tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57523988511566156462024-03-12T16:04:40.577-07:00alfiaalfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.comBlogger261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-18259268062542413712012-10-19T19:03:00.002-07:002012-10-19T19:03:41.064-07:00So I am driving home today. Turning to our small street, I am passing by a pleasant little house with a cozy front yard. In the front yard I can see a little white-haired old woman. Moving with a lot of grace, she is practicing with a sword - a real, big sword. Huh?alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-24629401206781150502012-10-15T07:42:00.000-07:002012-10-15T07:42:37.726-07:00It was a long time since I was here. The current state of affairs is not very cheerful - I slightly broke my back in August 2011 (a hairline fracture of a sacral vertebrae). It took forever to heal, and I am not sure it has healed completely yet. Once in a while my back muscles kind of seize up, knotting into tight knots. These knots are painful first, but then they just stay, not really relaxing for a long time. Strong massage inflames them and they become painful again, so it seems not to be a good solution. Acupuncture did not help either. Anyway, this kind of sucks, because I could not really do yoga or much of any other activity for a long time. Result - 25 gained pounds and loss of much of the acquired strength and flexibility. I did do some of the yoga poses, but not much and not regularly. So today I finally did a full primary again. Feel great, but also very sad. My practice took a giant step back, to the level of a beginner. Lost most of my binds, especially in Marichiasana D and supta kurmasana. Twists did not feel good, so I tried not to push too hard. Urdhva Dhanurasana was pitiful, but I did not expect much. Was actually happy I could lift at all. Whew. But forward bends were intact, like nothing happened at all and there was no a year-long hiatus.
I think I would have just stopped Ashtanga practice forever, thinking that I would re-start one day and never actually doing it. But what motivates me now is that I signed up for a teacher training and a Mysore week with David Keil in January. Now I need to bring myself into a semblance of a yoga practitioner. I just need to remind myself not to do anything stupid and not to re-injure anything. My doctor suggested also to add some weight training to increase structural stability of my spinal column and to balance the flexibility of the hips. Gold's gym, here I come! :)alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-72826113938917005572011-03-09T06:40:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:26:18.011-08:00TIA, migraine, David Swenson and David Keil.<div align="justify">A week before Christmas I woke up in the morning and decided not to go to Mysore. I do not remember what was the exact cause, but this unfortunately happens to me rather often lately, so I don't think it was anything extraordinary . I prepared my food for the day, woke up Victor and took a shower. In the shower I was kind of daydreaming - something about my family back in Kazakhstan, my brother and my late mother. I got out of the shower and realized that I couldn't snap out of my day-dreaming mode. It felt like my day dream had ended, but I was not back in my mind for some reason. Victor was asking me some questions, and I answered them(all of which I do not quite remember now), and even though I did know the answers to his questions, I just sounded my normal ignorant self. So I started thinking "what am I supposed to do now? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Uhm</span>, I guess go to work. What am I supposed to do there?" That was a more difficult and distressing question to which I did now know answer. I tried to ask Victor, but he felt justifiably puzzled. I tried to assess my overall state and realized that my left side of the face had a kind of tingly-numb feeling. "Sh*t, I am having a stroke!" That was my first thought. The second - "Here goes my yoga practice". Both made me very sad, but for some reason I did not feel fear or anxiety. The memory loss and disorientation lasted about five minutes, and after that I informed my boss that I was not coming today and rushed Victor to get a taxi and go to ER.<br /><br />We spent around 10 hours there. After all kinds of tests, including a CAT scan, MRI, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">MRA</span> and multiple prodding and poking I was discharged with a diagnosis of TIA - transitory <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ischemic</span> attack. It did not sound too serious, but after proper googling I found out that TIA is considered to be something like a "mini-stroke", caused by clotting and is a good indicator that a maxi-stroke is coming. Victor asked me then - OK, now what can you change in your lifestyle to make the possibility of a stroke smaller? You really should have kept a couple of vices for a case like that. There is just no way one can lead a healthier lifestyle than you do!<br /><br />To make a long story short, my current diagnosis is a complex migraine ( which is indefinitely better than TIA). I had migraines my whole life and thought I got rid of them 6 years ago when I went cold turkey on all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">caffeinated</span> drinks. But apparently migraines stayed, though a pain of a headache was gone. Otherwise it seems that I am ridiculously healthy. My neurologist was shaking her head and bitterly complaining how difficult it was to diagnose a person who did not have a single thing wrong in all the tests performed. So <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">yay</span>, I think. I still need to keep a diary for the neurologist and eventually have to take a some kind of anti-migraine medication, but this is nothing compared to the life of constant expectation of a stroke.<br /><br />So here. I did not want to write anything before I would know for sure if things are OK or not. Now back to our camels, um, I mean yoga.<br /><br />First of all David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swenson's</span> workshop this weekend. It was awesome. In addition to being a yogi who can fly, the guy is also a comedian. He was really funny and I think he would make better money working as an entertainer. I did learn a lot, though. One of the things he said got stuck in my head firmly - do your practice at 80% capacity. If you do at a 100% all the time, you will be sore all the time and one day you will push ( or your teacher will) a little harder, go over your 100% and hurt yourself.<br /><br />Now, after David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swenson's</span> weekend, which left me sore all over (I guess even when you work at 80%, 6 hours of yoga a day is a bit too much), I am doing a week of Mysore with David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil</span>. First <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">of</span> all - there are too many Davids in my yoga life. Second - ouch! There is just no 80% in David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil's</span> vocabulary. The first two days went like a blur. Today, my feeling of joy of practice was tinged a little with self-pity when I started doing my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">urdhva</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">dhanurasanas</span>. Low back was sore since <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">kapotasana</span>, energy level was below zero and I was contemplating weather I could sound pitifully enough to get out without <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">dropbacks</span>. Then David said - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Alfia</span>, stop doing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">backbends</span>, do <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">eka</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">pada</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">shirsasana</span> instead. Gulp. The most difficult part was to keep balance in a forward bend, but still the pose is doable. The exit was far from graceful, but oh well. Anyway, the point is that the bruised and fragile feeling in my lower back was gone! Apparently it just needed this stretch of having a leg behind the neck and all was cured. Wow. From now on, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">eka</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">pada</span> is my new favorite pose!