Today brought the addition of one of my favorite postures: Marichyasana A! Hooray! Why is it a favorite? I suppose because 1) I have a good bind with a little pulling on my arms by the instructors (I take what I can get!), and 2) it feels SO GOOD on my shoulders. I was incredibly excited to add it at the end of my primary series today.
I’ve been a bit lazy about journaling this week – not coming back and doing it right after yoga or even the same day. It’s too bad because it makes me forget things. For example, I was remembering at Mysore today that when I was doing savasana on Saturday or Monday, I actually had a moment when I managed to really empty my head of thoughts and just lay there and be there. Usually I try to do this by playing through my head what my instructors in France would say: Ne pensez pas a ce que vous allez faire l’apres-midi, a ce que vous allez manger le dejeuner… (Don’t think about what you’re going to do in the afternoon, about what you’ll eat at lunch…); or Feel the pressure of your body against the earth, feel yourself supporting the earth as it supports you. This last sentence was followed by taking inventory of your body, focusing your thoughts on each part of your body singly and moving through, which I find very relaxing (and which sometimes also helps me sleep at night if I need to calm and focus my mind). Often still I don’t achieve any detachment from the world around me, but earlier this week, with my eyes rolled back in my head, it was as if a jelly formed around my thoughts (it really felt like that) and nothing could get in and float straight to my brain to penetrate my moment of quiet. My awareness of this jelly feeling was even detached, as if I were experiencing it from outside of my body.
I think in fact that the awareness of me and my body that Ashtanga gives me might be one of the greatest benefits. And of course I feel great afterwards, and I love a good sweat, and I’m proud of my improvements, and I can touch my toes throughout the day. The list goes on.
