David G posted a couple of weeks ago about "Saturday Practice" being a time to write down some thoughts about the week of practice and things that have come up (see his blog post here). So I thought I'd give it a try. I often have flashes of insight during or after practice, and sometimes I get them down on paper, but more often these insights come and go without having shared them with students or fellow yogis. Hopefully "Saturday Practice" will help me get some things written and shared more often. Here are a few of the things milling around in this brain of mine over the past week (this is unedited and pretty much unfiltered, so keep that in mind!)
Really loving the feeling of full vinyasa primary - definitely tiring in a new way but also energizing. I believe it has something to do with momentum - maybe my theme for the month - the idea of using (harnessing?) the momentum from the vinyasa to carry through into next pose and on...even through the tough ones.
Kind of like swinging on a swing set - it takes more effort to stop and start again than to keep going and riding with the momentum - almost effortless...and once you get going just a little more effort in pumping on the swing results in swinging higher and higher.
I have several students that I see losing momentum as they go through their practice - They stop and sit and rest before each new pose - saying they are “assessing their energy level” or “resting” or “saving energy for what’s coming up”
This could be a symptom of a few different things:
1 - I’ve given them too much of the series to work with and they are not ready for that much - either endurance-wise or mentally
*It’s hard to stay focused and moving and keep the momentum going that long at first - takes practice and training of mind and body
2 - There is a challenging pose somewhere in there that is really taking it out of them - again either physically or mentally (or both!)
3 - They are not convinced that energy breeds energy and are worried they will wear themselves out for the rest of the day or the rest of the practice.
Sections of the practice I feel require momentum to carry through:
1 - Primary Seated through Marichyasana - I sometimes get bogged down in all the forward folds. Vinyasa - especially FULL vinyasa keeps you focused and moving - this is where that feeling of riding the momentum of the playground swing comes into play.
2 - Intermediate Backbends - Shalabhasana to Kapotasana - Yes, Kapo may take some prep for many but maybe...just maybe...the previous poses ARE THE PREP!! Do them with dispatch to the best of your ability and DO NOT STOP...and see what happens. Yes, of course there will be modifications, but no prep or stopping! Build these modifications and props into the flow as much as possible.
3 - Intermediate Gauntlet! - Pincha Mayurasana to Vatayanasana - this is a very energetically dense section requiring large muscle groups and big movements. Momentum is a MUST!! Do not stop! Stopping would be like dragging your feet on the swing set and then having to start pumping all over again to get started and up to speed! Approaching the gauntlet should be like when you are swinging and going along at a nice pace, and then just kicking a little harder to go a little higher. You can drag your feet a little in Parigrasana and on from there
I can’t really comment on Advanced A yet - still muddling through - which brings me to my final point:
Yes, there will be some muddling as we learn new poses and sequences and push past our barriers to learn what is possible in our bodies and minds. BUT KEEP IN MIND that these are not just poses put in some arbitrary order - they are meant to be practiced “WITH VINYASA” meaning each pose is just one small bead on a Mala. Eventually you are striving to put it all together into one long moving meditation without stopping. This method that we practice, Ashtanga VINYASA Yoga should build you up...feed you energetically, mentally, physically...not tear you down and take you away from your life off the mat.
I suggest practicing this way on a regular basis. It’s a way to check in and see what happens if you just move through without stopping to prep or rest or think...putting priority on the flow of the vinyasa rather than on the poses themselves. Led classes can serve this purpose, but there is something very important about SELF-MANAGING those impulses to stop, rest, think, avoid, grasp, etc...be HONEST with yourself about what is appropriate for you to do - how far to go in the sequence, what pose to stop at, how many backbends to do…
All that said...OF COURSE research days are helpful, props can clarify things. But remember:
“Oh Yogi, do not practice asana without vinyasa” ~Rishi Vamana
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