<br /><br />Unfortunately, when I am back at my regular Mysore studio, my last pose is still <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">bakasana</span>. I think I will get a split with David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil</span> faster than I will get <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">eka</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">pada</span> with David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ingalls</span>. That is OK, though. My practice is so long now that I am not really looking forward to making it even longer during my normal practice. Once in a while I will just practice at home, doing just the second series up to the last pose given by David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil</span>, and it will make me secretly happy</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-1394741122486482282010-12-02T06:35:00.000-08:002010-12-02T07:16:32.466-08:00Thursday musings<div align="justify">The weekend starts with Thursday finishing poses - or something like that, quoting dear Linda. I nearly survived this week. Practice today was good, though not quite as good as it was yesterday, but this is expected with Thursday practice. My whole right arm aches again - pressed too hard to lift in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lagu</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vajrasana</span> and felt a pang of pain in the elbow. I was so careful these days and thought I learned all "dos" and '<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">don'ts</span>" of this particular injury, but alas, I was wrong. Back to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ibuprofen</span> and icing...</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil</span> gave me two new poses yesterday - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">bharadvajasana</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ardha</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">matsyendrasana</span>. They felt like nice easy twists, with an added bonus of relieving back from a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">kapotasana</span> shock. I wonder how I can coax our David into giving me these as well? I guess I should just start coming to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">shala</span> a bit more regularly than I did lately. This week is definitely a good start to a more rigorous practice in 2011. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I will miss David. I wonder if I can call him as one of my teachers? I took a couple of workshops with him and did one-week Mysore trainings three years in a row. He knows me by name. Does this give me the right to say "I studied with David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil</span>"? How does it work, this student-teacher relationship anyway? When you see yoga teachers biographies, they like to list "big" names as their gurus. This is not something that I want to do, but find it intriguing. For example, I took several workshops and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">mysore</span> practices with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kino</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">McGregor</span> as well, but I do not believe she remembers me at all. I guess I can't count her as one of my teachers, right? Teachers should know their students. On the other hand, I do not really remember every single student I taught yoga or immunology. Does it mean that I was not their real teacher? Oh boy, this is confusing. Better go and start working!</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-59328407963487281732010-11-29T06:21:00.000-08:002010-11-29T06:36:08.001-08:00Mysore week with David Keil<div align="justify">Turns out that my elbow injury is a partial detachment of an annular ligament. Weird injury - I can do a lot of hard things on my arms, but there are some movements that hurt a lot. Movements with resistance, I should add. Like moving forearm up and down is OK, but brushing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">teeth</span> is not. Working with a mouse for a long time causes elbow to ache. Practicing yoga - too, but to a lesser degree. I think if I am more careful in all the binding poses, especially <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">pasasana</span>, avoid a headstand and be gentle with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">dropbacks</span>, I should be able to practice. Which is great, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keil</span> is in town! Practiced with him this morning. He has a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">talent</span> of turning the scary moments of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ashtanga</span> into very nice ones, so overall the feeling after practice is quite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">exhilarating</span>. Awesome adjust in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">kapotasana</span> - I have not been practicing the second series for 2 straight weeks, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">kapotasana</span> felt like a manageable pose with his help. It feels like I am getting a nice <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">jump start</span> on my 2011 yoga year. :)</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-53228760114362356752010-11-14T05:41:00.000-08:002010-11-14T06:32:48.148-08:00Safari in Florida<div>I hurt my arm in Florida. Being a "strong Russian woman" I am not always smart in applying physical force. This time I pulled my heavy suitcase, which was also stuck somehow, and something in my elbow gave in. Surprisingly, I still can do chaturanga, but can't brush my teeth. Go figure.<br /><br />Anyway, let me tell you about safari we went to on our last day in Florida. We did not have very high expectations for a twenty-dollar trip without a guide (well, we were given a CD as a guide) in the middle of nowhere. But surprisingly, we had a couple of adrenalin rush moments. Go figure!<br /><br />So we started our trip after a stern admonition not to roll down the window at any moment and not to run down anyone. Saw lots of birds and animals, mostly horned variety:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539402716682290834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_pa_uuhpI/AAAAAAAAAPE/j-zIrM0wIMU/s400/1.