I had a deep tissue massage yesterday! My body feels nice, if a little weak. I wish I were rich, so I could have massages weekly. Aah! I shared with Keith my theory about lacking psoas minor and hence the inability to stand up from UD. He laughed and said that the advantage of good education is that we could come up with really good excuses. I guess he did not buy it.
Low energy, but focused practice today. When I reached UD, something interesting happened. Keith was helping me to go down and up, and at one point he said he did not do anything and I stood up on my own. I am not sure whether to believe him; but if it is true, then my problem is not physical, but purely psychological. How to deal with it now? I was visualizing my lifting up like a maniac, it did not help. Maybe I should get an inflatable prop, which would pretend helping me? Hmmm.
Thank you, everyone for your good wishes. I could feel them and they do help a lot.
Happy, happy Friday, everyone!
20 comments:
Hey, congratulations!!! :) It sounds like you are making progress with that damn UD ;)
And the massage sounds fabulous... would love to have one myself.
I think it's mainly a psychological hurdle for most of us!
I'm not sure how I'm ever going to stand with parallel feet. I use my ducky feet as little levers to pull myself up. Can't keep enough weight in them when they're straight. Mystery.
Glad you're feeling better!! Yes body work is wonderful.
Things I might do on a weekly basis if I had a lot more money:
1) massage and/or Rolfing
2) acupuncture
3) therapy
4) facials
Hmm, my feet are straight in my UD. Should I duck them to increase the probablity of success? :D At this point I would use anything, including voodoo. Exasperated.
Your list sound nice. I would also go to see a movie or to the theather.
That was just my body / mind therapeutic work list. I might also get season tickets / passes to the ballet. I'd definitely go see more dance. And I'd spend $ on comedy clubs too. I love stand-up.
I'd live in an apartment that consisted of more than one, small, shabby room. I'd have good insurance. I'd buy lots of great X-mas presents for friends and family.
Etc, etc.
Hey maybe I should write fantasy posts for a week. What I'll be doing that day in my Ideal Life Scenario!!! I could switch off into La La Land for a few days even. Maybe a week.
Bad habits are hard to break with drop backs - take it from me. But you could try it. A lot of people lift their heels, both dropping & standing. I never developed that particular bad habit so I just don't do it.
The first time Greg nagged me into standing, he made me try over & over & over again until - in a fit of pure desperation - I launched myself up & onto my knees. Then he let me stop for the day. I'd put some extra padding down if you're aiming for that result though.
Fantasy post would be good. You also wanted to write a hip opening post - I could really use some words of wisdom there....
I can't imagine trying it over and over - by the time I reach UD, I am utterly exhausted! Three attempts are the max I can master. But, of course, it might be the whiny side of me and I need to tough it up already. :)
I believe in the yoga timer!! I used to to Upavista Konasana for 3 minutes, back in my gym days. After cardio. I'd set the timer & then just plop myself down.
Standing up: Greg made me try over & over & over again. That was after full primary & half 2nd. I dropped myself on my head a bit at one point. He'd laugh and say, "Try again!" I think it was somewhere between attempt 10 & 15 that I launched.
Same approach with the headstand backflip exit from Viparita D. When I complained to him that I'd tried it about 30x over the weekend (self practice) and failed, he said, "Try forty times!"
He'd also say, "You've gotta REALLY want it."
Linda, you amaze me. 30X! Might've been a 1000, same difference to me. But you made me think. Maybe I am babying myself? I REALLY want it to happen! Home practice, I think. Let my husband work a little in assisting me.
Ya... My self practice doesn't have vinyasa, and I focus strongly on the things I'm working on in my Astanga practice. So I'd go up & over into the pose and then hop, hop, hop like mad - til exhausted - trying to flip the damned thing. Then I'd lay there panting. Try again.
Plus I like to try things at home that seem, for a time, absolutely terrifying within the context of the Atanga studio. The first time I flipped my handstand into backbend? Home. Actually it wasn't exactly backbend. It was Ass Land. But now I've got that one down.
Happy Friday Alifa dear!
you're feeling better, YAY!
had a massage this week too and it's amazing how good it makes you feel :) Boodi, i like that body / mind list!
I need a TEAM of professionals...
Hi Alfia
The image of an inflatable prop is a good one. I must be experiencing a sympathy sniffle for your cold. Today I have a sore throat. So I hope mine passes quickly.
Boy this discussion is wonderful, thanks to you and Linda for going over it. Since I'm working on some "research poses" in my home practice, maybe I need to dedicate a long segment to coming to standing from UD. That seems like a good idea. 40 times? Wow.
cheers,
Arturo
Cheers,
Arturo
Hi, Joy Suzanne, hi, Chitta Vritti!
:)
Arturo, no! Do not tell me I infected you over the internet! Vitamin C and oscillo. My cold lasted 3 days, so it was not too bad. Feel better soon.
Hi Alfia,
I sometimes get these sympathy colds, like once when DZM got one. If it lasts only 3 days, that's a blessing.
Cheers,
Arturo
Hi Alfia! I am just catching up on the last few weeks of your blog. I hope you feel much much better this week and have some lovely practices, with beautiful springy backbends! I will try to read you more consistently from now on, it's true your posts are full of humour.
My goodness Alfia, we are like twins!
I came down with the most horrible sickness for the past few days!!!
I'm glad to hear you are feeling better.
And yes, I'll be in DC starting Thursday night :) Will you email me your cell number? YAY!
Alfia, checking in here late - glad you're feeling better and hope you're having an awesome weekend!
I often come up with what I think are brilliant anatomical excuses for why I can't do this or that.
My teacher's response is: "we have to work with what we're given. Now let's go."
: )
Hi, Susananda! Thank you for reading my blog. I think it is interesting that people think it is humorous. I am dead serious when I write it! It might be an unintentional side effect of poor command of English. Not that I am complaining....
:)
Hi, Elaina! It is true, we are like twins! Only I am twice as old... :)
I am very excited that you are coming. Do you think you will go to the shala on Friday?
I am sending you my phone number.
Feel better, too!
Hi, Anna! You are so wonderful, you always make me feel better. Doesn't it suck that nobody believes our anatomical excuses? My arm ARE short, my bum IS too big, and I DO NOT have psoas minor.
I am practically a cripple and deserve some some slack, don't I? I mean I deserve to move to the second, right? There is something wrong with my logic, but it is too late to think about it... :D
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