Sirsasana, Farewell Wall

Photo by: David Life assisting, Jivamukti Yoga Sweden

My teacher MB doesn't want us to kick up into sirsasana anymore and/or use a wall. He never taught it that way and doesn't believe it should be done that way. This then highlights how poor my upper body strength really is. I've always had a fear about sirsasana and remember how excited and happy I was when I finally decided one day that I was going to do it. Of course by kicking up and against a wall. But I did it. So now that I know I can actually hold myself up in sirsasana, I need to build the core and upper body strength to help me get up there in a more graceful fashion without using the wall.

Some of the things ST, NE and MB have suggested in the past and now:

• (NE) get ready for headstand but instead of trying to bring both legs up, hold each leg up (knee to chest) for 10 breaths each leg
• (ST & MB) to build strength - dolphin pose (4 breaths) to dolphin plank pose (4 breaths) and repeat several more times each day
• (MB) when interlacing fingers together, make the palms touch as well - this makes for a more solid foundation - try it, when the fingers are interlaced but the palms aren't touching, the arms tend to splay outwards when any pressure is put on them but they won't if you interlock the palms as well. it is much harder though than cupping the hands but it makes sense

The dolphin pose sequence is something that was actually suggested to me before by my teacher ST three years ago! I didn't really pay to much attention to it then because I could finally get myself up in sirsasana by using the wall. Time to take this piece of advice more seriously now. It really is magic watching someone glide up into headstand with their legs together and with purpose. I look forward to that day when it clicks for me as well but first; practice, practice, practice.

Back to Basics - Week 3

Baby, I finally know what I'm going after....

I love a bit of Devendra Banhart to make me smile.

Still not a perfect week but much better than it has been in weeks. Alcohol is my downfall though and I hate that it can ruin my early morning routine. Fortunately this is not a regular occurrence on a school night. I rather get up in the morning and watch the sunrise, feel alive. It sets the tone for the day.

This week the plan is to just keep focusing. There is so much I want to achieve but I need to remind myself to keep coming back to the present and not stress about it. Easier said than done but hey, I'll keep trying.

Sat 24 - 75 min walk

Sun 25 - 75 min jivamukti yoga (MB)

Mon 26 - 5 km run + 60 min jivamukti yoga DVD

Tue 27 - 40 min walk + 75 min jivamukti yoga (MB)

Wed 28 - 5 km run + started a twitter account, there goes my evening!

Thu 29 - 120 min jivamukti yoga

Fri 30 - free day

Teachers, they come and go…

Photo: Vali Myers by Eva Collins, a truly remarkable woman who taught me the value of embracing my c*nt whilst having afternoon tea one completely random day in her Melbourne studio.

* * * * *

Back in May I wrote a little about where I thought my yoga practice was at after having lost a fabulous teacher to retirement. But this past week revealed a nice surprise. I have finally found my new teacher (in addition to the wonderful ST). This has re-ignited a spark I so desperately needed.

Since NE retired I have felt something missing, especially the guidance of someone who was never going to let me be lazy, ever. I hated going to NE's classes because I would nearly always breakdown after but I miss them just as much as I hated going to them. Not that I want to breakdown after every yoga class! I need to make this point clear. I just have a lot of sh*t to work through, and still do.

I have also felt a void since I was very fortunate to have experienced practicing under the guidance of Sharon Gannon and David Life when they came to Australia earlier in the year. This took my yoga experience to a whole new level but my practice has been stagnant again up until now. This is not meant to dismiss all the fantastic teachers I have had but really only highlights that I need to challenge myself further and need change, a different voice. I need to find those teachers that can help bring out the best in me through asana and not allow me to be complacent. Going to class and finding a teacher that I can connect with to push my boundaries and take me to the edge is something I look for. Otherwise, I may as well just practice at home.

My new teacher has a background in ashtanga and is a newly certified Jivamukti teacher which brings with it a renewed passion for the practice which is exciting. But also brings more pain, good pain. I am using my muscles differently and with that brings the pain and a new way at looking at things. I am really feeling it the next day. I have only had three lessons with MB so far but he has highlighted areas I need to work on and has given me very clear instruction on how to work on these areas and why. He just makes sense and speaks my language. This is really so exciting for me and I look forward to going to classes again. I expect it to be tough and really, would I want it any other way? Challenge helps me open up both mentally and physically.