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_ppIgjvWI/AAAAAAAAAPM/2_7QCpc9BB8/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539402959556951394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_ppIgjvWI/AAAAAAAAAPM/2_7QCpc9BB8/s400/2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Passed lions, which was not very exciting, because they were behind an additional fence. Then this creature appeared in front of the car:<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_qbnc_2gI/AAAAAAAAAPU/-OVzkO9GVao/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539403826856974850" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_qbnc_2gI/AAAAAAAAAPU/-OVzkO9GVao/s400/3.jpg" /></a><br />Little thing, with crooked horns, who knew it would cause so much trouble? Anyway, it was slowly and calmly walking in front of the car, making us crawl behind. If you look at the picture carefully, you will see rubber bands, stretched in the gates between the zones. So supposedly, they were holding the animals inside. Not very effective, let me tell you. This little creature crossed it in 3 seconds, only jumping up once in panic, when one of rubber bands touched it. Perhaps it was not quite as calm about a huge car behind it, but anyway. It just continued its calm walking in a new zone, which was African planes. </p><p>We slowly drove behind, because the stupid thing was walking right in the middle of the road. We saw a herd of zebras far ahead and thought "hey, move faster, we want to see zebras!". Well, in a moment all zebras stopped eating and looked at us kind of scarily. My friend said "One might think they have never seen a car before" and at this moment, all zebras started running towards us. 40 or 60 of them. All at the same time. We stopped the car and tried to remember if our rental car insurance covered trampling by zebras. At the very last moment the herd divided and run on both sides of the car:<br /></p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_tpe9ml0I/AAAAAAAAAPc/4N2cLV0xAa8/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539407363630864194" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_tpe9ml0I/AAAAAAAAAPc/4N2cLV0xAa8/s400/5.jpg" /></a> Turns out they were not after us, but after the trespasser. The stupid thing was a third of a zebra side, why they felt so threatened? No idea. Anyway, the zebras are now running around in great agitation, and I think the stupid thing escaped into its own zone. At least I hope so.<br /></p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_ueNqFGnI/AAAAAAAAAPk/SGzFeJLd5Wk/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 171px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539408269518641778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_ueNqFGnI/AAAAAAAAAPk/SGzFeJLd5Wk/s400/6.jpg" /></a> So having escaped the zebras, we moved a little further and discovered that a bunch of rhinos abandoned their mud baths and came out to see what the commotion was all about:</p><p></p><p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_vDHENrMI/AAAAAAAAAPs/J10XbiacDCc/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539408903404367042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_vDHENrMI/AAAAAAAAAPs/J10XbiacDCc/s400/7.jpg" /></a><br />Let me tell you, this was really scary. Five or six of them piled up on the road, blocking the car. Each of them the same size as the car, if not bigger. All of them turning the head from side to side, which felt very sinister. And the CD guide is droning at the very moment: "please do not stop your car close to the rhinoceros, because they are very aggressive". Having heard that we silently tried to remember if our rental car insurance covered bodily harm. Luckily, one of the safari workers saw our predicament and started unloading his zebra-striped truck with rhino's food. Rhinos thought about it for a moment and decided that having a snack would be merrier than trampling our car and slowly moved toward the food. Phew! </p><p>The rest of the trip was not quite as exciting. Just a couple of more pictures:</p><p>Cute giraffe:</p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_xsI5hJnI/AAAAAAAAAP0/87hR-FfBkWc/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539411807294269042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_xsI5hJnI/AAAAAAAAAP0/87hR-FfBkWc/s400/8.jpg" /></a> And the ugliest bird on Earth:</div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_yJVO-7fI/AAAAAAAAAQE/M_bo9T9Zfjw/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539412308821732850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_yJVO-7fI/AAAAAAAAAQE/M_bo9T9Zfjw/s400/10.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_yEIUp3bI/AAAAAAAAAP8/-fkp0XTRCR0/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 234px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539412219456511410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TN_yEIUp3bI/AAAAAAAAAP8/-fkp0XTRCR0/s400/9.jpg" /></a> Now, back to the important stuff. Do I risk practicing with a damaged arm? Or should I go for a run? Decisions, decisions...</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-52381970870906607442010-11-08T17:17:00.000-08:002010-11-09T08:48:49.829-08:00It is practically a vacation.<div align="justify">Wanted to go to practice on Monday morning. However, since I am a lazy bum and did not pack my bags yesterday, I had to do it in the morning instead of yoga. But I packed my yoga clothes and a mat, so things are nicely set. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Getting to the airport and flying to West Palm Beach was a breathe. The weather was not as warm as I expected to, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">still</span> nice (better that frigid DC in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">any</span> case). So there is no explanation why I was so incredibly stiff this morning. I do not remember time when I was so very stiff. I literally had a hard time reaching for the floor in a forward bend, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">updog</span> felt like torture. Finished primary, and did <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Urdhva</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dhanurasana</span>, which probably reminded a press bench the most. A thought about drop backs did not even cross my mind, which is a good thing, because I would have hurt myself for sure. So strange, I do not have a satisfactory explanation for a dramatic loss of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">flexibility</span>. Last time I practiced on Sunday, and practice felt wonderful. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">My friend from work and I love the hotel we are in! Our room has a full-stocked kitchen, a living room with a large HDTV, and a bedroom with two king-size beds and even bigger HDTV. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">This</span> hotels also provides a free breakfast and a free dinner, the latter includes wine and beer. It is located in a shopping mall with everything one needs in a walking distance and a huge grocery store across the street. So I will have no problem with my raw veg food at all! The hotel is also located in a very pretty and well manicured area, though a little too far from the beach. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The training is taking place at the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Scripps</span> Institute, which is also pretty, in spite of being an active research facility. Everything feels brand new, clean and shiny. A huge landscaped area around, with palm trees, ponds (with fountain in the center and turtles) and all kinds of vegetation which I have never seen in my life. I do not think I want to leave on Thursday...</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-69093572659968070342010-11-07T03:58:00.000-08:002010-11-07T04:09:37.819-08:00I am still alive. Kinda.