So I surprised myself yesterday and practiced. I went in to the room feeling like shit, and was very tempted to just veg on couch in front of v, but I knew that I should at least try and practice. So I made a deal with myself that I would see how I felt after the first couple of sunsalutes. If I still felt like crap, then I would stop and go to couch . But during my first one my body felt open and I knew that I would be ok. So I did my whole practice. And you know what? It was a really nice practice. I still felt a bit numb from the booze, so my mind was quiet and there was an element of ease throughout. Maybe because I was expecting nothing from my practice that day it gave me lots in return. Kapotasana wasn't so great, but I don't usually push myself in it. I can grab my heels by myself no problem usually, but there are some days that my back just does not want to do it. I do think part of it is a mental block transferring to a physical block - it feels like I really cannot do the pose on those days - and in that regard I think that it is good to push myself to overcome it. But on the other hand it is a very intense backbend and combine that with the LBH poses, I think its a lot for my poor ol' sacrum to be dealing with. So I do feel that there is a genuine physical reason to not push myself. I did a workshop with Richard Freeman last year and there were a couple of second series practitioners there with serious back issues. And he advised that it is not necessarily a good thing to do postures like kapotasana every day. It should be spread out over the week. Thats how they all learned it back in the day. Now I know that some people would disagree with this approach, and who knows what is the 'correct' way, but this is the way that I do it. I'd say about 3 out of 5 practices I get hands to heels, the other 2 times I touch my toes. It's not an issue for me, as I have the LBH poses to occupy my time. Yesterday they actually felt ok. I still did eka pada twice, but the second time actually felt reasonably comfortable. Foot stayed behind the head on both sides throughout the sequence. Normally I have to hold the left foot in place. I even managed to jump in to it! Vaguely. Better then I used to anyway. Dropbacks were lovely. I found by keeping weight forward in my legs more, I was able to get a deeper arch, and could see my heels on the descent. Slowly slowly.....
Todays practice was so so. Poor BF was up all night puking his guts out, so I felt quite groggy on the mat. But it was fine. Apart from the fact I tweaked my neck and the muscles feel locked. I think it was in setu bandha, but I only felt it when I lifted up into urdva danurasana. Now its quite sore. But this happens from time to time. I definitely have imbalances between the 2 sides of my body and yoga is helping with them, but from time to time tweaks happen. Ah well, what to do?...
Now for a lovely restful Friday night. I had a facial earlier which was lovely, I've just made some banana muffins, so I'm going to have one now with a cup of tea, then make dinner and watch a movie with sick boy. I love my home!
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