Substitute Teacher

I should preface this by saying that I’ve only been in my current yoga class for a three weeks or so. So when I say our usual teacher was absent, it isn’t like I have a long standing relationship with the leader of our merry group. That said, I felt a strange mixture of apprehension and an urge to do my very best when I came to the class and found that we had a substitute. I’ll call her Miss Flow, because I have a hunch she is a fan of vinyasa yoga. Right from the start, things were different and her expectations were certainly set at a more intense level. There wasn’t a lot of “work to your edge” or “modify if you need to” in her directives. Ms. Flow would start off with “Listen to me.” She would direct us, somewhat clinical and with precision to each pose, though she hardly used any names for the poses, which threw me off a bit. It is easier to follow along without twisting my head to look if she would just say to rise into Warrior I, for example. My first impressions of the session was that of drilling us into our poses, which isn’t really a fair assessment but it is what came to my mind as the sweat pored off me. She also drew attention to our flaws, keeping the class holding a position while she worked individually with a student. We must have held Downward Facing Dog for eons while she worked with one gentleman that was struggling with the pose. I thought my shoulders would collapse and if I hadn’t been using a modification of a dumbbell to support my wrists there is no way I could have held it. But I did hold it.

And after that moment of seeing just how far I was into the pose, just how long I could hold it, just how intense my focus and my strength could be, I started to really appreciate the session and Ms Flow’s no-nonsense approach. After an hour, I was absolutely spent but still invigorated, drenched with sweat and ready for water. I don’t know if it was the intense concentration required or the fact that the juices really got moving but I left class with a head-ache right between my eyes.

Wednesday is my next class and it sounds like Ms Flow will be back to lead that session as well. Wednesday is always the harder day because it incorporates pilates so I am nervous as to how it is going to go. I’m also nervous because the student turn out on Wednesday is low and it is possible that I could be alone with Ms. Flow for a whole hour of her watching me doing strength and core moves. I’m not sure how I’ll fare under that much scrutiny. I certainly appreciate that she is working hard to improve our form and to bring us deeper into the pose but that kind of one-on-one attention might be overwhelming. No matter how it goes though, I’m going to be grateful (as I am today) at how far into the edge I can work, how strong I can be and how much I have gained in the weeks since I have started this class.

Though I might bring along an apple for Ms Flow, just in case.

Twist me, shape me, anyway you want me

Today’s yoga class was all about the twist. We were twisting in seated poses, standing poses, and lying on the floor. As a gal with a little more body to twist than my classmates, I struggle with twists but I like them all the same. Some twists are easier for me, like Half Moon Pose and Side-Angle Pose, and some are infinitely harder like Cow Face Pose and Eagle Pose. I started the class with vigor and I heard my inner voice say that I was having my best class ever. Somewhere this side of Downward Facing Dog, rising up to Tree Pose with a leg twisted around the other, the voice stopped talking.

I did a few more modifications today than I normally do, in fact I even dipped down into Child’s Pose at one point rather than attempt a squating twist on one foot (no idea the name of that pose – I’ll have look around for it) and I definitely passed on hopping on one foot in tree pose up the length of my mat. But as with all the classes, I ended the session feeling refreshed and stretched from my toes to my nose. I noticed in some of the stretches that I was naturally reaching a little farther and feeling it comfortably, so I know each session has been bringing me progress. With twisting poses especially, I have to tune in to what my body is saying and not to push myself into something that is going to hurt. Of course, that should go for all poses, heck just life in general, really.

I’ll keep trying the twists as they come up, if for no other reason than I want my spine as mobile as it can be. According to articles on YogaJournal.com, twists are good for massaging the abdominal organs, which can aid circulation and digestion. I have no knowledge on that but it is an interesting idea. If you want more information on twists and advice on poses, check out here and here. Of course, don’t get too twisty too soon – read up on twisting safely and of course, folks with back issues should get some professional guidance.

Pillow talk

Yesterday was my most intense yoga session of my week; Wednesdays usually feature pilates as well as yoga in the routine so it can be a bit taxing. I had forgone my weight lifting session on Tuesday so I would be well rested but even so I found that my right knee was being tempermental. I wasn’t going to miss my class if I didn’t have to, so I decided to bring a foam pillow to cushion my touchy knee. I discovered that the pillow is very kind indeed and I will be using one more often. I was concerned that it would get in the way, but it really didn’t. I was able to flow from Cobra pose to Table pose to Downward Facing Dog and back to Table without a hitch. My knee felt great in Gate pose and it gave support for Child’s pose and for kneeling leg lifts. The session just reinforced my belief that modifications and props help me get the most from yoga as safely as possible.

I had the chance to talk to a long time student of my class (I’ve only been going a few weeks to this class) and I learned something about her that really reinforced my belief in the accessibility of yoga. This student was born with some serious issues with her legs. If ever someone has a reason to stay clear of challenging exercise, she has it but that is, I think, precisely why she goes to yoga class. She said that she started out unable to do any poses at all. I think her perserverance, modifications and practice has made all the difference; she does a beautiful job working through the asanas. She has accomplished so much in the face of adversity – how can I think that my own larger but completely whole and healthy body isn’t capable of doing as much? I was very grateful throughout the class and instead of focusing on my limitations, I focused on my strength, my increasing flexibility and the fact that I was there, moving my body and quieting my mind. By the end of the class, my knee wasn’t bothering me anymore.

Yoga Inc. – a short review

I’m a fan of documentaries, so I was pleased to find the film,  “Yoga Inc.”, by John Philp. It’s a story about the emergence of Yoga in the west and how it is becoming increasingly popular and commercialized, for good or for bad, depending upon your point of view. The movie explores the role of gurus, “McYoga” studios, yoga championships and getting yoga into the Olympics, standardizing professional ethics, the idea of copyright in yoga asanas and how the spiritual side of yoga may be impacted by all this. I found it fascinating and very informative. I’m particularly intrigued by the copyright issue and I’m going to be reading further about the debate between “open source” theory as it applies to yoga.

I’d love to hear from others who’ve seen the film. If you are looking for it to watch, check out Hulu.com.

 

Welcome

The first post on a new blog is hardly the best way to learn about a writer;  much the same way as a first date, things can be a bit awkward and there is much unknown between people. But also like first dates, you can learn whether you have anything in common, if the person is someone worth spending the time and energy to get to know. I hope you’ll consider giving me and my blog that time and that you’ll come to know I’m alot like you – a person who is learning to live in her body, learning to love herself and who has decided to start doing the things she loves now rather than waiting for some magical future moment.

I’m a perpetual student – I’m always learning about new things, new topics that interest me, new skills and hobbies, new ways of looking at the world. Yoga is something I’ve long thought was fascinating but not something that I could do because I’m not skinny, not flexible, not young. Turns out that my preconceived notions weren’t quite right – imagine that! Yoga, I’m learning, can be for everybody and every body. There are ways to modify the poses (asanas) to help those of us with more maximus in our gluteals or have more fab in our abs. I’m the biggest gal in my yoga class and I’m ok with that. I do the poses I can do, using the best form I can, and I modify wherever I need to so it works.

The purpose of this blog is to share information with others who might be in the same big blossomed boat as me. I’m going to post my progress, list resources that have helped, review books and gear, plus I’m going to add a little about two other body-centric areas I am exploring: burlesque and belly dancing. Ultimately, what these things all have in common for me is learning to love my physical self, enjoy being in my own skin and gaining strength, confidence, stamina, flexibility and fun.

Interested in a second blog date? I hope so. Let’s meet again for tea and some lively conversation.