Sunday, May 27, 2007

I'm all En Vogue today

No you're never gonna get it (ow!)
Never ever gonna get it (no, not this time)..."

Remember that song? I kept singing that in my head today.

The good news is that practice feels awesome, and I have so much energy left over after stopping at Garba Pindasana that I am able to come home and take Adam out for an eight-mile bike ride through Central Park's main drives. I remember with fondness the days when I used to push my baby carriage around those drives for exercise. Then the stroller became a jogging stroller. Then the jogging stroller became a bike seat. Now, finally, I have my own little biking partner! And plenty of energy to spare.

Came home from that and ate a delicious bowl of "whole oat groats" with almond milk and wheat germ. I love hot mushy food (although not mashed potatoes - blech!). I wonder if the reason my practice has improved in the past few weeks has been my incidental shunning of animal flesh and my substitution of what would normally be on my plate for things like rice, lentils, groats and the occasional pasta (usually asian noodle stir fry). Also, I have stopped drinking coffee. Ever since the tongue injury, I can't face the prospect of coffee. Too acidic? Maybe what with the lack of coffee and the sharp increase in young coconut, my diet has become more alkalitic and less acidic, which many many moons ago, Mark R. told me could improve my practice by eliminating stiffness in the joints.

In any event, the biggest improvement in my practice is the fact that there is no more drama in Supta Kurmasana. I just do it now. Yesterday, Lori told me that if there's time, I should attempt to get myself into it. I had no idea about that. And I think that really helps, or it did today. By the time Sir got to me for my assist, my shoulders were already WAY under my legs. I bound solidly, no slippage at all, despite sheets and sheets of sweat falling off my body, not even when my ankles crossed, and not even when I took it upon myself to dip my head even lower under my crossed ankles. Once again, I surprised myself by pressing up in Dwi Pada. It was harder today, though, and once I got up, it was either fall forward or let the legs spring apart. I chose the latter and then fell on my ass. No big deal.

The one and only problem I have with not finishing Primary before getting to backbends is that my backbends suffer. When I practce the full Series, like at home, or when I pop into Yoga Sutra, my backbends feel amazing. When I stop before Baddha Konasana, my back is still quite rounded. I think that Setu Bandasana really helps to set the stage, especially because I have a strong neck and can really use that as leverage to arch.

Eh, the point is moot. I am here in Primary Purgatory forever. I am resigned to it. No need to contact my teacher, friends. It's FINE. I am FINE with it. Can't you see that? I am FINE!! Lalalala! Happy! And I should never have to do dropbacks either. No, perish the thought. Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT lobby for assisted dropbacks for the Yoga Chickie. She does not need or want any Asana Charity, but thanks.

YC

12 comments:

Lees Lamar said...

Hey, seriously I could get a petition going:)

Unknown said...

I think now you're striving for the "crazy" mantle...your success has nothing to do with food adjustments - just more practice and elimination of self-defeating thoughts.

Carl said...

You're obviously NOT fine with it. Cheri is a psyscology student so maybe she'd be willing to read through some of her textbooks and root out a passage or two that address your Freudian asana envy.

Anonymous said...

Oh, assisted dropbacks. Yeah, you need them every day. And once you are queen of the universe like me (well, there can only be one, so, sorry) you will be able to go from yoga nidrasana right into backbends, no messing, because you will be so frigging enlightened, that you won't buy into all that bullshit of a rounded back. C'mon! Just give yourself the next pose!

eeyore said...

yc, i believe you, i believe in you, and...i can't get that song out of my head now.

April said...

Hi Lauren,

I was just looking at your photos... I want an orange dress just like yours!

I know nothing about yoga, but I do like orange clothing.

a

Reese Lamb said...

My opinion is that she is OCD....But I'm only in my 3rd year of psycology. Frued is a weird old man.

"Obsessions are defined by:
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress.
The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind, and are not based in reality.
The tendency to haggle over small details that the viewer is unable to fix or change in any way. This begins a mental pre-occupation with that which is inevitable.
Compulsions are defined by:
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.
In addition to these criteria, at some point during the course of the disorder, the sufferer must realize that his/her obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable or excessive. Moreover, the obsessions or compulsions must be time-consuming (taking up more than one hour per day), cause distress, or cause impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (Quick Reference from DSM-IV-TR, 2000). "

Dharmaparma said...

Cheri, did you cut and paste that or have you solved your spelling issues, if so how? my son needs some tips

Reese Lamb said...

I only cut and paste. AYKM!!?? Hahaha.
This is the only way to get thru college.
BUT DON'T YOU THINK MY DIAGNOSIS IS WRITE?

Dharmaparma said...

It just took me at least a minute to realise what AYKM means, god I am getting slow in my old age. Im sorry to sound all sweetness and light but so far i like all the bloggers I have met. Its quite nice to have some fellow ashtangis to talk to what with me being the only ashtangi in the village

V said...

I don't think anyone outside Little Britain gets that quote :-)

Dharmaparma said...

I know but it makes me smile anyway :) and it is kind of true as Alnwick is still technically in the 1950s and therefore gazes upon new fangled things like yoga with much suspicion

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About Me

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Northern Westchester, New York, United States
I live by a duck pond. I used to live by the East River. I don't work. I used to work a lot. Now, not so much. I used to teach a lot of yoga. Now not so much. I still practice a lot of yoga though. A LOT. I love my kids, being outdoors, taking photos, reading magazines, writing and stirring the pot. Enjoy responsibly.

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