My yoga practice--- "I'm not sure..."

Cute bee working hard....

10/Dec

I cancelled this evening's class earlier today. Why? I decided to have a night off for doing ebay listing. I got a few things to list, it's my day off, thought good time to do....  (or just an excuse?)

To be honest, I went a class in my local yoga centre last night, and I wasn't expecting it, but I got muscle pain on my bottom and my hammys are tight! I felt I won't last Jaqui's class, so, I decided to have a rest till  tomorrow early morning class.

Well, I decided to not to go back to the yoga centre even for yoga classes (where I used to work as a chef in the yoga centre), I don't really like the place. But I thought, I'm going there for me, not anything else (or anyone else), if I see a person I'm not keen on, I just smile, chances are, she will smile at me too anyway.

So, I booked a class for Wednesday eve for vinyasa flow. I was a quite nervous, I wouldn't know the yoga person, I wouldn't know how the class would be, How many people would be etc... but the same time, I couldn't hide my excitement.

I got there early. All very familiar environment with new staffs and new things.

Anyway, when I went upstairs to the studio, I saw the yoga lady/teacher and thought, "why lots of yoga teachers/instructors are thin and tall?" I'm the completely the opposite. I'm petite (good word!), and slightly chubby.....

When class started, I was participating it, but I could hear my own voice saying : "I'm not sure about this, I don't think I like her class..." It was only 5 mins in, c'mon, give her chance! As class went on more and more, "I'm still not sure about this, too fast and I don't like this sequence" My head didn't shut up did it. Then, I told myself, f**k it, I let go. After that point, it became fun. I enjoyed practising arm balances, did plank sequences different from one's I'm used to. I don't have to like everything she does, as long as I found something I had fun with. I'm happy with that. 

11/Dec

I went to see Siobhan this morning. She was my first ever yoga teacher (also my boss at the yoga centre), and after all these years, I still love her class. I sometimes (whenever I can) go to her classes in the boiler house yoga studio in my local town. I told her my last night experience, then she shared hers with me. She experienced the same when she attended a class last week. We smiled at each other.

I love Siobhan's class. She  teaches Hatha yoga (she's also a Ashtanga teacher). Funny thing is, I sometimes miss practising Hatha and feel like I really need it, it always a right time when I have a day off to be able to go and see her. Basically, I feel sometimes I want to spend more time in each asanas, it's a bit like spending time with old friends, I feel like my body needs it (mentally, physically), and feel much better afterwards. 

It was very creative class this morning. We used balls to do few asanas to give our body massage. It was really pain but nice pain to my back muscle and knots.

I walked back home with my yoga buddy from her class, she was an old lady in her late 70's (I think), bless her, she's been coming to Siobhan's class for looooong time (10 years)! She explained to me how she liked her class and her spiritual journey in a nut shell through yoga, and gave me a big smile. She isn't a hippy lady, she's a regular lady with many injuries in the past. 

I'm really looking forward to see Siobhan on 23rd Dec, it's going to be the last class for this year, and I got a day off. I'm working from 24th till new years day, which I don't mind at all, everyday is Christmas for me,  feeling lots of love, cozy, yummy and warm....

Saffron Yoga
www.saffronyoga.co.uk
 siobhan@saffronyoga.co.uk.

My yoga practice--- Sunday practice

My favo tree in the Ickworth park

7th/ Dec

Hooray!, It was Sunday I was looking forward to, lovely Helen's Ashtanga yoga workshop. It was only a small group, it was 5 people including myself and Helen. She was a great teacher, and makes practise such a fun. To me, Ashtanga yoga practise can be really intimidating and regimental. I think that's one of reasons put me off getting into it for long time. 

I like how Helen correct postures and teach how to do breathing, I think more like her personality makes the practise less intimidating and less regimental. She did say in the beginning, it didn't matter not be able to get into asanas, it was a fun, not to suffer (something like that), basically, yoga is a fun, not pain. I liked that. That's exactly how I pursuit not only my yoga practise, also tai chi and qi gong. Andy (my friend also my teacher on tai chi & qi gong) always said: 'think something makes you smile" with eyes closed. That was how we begun our practise.   

Anyway, how many times, I almost giggled during our practise (I did giggle though). I really enjoyed it and made me want to do more and more. Savasana was really a treat, after all the hard work. When we got up, and opened our eyes, Helen asked me:

"How was it?"
"Actually I really liked it and really enjoyed it" I answered with big smile.

I thanked Helen before I left the studio. I do practise it at home with youtube video (Lesley Fightmaster and Nichi Green form Eckhart Yoga), but still not confident enough to attend classes. So, to me, workshops like these really help me. I did a few with Brenda (chillout yoga in Sudbury, Suffolk), that was good fun and all! I would love to attend more workshops, but my bank statements don't look very good, need to make more money!!!

When I was on my way home, I couldn't stop smiling, actually, I was smiling all day after that. 

My yoga practice--- Ashtanga yoga & Me

5/Dec

I've just been back from my Saturday morning class. As usual, it was lovely practise. I was talking to my yoga buddy, Vic, who put her mat next to me, (oh, she's such a lovely person!) started talking about ashtanga yoga. That was because there's ashtanga yoga workshop By lovely Helen Shepherd tomorrow morning,...( Which I've been really looking forward to...)

 Vic asked me about biding poses. For long time, I convinced myself reason why I couldn't do was due to my hyper-extended arms. For me, biding poses are killer, I still can't get into some of them. I told her; "my arms are not long enough to either bind or lift myself up." She smiled. "If I could cut off some of my tummy and stitched to my arms to extend, then I would be able to do them"

Then, Jacqui (our teacher) looked at us with big smile and explained that all our bodies were made to proportion. Helen is a tall lady, she's got long arms and long legs, she can easily lift herself up or bind her arms. Oh, I was a bit suspicious what Jacqui told me, I feel like my arms & legs are really short. To back up my theory, I usually shorten hems on my trousers (if I buy kids/cropped sometimes they are right length!).... But Jacqui comforted me with a few more explanation, so, I settled on "our bodies are proportioned."

So, that makes even harder now, in order to get into those poses, I need to work on my core even harder..... Am I not working hard enough???? 

Anyway, I told Vic, "It's all good fun anyway, I always smile to myself on yoga mat..." I even laugh at myself when I home practise alone. I either roll round or things I do, quite often...... funny.........(By the way, I realised recently I laugh/giggle a lot. apparently, a couple of our clients at work refer me as "the lady who laughs a lot" then my colleagues know who they are talking about...)

I was really in a cheerful mood after the practise this morning. On Savasana, it was like floating on Agen sea in Greece. Feeling the waves, pretty lights and colours, I even could hear sound of the water (it might be tinnitus on my left ear though) When the class was finished, it was crisp and beautiful morning with sun shine. 

Then I strolled back to home.