<div style="text-align: center;">Winter is coming. It it still pretty outside, but cold... Good thing I am going to Florida for four days (work training, but who cares about training when it is 82 degrees outside?).</div><div><br /></div><div>There is something about writing in the blog - it makes you stop and think about your life. Stopping and thinking is definitely missing from my life lately. I am trying to get back to a semblance of being awake and not just moving on auto-pilot. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, I am still practicing yoga. If you do not believe me, here is the proof:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/TNaWvEu9FSI/AAAAAAAAAO8/8_AXQXaeoZM/s400/magic+trick.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536778527367304482" /></div><div>:D</div></div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-33810534921910800682010-08-17T07:12:00.000-07:002010-08-17T12:45:36.163-07:00Two days in a row of really good practice (knock-knock-knock, spit-spit-spit). I even got <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">bakasana</span> today. Well, did not really get. I was going through my regularly scheduled <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">supta</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">vajrasana</span> suffering and asked David in frustration if I was going to get stuck in this pose forever. I really did not mean to ask for a pose, but he readily gave me <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">bakasana</span>. Since being nice is not really in David's nature, he added that is did not matter if I was going to get stuck in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">SV</span> or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">bakasana</span>, because I would get stuck there for sure. Such a typical David! Still love him. :)<br /><br />I think I did not mention my hip problems here. I got a bursitis of the hip joint due to my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">sucky</span> jump through. I used to land heavily on the outside of my right foot every time I jumped through, felt the jolt in my hip and thought to myself "oh, this is not good". It really was not good in the end, when the outside bursa inflamed, with pain spreading to the butt and to the knee through the IT band. Massage and acupuncture are slowly making things better. Meanwhile I thought that my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">jumpback</span> improved, because I no longer felt the jolt in the right hip. But today the realization struck me - I just learned to land not on my right foot, but left one instead! I am listening attentively to my left hip now and planning a weekend marathon reading of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gimmli's</span> archives on learning how to jump back and through.<br /><br />My new work keeps me just as busy as my old one. For some reason it seems a little more meaningful, so I do not feel drained and unhappy. It would be good to have some time to write and to read blogs, though.alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-75177880234190084992010-08-09T12:13:00.000-07:002010-08-10T11:20:03.959-07:00On yoga and running.<div align="justify">It has been too long. At one point I lost the urge and the need to expose my yogic inner workings (read - constant complaints) and left this blog hanging cold and abandoned in the cyberspace. However my life finally got into a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">semblance</span> of a routine and this urge reared its ugly head again. I mostly miss reading other people's blogs, not writing in my own, though.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">It has been exactly three years since I started Mysore practice. The result - I am addicted to the practice <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">emotionally</span> and a little broken physically. Get this - I decided to start running, so that I would increase stamina, which would help me with my yoga practice. The thinking went this way - if I practice yoga <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">daily</span>, I can't function the rest of the day - too darn tired. My practice is not enough cardio-demanding and I do not build stamina fast enough. So if I start running (swimming, biking), my cardio health will improve and I will be able to do my 2-hour long practice every day. There is something that bothers me in this logical conclusion, but the lack of mental clarity prevents me from dealing with this problem at the moment.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anyway, I went to the Fleet Feet and had running shoes fitted, orthotics inserted, socks and water bottles purchased. The guy at the store was asking me some really uncomfortable questions, like "How much do you currently run?" - hmmm, zero. "How long have you been running?" - easier to say how long I have NOT been running, which is exactly 20 years. "Are you training for a marathon or a half-marathon?" - yeah, right. Both. It was hard to explain in detail that my exercise-induced asthma prevented me not only from running, but just climbing two floors up without losing my breath completely, and that because of yoga and some clever pharmaceutical advances I finally feel good enough to start running, OK, jogging again, and so on. So I told him that I am I am training for some unspecified event in an undefined time point, which is all might be true, eventually.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So the big moment happened yesterday. I got into my brand new running outfit (completely different from any of my 349 pieces of yoga apparel) and went running to the neighboring high school stadium. A quarter of a mile track. Several runners trotting along. Cool pre-dawn weather. Boy, running felt heavy. My beautifully fitted shoes, light as a feather just a day before, weighted 5 pounds each. I run and walked, then run again and walked again. Fellow runners of all ages were passing me over - once, then twice, then three times. By the time I reached the first mile mark, I thought my life was just not worth living. Caught some concerened glances from the passerbys, but really did not care much. The only thought that was pulsing in my head in rythm with my carotid arteries beating was - after three years of intense yoga practice, is this all I can do? So very pathetic...</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Good thing that I got Tova's massage later in the day. Practice on Monday was not hard at all! Asana's felt light, graceful and beautiful just by their nature, in comparison with heavy stomping produced by me a day before. And I am still feeling fine, even though I normally crash by the end of work day on Monday. Is it possible that one-mile run actually worked and increased my stamina? I know, I know, not plausible. But I will take any help I can get. So I will go running tomorrow again. Maybe I will be able to actually run this whole mile?!</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-1896151217248661662010-05-04T16:29:00.000-07:002010-05-04T16:50:26.441-07:00Teaching yoga is dangerous.<div align="justify"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ashtanga</span> gods are just laughing at me. Next time I need to hide my intention to go to Mysore, just in case. Then jump out of the bed, drive there and find myself practicing. Without preparation or talking about it.