The “S” word and communal Drishti loss!

A better journey this Sunday, less stress and more time for a much less rushed practice. The Shala numbers are also erratic, last week it was packed, this week I knew everyone’s names, more or less.

Susan arrived later, so I had to count my own Surya B’s this week! My hamstrings were tighter, despite not having had to run, so I spent a little longer in Padahastasana to stretch them out, that’s the joy of Mysore, though maybe its not the done thing, but it’s nice to be able to stretch out and find the space. Standing seems to happen, merely stopped by the chant during Parvakonasana and by help in UHP, though it wasn’t as excruciating today.

Seated are becoming more consistent, they seem to be taking less time, I faff less, but also my right knee hasn’t been as painful of late, so I spend less time coercing it into half lotus. It used to seem to take ages to do all the Marichyasanas, A-C seem like a breeze now and even D on the first side is making regular appearances. The second side is still a pain, sometimes it happens. Today I got the deepest twisting adjustment I have ever had in Marichyasana D, she let me get into it on my own, then wow, 360 degrees, or that’s what it felt like, it felt like I had been rung out to dry. Usually adjustments like that can wipe me out, so I took my time with Navasana to get my breath back for Bhuja, reasonable exit attempt without splatting my nose. Supta K yet again was rocking, I just love doing that and I am getting better at lifting out, even though I sometimes lose the exit, but its fun, well I think it is.

Susan’s Supta K is where the communal drishte was lost, as nearly everyone seemed to stop to watch Cary giving Susan hints on getting LBH, I thought it was just me who had watched, but after practice Mel who was at the back, said nearly everyone stopped to watch and listen! But using the right foot as a kind of ramp for the left foot to hop up behind the neck was interesting, as opposed to crossing the feet and trying to then get the head under. I didn’t quite catch Cary’s comment about the hand, something about pressing?

After this little diversion the rest of seated got me nice and warm for backbends. I collected my equipment, a block and the extra thick fluffy crash blanket, then after some decent UD’s I just hung back a couple of times  before going for my dropback, landing safely, head grazing the blanket, but only because it was quite thick, (the blanket, not my head). 4 on my own then Cary arrived. She let me use a second parallel mat today, it just feels much safer and stable with the feet 3 inches wider apart, down on my own 3 times and helped up, then cross arms, before one last dropback, walk in, walk in some more, then push my hips up into her hands before she sets me gliding upwards, shoulders first then head. Control is coming I just need to get that initial launch sorted out.

As she squished me in Paschimottanasana, she said I am getting it, “In a couple of months you will stand  and do second series”. It’s the first time she has ever used the “S” word in relation to my practice, 15 months ago when I got the lecture for sneaking in Ustrasana, she never used the word “Second”, but today, well I was amazed to hear that word, no shocked if I am honest, but also inspired, she has a knack of saying the right thing to me at the right time.

A great practice was followed by a well deserved breakfast and yoga chat with Mel, I find it so helpful to talk about what we have just done so soon after, rather than just going home and keeping my thoughts to myself or blogging, it feels like completing something.