Playin’ The Edge

Blog-reader Heather asked about setting up a home practice and it’s a great question that I tackled earlier in an article on my Yoga Room website.

Her specific question is “Can I just do whatever pose I want?” and I’d say absolutely.

A key differentiator in yoga seems to be two views represented by what I call, the Structuralists and the Free Stylers. There are plenty of other variations on the yoga theme, but stick with me here. The Structuralists are represented by the schools that believe a particular series of poses done in the same order is the way to go. And the other guys are the ones who mix it up in a more Free Style approach. One isn’t better than the other. Different approaches exist to attract the people that are most comfortable with that approach. You know what I mean – the Hippie Chicks tend to be more into a Free Style experiential kind of yoga like Chakra whereas the Triathlete Yoga Convert is addicted to Bikram or Ashtanga. It’s all good. We all get what we need.

For myself, I started with a very structural approach and did some Ashtanga. But I’ve found that as yoga gets me to practice letting go, the best place to start is the structure and expectation around my practice! Going Free Style is outside my comfort zone. It’s scarier and therefore encourages better growth. I have to be more accepting of what I’ve done on mat after I’m finished. I can’t easily point to what I’ve accomplished. Which is good, because I want my yoga practice to be about being instead of doing. But that’s tough to do when you have the Type A tendencies I do.

There are also Free Stylers like those in Kripalu and like the Erich Schiffmans of the world who believe that what you’re working toward in your personal practice is Meditation in Motion. Essentially being ‘moved’ by the Divine, the ultimate Free-Style.

Sometimes I am able to do an ultimate Free Style in a.m.s when I haven’t woken up yet. Other days when I know I have the time I’ll stick to a rough order of – Centering, Warm-up, Sun Salutations/Standing Poses, Back-bends, Forward Bends, Savasana.

My biggest challenge is noticing what’s motivating my home practice session. Am I doing a ‘look-what-I-can-do!’ when I choose the next pose? Is my ego driving it? Or am I really listening and responding to what my body needs in this moment. The first leads to injury, the second to a solid yoga glow.

Being in a class is about giving up the reins and doing what someone asks you to do. Your ‘at home’ practice is about creating a session based on what your body/mind/spirit need. Maybe it’s alot of Child’s Pose that you know will make you feel safe. Maybe it’s alot of Sun Salutations to get your yah-yahs out. Maybe it’s allowing a set structure of poses to operate as a mirror that helps you see what’s going on with you today. Maybe it’s just going with the flow. The important thing is to practice.

Allow me a navel-gazing moment here. I can’t believe it, I’ve been writing this blog for 6 months now. Time has sure flown. I remember thinking, it’s probably really dumb starting this close to Xmas. But whatever, that’s all distant past now.

I was perusing my entries in a nostalgic moment completely amazed that I’ve found so much to say. When I started I wasn’t sure I’d even have weekly content, but boy once I started churning out the entries, it’s been like a rough case of verbal diarrhea.

I also thought I wouldn’t have the time and that it might weigh on me as *another* responsibility. But it hasn’t been at all. I’ve gotten a little hooked on it. I was always a journal writer and really, this is more fun. I guess it’s become an outlet that I’ve come to appreciate.

Looking through the stats there appears to be readers too. More this month so far than last month total. That’s crazy and a little scary. And lots of people using RSS Feeds, which is so smart, good on you geeks .

I promise to never get cranky about a lack of comments because I am the world’s biggest lurker. But really, if you have any requests or if there are topics you’d like to see more entries on, leave me a comment. Happy reading.

I have these fabulous Lululemon capri pants. Love the fabric, color and cut but they’re just too low-cut. I guess we’re supposed to be proud to show off our yoga bellies, but when i’m teaching I’m trying to minimize distractions. For both me and the class. That means not baring my midriff with every single Sun Salutation. It means avoiding the breeze that takes you out of the zone between poses to adjust clothing. Ever been in a class where 1/2 the women adjust during every pause? It’s so funny. But I hate doing that, so I stopped wearing the pants.

Then last week on my vacay I’m in Florida and discover at Target these great long tank tops. Lotsa colors, cheap as borsht. They’re looooong but thin so bunch-ups don’t look like you’re wearing 6 shirts. Presto, no more belly breeze.

This article talks about a study that was done on “deliberation without attention”. Basically, thinking hard about a straight-forward decision works fine. But if it’s a complex decision – take a gigantic chill pill. Let your unconscious chew on it while you do something more productive to your wellbeing. Like sleep… or yoga.

I’m back from a week’s holiday in Florida with my family. It was great to get away, see green living things, see palm trees and feel warm air. I left at a good time too. I was starting to feel like I had nothing new to offer my yoga classes. I was convinced I was coming to the end of my usefulness in a yoga studio. Now I realize it was just burn-out. I’m ready to get back at it this week, lotsa new ideas to try.

Relaxing is a funny thing. Day 1 we get up bright and early, thanks to Gussie, the toddler who rules the house. By 11:00 a.m. I had washed dishes three times and J was sitting on the couch looking pretty jittery. We had a good laugh about it. It seems like you just have to get through the initial time of unwinding. A friend of mine described Day 1 of vacay as putting the car in neutral with your foot still hard on the gas. But then it wasn’t long before we were lying on the carpet calmly negotiating who would go to the fridge next for liquid sustenance.

I didn’t make it to the Bikram class I’d planned (we don’t have that in Halifax). But I did do my own practice on the balcony overlooking a lake. Now I’m home planning my next mini-break so I can practice working on relaxing.