<br />So no, I did not practice today. Because yesterday I got a mighty kick into the eye from a student getting into a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">handstand</span>. I subbed a very lovely class of rather advanced students and tried to introduce a trick from David kyle' workshop - doing a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">handstand</span> with one hand on a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">block</span> (kind of a prep for a one-handed handstand). It feels very weird trying to get into the pose and the students were having problems with it. I was running around, helping to get up. So I leaned forward over this student and in a moment was flying backwards, stars in my eyes. Her heel drove my glasses into a socket of the eye, creating a gush - not very long, but reaching the bone. Blood was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pouring</span> down like I was beheaded or something. Good thing it was close to the end of the class, so we settled pretty soon into <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">savasana</span>, with me holding the bag of ice on top of my eye and trying to sooth everybody to let go of the stress of this yoga class. </div><div align="justify">I might have had a slight concussion, since there was a headache on and off today. In addition, I look a lot like a victim of spousal abuse. But all in all it could have been worse. I taught handstands for a long time and never had any problems, but this was a valuable lesson - one can never be too careful when kicking is involved. :D</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-35426862875208006092010-05-03T08:17:00.000-07:002010-05-03T08:41:05.477-07:00I wonder if I broke my neck a little.<div align="justify">Two and a half weeks without Mysore practice. A new record for me. Nothing to be proud of, of course. </div><div align="justify">Anyway, as soon as my course ended and I was feeling all happy and relaxed, the allergy season caught up with me. One day it was particularly bad, and I took a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">benadril pill</span>. Should have known better - it has a very strong sedative reaction on me. I slept without movement all night long on top of my arm and with my neck twisted. Woke up with a numb arm and a crick in the neck. Not a big deal, I thought, happened before, should be OK in a couple of days. By noon the pain in my neck moved down between the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">shoulder blades</span> and stayed there. Painful to breathe, impossible to twist, hard to be sitting, standing or lying down. Took a day off work, used heat and cold, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Epsom</span> salt, ultrasound, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MSM</span>, China gel, castor oil, Pain wave, you name it. Helped a little, but not by much. </div><div align="justify">Massage with Keith <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">confirmed</span> it - the muscles along the spine in the upper back spasmed again into a garland of impressive knots, of varying shapes, sizes and locations. It is hard to be so structurally unsound. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bleh</span>. </div><div align="justify">The smart thing to do would be to go and see if there is anything wrong with my cervical vertebrae, since it it the second time I am getting into this particular trouble. But my willpower is paralyzed at the moment, and I will dwell in a state of denial for a little longer, I think. There is still acupuncture to explore, massages to receive, tennis balls to roll on, right? Let everything fail before I submit myself to the cold eye of an X-ray machine. Silly, but I am just too afraid that somebody will tell me that I can't do yoga or should take it easy or some other nonsense.</div><div align="justify">So tomorrow I will start with a Primary and ease my way into a regular practice again. Who says that I am not a careful person?</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-78102450467601879212010-04-14T06:56:00.000-07:002010-04-14T11:29:10.429-07:00Press into your feet and unclench your butt. Then hang freely back and catch your heels. Yeah.<div align="justify">Things seem to be easing up a little. Only one lecture left, plus a final exam and a seminar with graduate students. I can feel it on my tongue - the taste of freedom. At work - finishing a couple of experiments and then the lab will move to a new place. Lots of paperwork, physical exam, visa issues, but who cares. Can't possible be more time-consuming than my current state.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">In spite of a constant lack of time, I managed to do two fun things lately. First, I went to a shooting range and learned to shoot guns. All kinds of different guns, including an automatic machine gun. Second, I signed up for a self-defence class, which also proved to be fun and kind of useful. No, I am not joining a gang or uncovering my inner warrior princess. It is just one of my dear friends is going to one of the world's "hot" spots to work for a year. I guess her anxiety is manifesting in signing up for these weird activities. I had my reservations, especially regarding shooting. But for a rabid pro-gun-control person, I had a lot of fun shooting cardboard targets. Go figure.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Took a jivamukti workshop at Flow Yoga. I liked David Life a lot, but still have very conflicted feelings about Sharon. I mean I like her, too, but her "artistic" nature just rubs me the wrong way. I will never be a great yoga teacher, because never in my life I will be able to say with a straight face something like "Feel the dead spirits emanating from your hip joints". She seemed to be really obsessed with death, too, having recently lost her brother and a cat. I do not know, just can't take it seriously. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Then there was a very excellent Inversions workshop with David Kyle. Loved it! Learned so much! I still can't hold a handstand in the middle of the room, but for the first time in my life I see a glimmer of hope. Can be done!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">My yoga last week was practically non-existent. I did do a daily yin practice keeping my NY resolutions, but not a single Mysore class. Ugh! But this week David Keil is in town, which means daily Mysore no matter what. So far so good, I managed not to make too big of a fool of myself. </div><div align="justify">Learned a new bit - separating feet from buttocks in Kapotasana. Not a physical separation, but a mental one. As in pressing into the feet while keeping the buttocks relaxed. Not easy for me, let me tell you. My whole being screams for clenching the butt, trying not to snap in the middle and die. But as always, my whole being is wrong. Un-clenching the behind softened something in the back as well, and kapotasana felt better. David also strongly objects to my way of dropping down on the head, then lifting up by straightening the arms and crawling to the feet. Time to overcome the fear of kapotasana hangings and try to catch the feet without the safety of the floor. Life is hard.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anyway, the crunch is not completely over yet, so I better get my unclenched ass moving. I hope everyone is enjoying the Spring. Mwah!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-6554394229135928142010-03-25T06:38:00.001-07:002010-03-25T06:48:52.331-07:00Supta vajrasana.A combination of being fat and having T.