OMG… One of my favourite postures.  I can stand in Tree Pose for (insert ValleyGirl accent here) like, forever.

From Mountain Pose, the trusty and so very foundational, Tadasana… I’m presuming toes are already spread, three points engaged, arches drawing up, with big ol’ quadriceps pulling kneecaps heaven-ly… bring weight to left foot.  With the help of a hand, bring the right foot up, sole of foot to inside of thigh.  Thanks to a ‘bit’ of lovely inner thigh flesh, I am able to bring my foot right below my crotch, to rest… ‘thank you’ inner thigh flesh.

I like to bring my attention to the energy between foot and thigh to establish a secure, steady posture.  In pressing one against the other with each responding in kind, there’s a fantastic and stabilizing force that helps to ensure the steady… as well, eyes relaxed, gaze fixed- read:blurred- down the length of the nose.  Shoulder blades are drawing down either side of the spine towards the tail bone, which is drawing towards the floor.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Hands to Namaste.  When you feel a good stability, one where you might just feel like staying there all day, bring arms up overhead.  Conscious of shoulder blades drawing down and long.  

Don’t forget to breathe, of course.  A nice ujayii.  Relaxed, yet engaged.  After a count of however many makes for a thorough appreciation for the posture for you, gently bring foot down.  Rest, breathe in Tadasana, and regain your stable foundation.

Repeat on other side.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.

I love this posture.  In it I feel strong.  Everything is active.  While I have a natural sense of balance I love the confirmation this posture gives me.

When I’m having a little trouble getting a practice going myself, I turn to Baron.

I don’t have the benefit of a class nearby to depend on when I’m in need of guidance so this handy dandy set of CD’s is great in a pinch… and when I just want to merely follow rather than be thinking about what postures I want/need to come next. I just plain love this set of CD’s.

There is the 75 minute Vinyasa. It never seems like over an hour and I feel like I’ve touched on every muscle by the end.

There are a couple of shorty 20 minute practices for when I’m in need of just a little perk.

Now that I have something of a dedicated space, with a CD player, and as I continue training through the summer (after this next fun tri, half marathon second weekend in August) I plan to be using these more.

I get so tired of my own voice in my head I have to remember I’ve got a session with Baron I can always turn to….

It’ll be Canada Day and this time just a fun, shorty-sprint Tri with a few cheater options.  It’s the first in our area and in an effort to make it accessible and have it take off for years to come, it’s been made as appealing as possible to draw participants.  In an effort to do our part to support the event, we have signed up.

The only hitch to this event is that, after a comfortable pool swim in our local hot springs, the rest is all up-hill trails.  We have to make our way up to our local ski hill, where we finish at our local Canada Day festivities.  All hot, sweaty-stinky.

Pass the beer!  It’s actually included in my registation fee… and I get a t-shirt… and a burger.  Like I said, a fun event.

I’ve got to get in the habit of practice though.  With the consistent training for these events and this includes a half marathon the second weekend in August, I can feel everything shortening.  My flexibility is lacking badly.

Despite our busy day, I’d like to get in a half hour today.  Even if it’s just a long series of Sun Salutations.  I needs my yoga!!

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We were planning to get a practice in this morning before leaving for the campground.  I don’t think it’s going to happen.  We’ve both been hit with work bits to get in and I have to get to town to make sure we aren’t bouncing cheques as we’re trudging our way around the course over the weekend.

It’d be tough to come home all exhilerated only to be sucked into the overdraft abyss….

So much to do… not to mention all of the packing.  Husband has been sick, so prep has and will continue to be done singlehandedly by… me.  Am I complaining?  Yeah.  A little.

The stress comes in trying to get to the campground near the event before the crowds.  First come, first serve.  Due to sickness, Husband has some catch-up on work before he leaves and will join us this afternoon.  Kids and I will set up camp… assuming we are one of the first to come and therefore first served.  Otherwise we’ll have to find a place along the highway shoulder nearby.
I will have to trust old bod’ to kick it into gear when it’s needed Sunday although we will certainly try to find a place to get in a rejuvenating practice over the weekend before the race.  An early morning at the campsite… in the woods.  That would be a lovely thing.

But, we are ready.  Oh, yes.  Hmmmm….. ready-ish, perhaps.

This morning’s practice was a good one.  Forty minutes of lengthening lovliness… Sure, there was battle from “Age of Empires” screaming from the office computer beyond… too loud not to be noticed, but hey, when you’re in the flow, it’s all good.

As we stood in Mountain Pose at the beginning of practice, I stated to husband, “Here’s the deal.  You’re on the own for Sun Salutations A and B.  At your own pace.  Five of ‘A’, and then if you need, follow me for ‘B’.  But I won’t be cueing.  Again, you’re on your own here.  Yeah?”

“I’ll follow you.”

And so he did.  But I left it up to him as I really wanted to enjoy my practice today and not interrupt my own flow to speak.  To cue.  While I have now had a little experience in leading a group and speaking my way through, I still haven’t got a good handle on maintaining my own breath and flow while doing so.

Today I just didn’t want to even try.  And it sure felt good.

Which brings me to an email I received this morning from Heather, about to take on leading a class herself, and how I designed the practice for the class I led this winter.  In the spirit of honesty, and as I sheepishly explained to Heather, I really didn’t design much outside of my own practice.  I pretty much just modified what I have been doing in my living room/bedroom/basement/playroom for the last eight years.  I know my practice and its variations like the back of my hand and this is what I felt comfortable presenting to a group.

Understand, Heather, and everyone else, I am not a teacher, certified or otherwise.  But I sure love my yoga and with enough disclaimers to save my crazy ass, I was able to lead a class.  Perhaps I will pursue certification and work on my teaching chops more formally in future, but as it is, I have enough on my plate.  And that goes ditto for taking on another class.

I love my practice.  I used to love it alone.  Now I am enjoying it with hubby.  But leading a group… hmmmmmm….

In the grind that is daily life, along with the added grind that is triathlon training, not only regular yoga practice gets overlooked, but as a result so does maintaining my practice blog. Well, I was pleasantly nudged this morning with the reminder that people are reading….  I shall try to keep on the posting stick.
As per above, practice, until this week has fallen by the wayside. However, yesterday, Hubby felt a need for lengthening and got me up off the couch for a 35 minute session. As I peruse the last several posts, it seems Hubby can take the credit for any semblance of yoga that is getting done. As was the case yesterday.

And thankfully he did. With regular training over these past many weeks, particularly the amount of running I’m doing… Muscles. Shortening. Badly!

Oh Boy! Feel those hamstrings!

I focused on the trusty and reliable sun salutations.  Starting slow and easy, we built heat and gradually… oh, so very gradually, the backs of my legs gave up a little of their tension.  Even as the flow became more vigourous, I didn’t push.  I listen to my muscles.  This day they were definitely scolding- OK, maybe it was more like nagging- “Sure, nurture the the cardio, the endurance, all the glamour of the distance work.  But we’ll show you!  Oh, yes.  Just try to touch your toes!  Ha!  That’ll teach you to ignore the stretch, the lengthen, the cleansing breath… the quiet.  With you it’s all about ‘how far’… you forget about ‘how deep’. ”
We are 5 days and counting until event. Yoga is scheduled twice more between then and now in attempt to make ammends. Before Sunday. Whistling dixie, no doubt… but every little stretch- and cleansing ujjayi breath- has to help!