Day 22: Grow!

I am getting to be such a geek about Triangle pose. I used to grit my teeth through and rejoice when it was over! In the last week I often have the thought at the end of the second set: Oh. But I want to do it again! It just feels so good...

However, today I had to rest out second set of Triangle! Also second set of Standing Forehead to Knee. Although I take the shortcomings in my practice on myself, I will say (and have probably bitched before) that six-thirty at night is not the best time for me to practice. My body thinks it's time for a meal, not time for yoga! That being said, it was a pretty good practice. Excellent set of Standing Bow Pulling--at one point I just really nailed it, laser focus, expansion across the chest, just solid and shooting forward. RAH! It felt dyn-o-mite. And Camille complimented us as a class on our Rabbit. I was so glad to get back to my studio and back to Camille! I love it there. I really lucked out that this was the first place I practiced Hot Yoga.

I decided to determine my word/phrase o' the day today BEFORE class and MAKE that my word. So my mantra was grow! grow! grow! Even in Utkatasana (Awkward)! Even in Savasana! It was a wonderful word to practice with. *pats self on back*
Only one space-out today, first set of Bujangasana (Cobra.) And it wasn't a complete space-out, like "Where am I? Did I just do that pose or...?"

I got another email from the Barkan people today. I need to study this further, but from the sounds of things, the Barkan series is not the same every time. Sometimes there's more hip opening, sometimes more backbends...sounds so cool! I love the idea of a general framework and then being able to add/subtract poses to suit my students. Just one more thing that makes me think: I am in the right training program! It's mostly all the same poses as Bi*ram, though. The k has been eliminated in this particular case to avoid Googling by nefarious Bi*ram lawyers. Think I'm paranoid? Read this! (NOTE: The tuition has gone up to $6600, putting overall cost (transportation, housing, food, etc.) well over $10K. Not to mention you ain't earnin' a wage for nine weeks. But I digress. And remember the series is not the man!)

A word about mats, in response to felicity's comment from yesterday: If you are practicing often, if you can possibly afford it, I agree with Lisa: you should really have a mat you like! My current mat was a gift. I love it, and each time I'm unrolling it or rolling it up, I think of my friend gratefully and I remember that I can't practice "by myself;" my practice is supported by many others. Another ecologically friendly mat which I have been coveting, and am offering myself as a congratulatory gift upon completing training is the EcoMat. It's made from natural rubber and jute! My tree-hugger hippie heart delights. If you like patterns, take a look at the tropical flavor of Wai Lana mats. They often sell them at my studio. They have an ecologically friendly mat, too (but it isn't patterned.)