I have a mental amount of stuff to do this evening to get ready for the weekend lecture and meeting, tomorrow nights its Counted practice, so I had gone to bed with lists wirling around my head. I woke at 5.30am, was wide awake and thought fitting in practice tonight will be hard, so I made the monumental decision at 5.45am to crawl out form under the warm duvet and get on my mat. I have never been on a yoga mat at this hour of the day. Also it being the 31st of WoYo I was determined to finish what I had started 30 days before.
Practice was an interesting experience, my body thought I was joking, my head was nowhere near my knees even after the 10 Surya’s. My arms were stretched instead of bent in Padung and Padahastasana, though the lateral postures were not too bad, though I was stretching for my toe in Trikonasana. I thought it was going ok until I came to Utita Padangusthasana, I now know I can’t balance in the dark!
Seated up to Upavistha Konasana, though the forward bends had not been deep. Janusirsasana A & B were ok, but my knees considered it still way to early at 6.30 when I got to the Marichyasana sequence, I only managed A & C. I fell out of Bhujapidasana and could not straighten my legs at all in Kurmasana.
Closing, first Urdva Dhanurasana I only managed to stay up for a couple of breaths, second one I stayed for 10, knowing that it was unlikely I would manage to get off the ground for a third time. Quite surprised to do backbend at all. But at least I have done practice for today, it wont be niggling at the back of my mind trying to fit it in. I will be able to concentrate on the other stuff and if I find a few minutes later this evening, then all well and good.
Practice this early, being this stiff after 8 hours sleep is a whole different ball game all together. I now admire even more those yogi’s who are on their mats in a Shala at 6am, though that said if I had a Shala near me I would most likely be there.It must be easier to motivate yourself to practice, as opposed to my warm bed only 2ft away from my mat at home. If I were to continue getting up early and doing this practice I wonder if it would become easier, or will I always be this stiff, or does the body adapt and find early morning suppleness?
That wasnt all, I then did my handstand practice while waiting for the toast! I think I am starting to feel where it should be happening internally as I jump with both feet and knees together, I can manage about 8 attempts before my arms have had it, especially after all those vinyasas. Tiff tells me it will happen one day if I just keep at it, heres hoping.