<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rex</span>-like arms is not conducive for successful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">supta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">vajrasana</span>. I need at least 3 additional inches of the arm length. Or lose 14-20 pounds. It seems that former is easier somehow.<br /><br />Still no time to blog or read, but there is light in the end of the tunnel. And boy, it is beautiful outside! Trees are blooming, birds are chirping. We survived the winter!alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-31999531526571514502010-02-28T16:46:00.000-08:002010-03-01T01:05:25.680-08:00New toy.<div style="text-align: justify;">Another quick note to let you know that I am still alive. I am, but barely. Do not anticipate any free time until the semester ends, and then happiness will start. Or at least I hope so. Hard to live in the moment when there is no time to breathe.<br /></div>On a happier note, I have a new toy - yoga trapeze. Got it from here: <a href="http://www.yogabodynaturals.com/yoga-trapeze">yogabody trapeze</a> Makes me happy.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5S1q_np03kYqw3C9Qdxkymkshhr7yDiDPuPF_rTIx-5VTQguTI--t7N6XBgn1anEM9vjHm-4Igh5T9Rh9nA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Anyway, back to the composing an exam. I hope you are all doing well!alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-79494528287105043952010-02-07T06:09:00.000-08:002010-02-08T04:16:56.428-08:00Dropback challenge, continued.<div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday my new attempt to do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Iyengar</span>-style <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dropbacks</span> was not too successful. Managed 7, which was better than last time. But qualitatively speaking, they were totally unsatisfying, stiff, hard, and just icky. Tried it today again, and discovered that doing all the sun <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">salutes</span> beforehand (as oppose to lame-ass table pose warm-ups) helps a lot. Duh.<br />Still, nothing earth-shattering, just a little progress. Twice - 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dropbacks</span> at a time, then once - 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dropbacks</span> (13 in total). Needed rest in between the batches. Obvious lack of stamina, but it should improve as I continue practicing. I got a glimpse of what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Grimmly</span> was talking about - a sense of rhythm and meditative quality of the whole thing. Just a glimpse of what to look forward to, but enough for motivation.<br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwG_iGxl_UE5Vm8BL9KZolVASavD-Nt1ts1pFK3y-Dy-vs391B7_9NNySz1Duo0_0k6S_-l4cn5J6dVo2_xdw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Looking at my own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">dropbacks</span>, I just discovered how much I bend my knees going both down and up. On the positive side - feet stay in pretty firm, just splay a little. This week I will concentrate on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hangbacks</span> and see if that helps with going down smoother.<br /><br />On the other note, we just endured a pretty nice snow storm. It is very pretty outside! Need to go and dig out my car. It will be fun trying to find it - they all look like big white lumps. If only I remembered where I parked on Friday...<br /><br />Happy Sunday!<br /></div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-25224324052131583282010-01-30T06:16:00.000-08:002010-01-30T07:15:49.594-08:00Dropback challenge<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Grimmly's</span> post about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Iyengar</span>, comments about Patricia Walden and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dropbacks</span> prompted me to try <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dropbacks</span> instead of whole practice today. I know, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Saturday</span> and a moon day, bad. An it did go not as well as I hoped for. After a warm up and some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">backbending</span> preps I managed just 6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">dropbacks</span> in a row and then completely pooped out. I do not even have a video evidence of this, because my camera turned on its own (in total disgust, I think) and recorded only arms and a strained red face. But I do have a couple of clips of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">backbend</span> preps.<br /></div>The first one - the dangers of home practice to our pets:<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzIJ6y_W_XrGInQwi6JQKSk5bNhJ82LoXTzt_xC58-uLKl6DyLDDKGHkbPmMHOShdAF35Kg9MEVpOW8gJ3h0w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />On the second - I can see that practicing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">kapotasana</span> increased the flexibility of my hips, which improved my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">UD</span> a little:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUDw6lMNL_g6UmBmM3nTRQPKlknlsK5sLITyMCcvqlwP82cI8zLdTLw2rNhlnCVkVGmfqyzj6pYbdGCXgRTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />So this is today and two years ago:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/S2RKKsXUW2I/AAAAAAAAAOM/CxzlYso2eNU/s1600-h/UD+013010.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 208px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/S2RKKsXUW2I/AAAAAAAAAOM/CxzlYso2eNU/s400/UD+013010.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432548598083771234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/S2RKfR4IC4I/AAAAAAAAAOU/oZCP4wOEEYY/s1600-h/UD-041208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 278px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/S2RKfR4IC4I/AAAAAAAAAOU/oZCP4wOEEYY/s400/UD-041208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432548951750871938" border="0" /><br /></a>The difference is really microscopic and mostly in the hips (knees are a little straighter), but oh well, I'll take it. Maybe upper back, too?<br /><br />It is snowing out here. I hope this is the last of winter we see this season.<br />Happy weekend!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PEBRFDDwIjI/S2RKfR4IC4I/AAAAAAAAAOU/oZCP4wOEEYY/s1600-h/UD-041208.jpg"><br /></a>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-57757634655473180452010-01-27T05:39:00.000-08:002010-01-27T05:57:52.321-08:00I am grateful...Just a quick note to keep this blog alive.<br /><br />Being busy is nothing new for any of us, but it feels like I have never been busier in my life. Well, last year at the same time, when I started teaching immunology for the first time, it felt close. This year the teaching is a little easier, since it is a second time around and I insisted on having fewer students. But the day-work stuff picked up both speed and volume tremendously. The lab I am working in is transitioning to a different institution, which means we need urgently to tie up loose ends and fulfill all our obligations to collaborators. There is so much to do that sometimes I can't even start in the morning, just trying to decide which problem to tackle first.<br /><br />But I still practice yoga every single day (Thank you, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kaivalya</span>!). I also made a pact with myself not to skip any poses during my practice (my favorite skipped ones - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dropbacks</span>, because "me tired...") - thank you, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Grimmly</span>! Being a part of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">blogosphere</span> not only gave me lots of new friends, both virtual and "real", but also taught new things and provided with amazing inspiration. Thank you, everyone! Ugh, it all sounds like I am saying goodbye, which I am not. Just needed to express my gratitude.