Teachers of all kinds have come and gone in my life and even though I might not see, practice or study with them anymore, I still find random moments when I reflect on something they have taught me. There have been times when I didn't understand what they were trying to teach me in the moment but I have come to a point later on and realised that I have finally understood their lessons.

I owe my parents the greatest gratitude of all for the lessons they have given me and continue to give me. My Mother and Father will forever be my first, last and always teachers.

From an earlier post - "There are teachers all around us and they are not necessarily in the formal sense. Our friends, our pets, the mailman, the bum on the corner, "mini-breakdowns" - they all teach us things."

Back to Basics - Week 2

Photo: ombites

The first week didn't go exactly to plan but that doesn't mean the plan gets scrapped. It was my baby sister's birthday on Saturday with treats abound, my baby brother stayed with us for the entire week, there was a girls home-made pizza night mid-week at our place, work was more busy than usual with a media launch (I work in television, stills co-ordinator for publicity)....and the list can go on. So even though I didn't stick to my eating/exercise plan or even write it all down, I was more conscious of what I ate and felt better in my skin.

This week I will still try to do the following:

• Write a menu plan each Saturday, and shop
• Write a moving plan each Saturday, and just do it
• Keep a daily food diary

In addition, I need to remember to take my supplements daily!

• Vital Greens with soy, my preferred post-run/walk pick up
• Microgenics Flaxseed Oil, my preferred alternative to fish oil (blergh) and suitable for vegans

This week's moving plan:

S 10 - 75 min walk
S 11 - 75 min jivamukti yoga (MB)
M 12 - 5 km run + 60 min jivamukti yoga DVD
T 13 - 75 min walk + 75 min jivamukti yoga (MB)
W 14 - 5 km run (sore neck and body all week so no yoga tonight)
T 15 - free day
F 16 - 75 min walk

Back to Basics - Week 1

Photo: Mary's 3 Keys to Weight Loss by ombites

Kathryn wrote a post about The Trunk of Broken Dreams that made me realise it's time to take my food habits of late a little more seriously again. I've put on 6kgs since February and really, that's not ideal. I know it's not the whole 30kgs I lost initially but it's still 20% ... and I can't fit into my favourite jeans anymore!

Some of the things that have been catalysts to putting on weight have been ... moving house, study stress, money stress and going vegan. Say what? Going vegan, how? I haven't been organised or disciplined enough so it's been easier to go for the easy vegan junk food options. Hot chips at the pub anyone while everyone else is eating steak? And what happens when I eat food that doesn't satisfy or is not nutrient dense? I crave more food to compensate and that means carbs, loads of carbs. It's not an excuse, just a poor effort on my part for the past several months. I need to be more conscious about the food I eat especially if I want to be a good nutritionist who walks the talk. So what am I going to do about it?

• Write a menu plan each Saturday, and shop
• Write a moving plan each Saturday, and just do it
• Keep a daily food diary

This week's moving plan:

Sat 10 - 75 min walk
Sun 11 - free day (sick day)
Mon 12 - 5 km run + 100x push/sit/squat/lunge + 75 min jivamukti yoga
Tue 13 - 75 min walk
Wed 14 - free day (drank previous night so forget about it)
Thu 15 - 75 min walk
Fri 16 - free day

Kathryn, thanks for the no bullsh*t kick up the bum!

When you start your day like this...

Sydney Park
Originally uploaded by ombites

...nothing can go wrong. I went for an 8km walk this morning around where we used to live. We actually still live close by but it's funny how we impose invisible little borders around where we live. I need to remember to cross those invisible lines and not forget about the other side. Metaphor for much else? I think so.

Ad-Free Blog

So I received yet another email about using my blog to pimp yoga goods and services.

"We follow your blog and believe that your content exemplifies the interests and lifestyle choices of "Person's Name"...we think "Person's Name" would connect with your readers...as a guest blogger on your site."

No. No, I don't think so. If you actually read my blog you would realise it's a personal blog. I will only ever write about things that effect me personally and if I do write about clothing or the likes, I will only write about things I have found for myself, respect and enjoy. I am not a sell out, and don't want money from blogging either. I cringe when I see other people doing this. I read blogs for the amazing personal experiences shared, not to shop.

By using this icon on my website I am stating...

1. That I am opposed to the use of corporate advertising on blogs.
2. That I feel the use of corporate advertising on blogs devalues the medium.
3. That I do not accept money in return for advertising space on my blog.