. Luckily my body is usually willing to surrender to some sort of practice though. Our bodies are wise and usually know best. One of my favourite sayings, both in class and out, is.... "listen to your body".....
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Day 29
My schedule today suggested a late morning practice. Nice...my current yoga space gets the sun in the mornings so it was a cheery place to be at 10.30am after running some errands and shovelling the ice from the path!
It was all good..some yin and some yang to balance me out, but there is no doubt that I need to be more cautious in the mornings. Every day is a new day and my body, even after all this loving yoga, takes a while to truly warm up and feel mobile and ready for what I want it to do on the mat! It's good to feel the difference though as it gives me a deeper awareness of my body and how it's feeling, which in turn allows me to tweak my practice a little so that it's suitable for where my body is, right now.
It was all good..some yin and some yang to balance me out, but there is no doubt that I need to be more cautious in the mornings. Every day is a new day and my body, even after all this loving yoga, takes a while to truly warm up and feel mobile and ready for what I want it to do on the mat! It's good to feel the difference though as it gives me a deeper awareness of my body and how it's feeling, which in turn allows me to tweak my practice a little so that it's suitable for where my body is, right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)