<br /><br />Anyway, I think I figured out how to start my work day, so I bid you all to have a wonderful day!alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-23986694249420414402010-01-04T10:46:00.000-08:002010-01-06T06:07:25.215-08:00First week of the year.So far so good. Yoga every day. Even twice on Sunday - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mysore</span> and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">vinyasa</span> class I teach. I made a list of poses for my home practice, mostly to clean-up poses I do not do well (such as sloppy jump-backs and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">throughs</span>, lifting into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Upavista</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">konasana</span> B, and so on); also kicks into handstand and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">samakonasana</span> stretches. It is a little eclectic, but after sun salutations it seems to work OK. I also need to add at least 30 minutes to my night sleep, this part did not work yet.<br /><br />Also on the agenda - keep the food logged into chronometer, do not go over 2000 cal - still good, too. At the moment 80% raw, 20% cooked; 100% vegetarian.<br /><br />I love the energy of the new beginnings. New Year is my favorite holiday because of that. Only wish this energy could sustain a little longer than it normally does. Oh well, whatever. I will enjoy it while it lasts.<br /><br />Things are picking up at work, keeping me really busy. My boss is leaving for another institutions, and most of the lab are going with her, including me, sometime within next 6 months. Which means we need to wrap up all the projects we can finish and publish, publish, publish. It is also time for my side job to kick-in - teaching immunology this semester. Thank God for my New Year jolt of energy, without it I would just die in anticipation of the time crunch. So far, though, a feeling of invincibility and unlimited power is hovering on the back of my mind, keeping my step light and me - smiling.<br /><br />On unrelated note - I have this strange urge to see Avatar again. I liked the movie a lot, but did not expect the desire to see it again. Weird.<br /><br />Have a great day, everyone!<br />:)alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-76117138680776644572009-12-28T07:26:00.000-08:002009-12-28T07:30:42.339-08:00Last week of the year.Back to the routine, thank God. Good practice today! Lifting from Kapotasana was effortless. The trick for me was to coordinate a precise moment of contracting abs and quads, in addition to a slight push with arm. It seems so strange now that the feat seemed impossible only a week ago. I love this about yoga!alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-39666525390100380202009-12-22T05:42:00.000-08:002009-12-22T06:43:00.656-08:00How aerobic is Mysore practice?Thank you so much for all of you who advised me on the lift from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kapo</span> B. Something must have stuck in my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">subconscious</span> brain, because I did it yesterday! Three times. Might have done it today, too, but David helped me, so I do not know. But it is funny how a pose seems completely impossible, until something clicks and it works. Just like magic...<br /><br />I brought in a heart rate monitor today to practice. In one of his talks, David said that heart rate should not go above 60 during <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ashtanga</span> practice. Yeah, right. My resting heart rate is 65-75, so I am already not there. During the day - 80-110, depending if I am walking or sitting. So anyway, my results:<br /><br />Sun Salutations increase to 126<br />Standing poses hold heart rate around 100, except for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hasta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">padangustasana</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">utkatasana</span> and both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">virabadrasanas</span> - 126<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Vinyasas</span> between seated raises HR by 10 (from 95 to 105-110, approximately), forward bends decrease it back to 95-100<br />Starting from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Marich</span> C to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">kurmasana</span>, HR does not go down from 125; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">supta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">kurmasana</span> - 136<br />Blessed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">baddhakonasana</span> brings it down again to 100, then it goes down to 90-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">somtheing</span>, until, of course, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">setu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">bandhasana</span> - 127<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Pasasana</span> - 130<br />HR does not go down at all during all second series <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">backbends</span>, and actually reaches 150 after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">kapotasana</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">wihich</span> is 15 points more than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">lagu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">vajrasana</span>)<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">UD</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">dropbacks</span> are not quite as strenuous as I thought they were - HR up to 135<br />Finishing poses do not decrease HR substantially, but not raise it as well, except for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">utpluthee</span> - 134<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Savasana</span> - 81<br /><br />I know that my cardiovascular health is not very athletic, so this record might not be helpful at all to all of you, athletic people. But it was interesting to me that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">vinyasas</span> are as strenuous as just walking (not that strenuous at all - but again, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">jumpbacks</span> suck). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Sarvangasana</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">sirsasana</span> are not restorative. I also expected a higher raise of the HR after twists. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Kapotasana</span> results are not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">suprising</span>.