3/31/2017 Practice Journal

Ashtanga Mysore Practice Journal

​Like I mentioned yesterday, there is no bad practice. All practices are good practices, and my practice today was no exception. I drag myself to the studio almost every morning asking why I wake up so early for. And I always find the answer during and after the practice. It is the connection I have with my body and with the community that bring me to the practice over and over. It is hard work but I enjoy it. 

Again, I was working on the most challenging pose, Kapotasana, today. Right when I was in the pose that my fingertips touched the toes, I heard my teacher called out my name saying "lift your heart up more, thigh bones more forward, ground your shin bones down and more..." Then she came over to lift my heart and brought my hands to grab the heels. Oh boy!!! She took me into a whole new level of the Kapotasana, which in fact felt pretty good. But, it also meant I have more work to do. Without her assistant, I probably couldn't get into such deep pose by myself NOT JUST YET.

By the way, my arms and shoulders are sore today from yesterday's practice. The Kapotasana is not just a deep back bend. It also requires deep shoulder opening. I could feel how my shoulders limited me from going deeper to the pose. I pushed myself a little more than my comfort zone yesterday, and then those muscle groups are "on fire" today.

Mysore practice takes lots of dedication, discipline and perseverance.