<br /><br />So if I calculate my aerobic target rate, it comes to 103 to 156 for my age. Which means that I keep my heart rate somewhere is the middle of this range practicing ashtanga. This makes me happy...alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-44087474191731940162009-12-16T03:56:00.000-08:002009-12-16T06:03:36.317-08:00Kapotasana B woes.So this is my Kapotasana. Honestly speaking, this is the first time I am seeing it myself, and it is not as flat as I thought it was. I do see all that re-gained weight though, sigh. Anyway, I need some advice. That pathetic attempt to an exit from Kapotasana B is my best attempt to date. What am I doing wrong? Where should I press, which muscles to engage and which to relax? Please help! :)<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztRlFzlWtTBShFwQTxeEf97MCVOSBunAlahCJC9xudqLm8sl6LwY3dQyzU5Foa32ifKy_a3Oid7cTvNalFmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-80256077098761660182009-12-15T06:18:00.000-08:002009-12-15T07:16:51.453-08:00I like ashtanga again. I think.Several massages, being cautious in my practice and just generally taking it easy made my aversion to all things <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ashtanga</span> subside a little. I somewhat re-acquired the enthusiasm for practice, though I still can't manage more than a three day Mysore week.<br /><br />So while I was away:<br /><br />1) Attended Simon Park's workshops at Flow yoga. Super-nice person, fun and challenging flows, I got some progress going in my handstands. I was happy but a little surprised at my lack of stamina. I think that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">vinyasa</span> classes that I teach are just as challenging, but then again, I teach them, not do them. Note to self - add some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cardio</span>, Saturdays perhaps?<br /><br />2) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kapotasana</span> is a little better. My back is no longer shocked after it, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">backbends</span> are just fine. I would say that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">UD</span> became better because of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">kapotasana</span>. But I still can't stand up from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">kapotasana</span> B. David thinks it is purely psychological (it took me forever to learn to stand up from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">UD</span>). But I think it is my alleged lack of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">psoas</span> minor. A girl can blame her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ashtanga</span> problems on anatomical deficiencies, right? It is a basic human right.<br /><br />3) Had an energy correcting session with a shaman-in-training. Do not ask.<br /><br />4) Am excited but also dreading upcoming immunology teaching starting this January.<br /><br />5) Nearly all the weight that I lost with such difficulty this year came back. Makes me sad. Can't bind <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">supta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">kurmasana</span> on my own. Can't bind wrist in Mari C, D and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">pasasana</span>. Somebody, please slap me.<br /><br />I am going to read your blogs now. Ciao!alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-47278084785291173292009-11-25T08:07:00.000-08:002009-11-25T08:47:52.056-08:00Kapotasana blues<div align="justify">I have been feeling down for a while now. It is mostly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ashtanga</span> funk, the rest of my life is more or less OK. The name of this misery - well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">kapotasana</span>, of course. I am so sad about the whole thing, I did not want to write, read or even think about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ashtanga</span> lately. Dreading the pose poisoned my joy of practice completely and making myself to go to Mysore became an exercise in willpower. In addition, I hurt myself again. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It all started with waking up with a crick in the neck. Nothing new, happens when I go to bed too tired and not move enough in sleep. I went to practice, and it made it worse. Now this is a surprise, because normally yoga always helped in these situations. But I never practiced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kapotasana</span> before, and this was the pose that made a difference for the worse. Pain moved from my neck and settled in the upper back, between shoulder blades. It was so bad, pushing a door open with one hand cause sharp pain, leaving me gasping for air for a moment. It was painful to take full inhalations, sit, stand, lie down. Whew. Went to get a massage with Keith. He discovered a string of brand-new knots between my shoulder blades on both sides. The massage itself was painful, but I felt much better afterwards. So good that I practiced on my own at home, carefully and gently, but including some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">backbends</span>. This morning - the pain is back, not as bad as it was, but bad enough to keep me seated like I just swallowed a stick. </div><div align="justify">I googled the upper back pain and it seems that the injury to that area is extremely rare. But again, they are talking about normal people, not ones who try to stick their noses between the feet bending backward. </div><div align="justify">So it has been nearly a week I am on and off in pain. If I were smart, I would go to see a doctor. But then I think that he would tell me just to stop doing what I am doing and everything will be fine. I can't imaging any disk problems in the chest area, because the column just does not bend backwardly there. It doesn't. There are spikes on the vertebrae that prevent that bending. On the other hand, something obviously irritated the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">outgoing</span> nerves to make the rhomboid muscles bulge up. Movement of the ribs? I noticed before that really good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">backbenders</span> have their ribcage sticking up when in a deep <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">backbend</span>, so I was trying to emulate the movement, so t<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">his</span> is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">possibility</span>. I am not sure, though, if there is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">proximity</span> of the ribs and the nerves that exit the spinal cord. Anyway, if it is not vertebrae and the disks, then it can't be anything serious, right? Right?</div>alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752398851156615646.post-90179159345291136472009-11-09T12:18:00.000-08:002009-11-09T12:49:46.524-08:00New week.Good practice Sunday, but could not wake up today at all for Mysore. I teach a very intense vinyasa class Sunday evenings, so probably it is too much yoga for one day. No matter, tomorrow is another good day for practice.<br /><br />Not a lot to report, my life is as boring as ever. Little highlights:<br /><br />- I assembled the bookshelves all by myself - so proud. Especially because it was said in the instructions - two people required. One big mistake - not a good idea to try to fit boards by slapping them with your hands. I did it successfully, but today I am sporting an enourmous bruise on my hand, on the base of the thumb. Downdog is a little painful.<br /><br />- Tried standing up from the "wide UD" from Liz's challenge. Could not do it. Realised that can stand up from only not too wide and not too narrow UDs. Not a very good stander-upper, as it seems. Need to work on it.<br /><br />- Still did not get to watch Kino's DVD - just need a good solid junk of time. Perhaps the veteran's day?<br /><br />- Back on the vagon with CRON and raw eating. Feel better as a result.<br /><br />OK, back to work. I hope everyone has a really nice Monday evening!alfiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448157045188412672noreply@blogger.com5