Oh So Refreshing!

I had the most amazing class this morning in... I don't know how long!

One of my favourite teachers is back teaching one morning a week at my studio.  She is a breath of fresh air.  It helps, I think, that she is a morning person.  So, she wants to be there with all us early risers at 6 am.  As she once said to me, "If I'm not teaching it, I'm taking it!".  Her enthusiasm is contagious and she expects just as much from you in an early morning class as anyone would in an evening class.

I felt strong and alive.  My muscles worked so hard, my breathing stayed calm, my heart raced and my mind managed to let any thoughts float on by.  And, boy, was I focused.  I had a little breakthrough with floor bow.  I need to almost forget about wanting my shoulders to rotate and just focus on my kick and relax my shoulders so my head can get back further and to forget about the mirror - to really forget that it's there - which is so counter intuitive because the teachers have been telling you for the last hour to focus on the mirror.  But the second set felt better, more natural and deeper.

I needed this.  I needed to feel strong again.  I've been feeling sucked dry of energy lately.  Letting my job affect me and slowly - without noticing - seeping into my subconscious.  I have been feeling less than capable and that has been trickling into other aspects of my life.  Especially my practice.

Here's one of my favourite songs, right now, by Neil Young - The Believer.  Listen to his lyrics.  I associate them to everything that I believe in - my friends, my family, my lover, my yoga and even myself.

 

And I Want...

Oranges, blueberries, oh kombucha! and maybe some oatmeal.  Coffee - I can't wait for my coffee.  Oranges - I could really go for one right now.  Oh and then I get fresh caught prawns for lunch.  Coconut water!  I'm going to buy some after class.  Oh man, I really want an orange.  Oh you know, I haven't had ginger ale in years, maybe some ginger ale.  Nah, too much sugar, an orange.  They are just in my fridge and my fridge is just down the road if only I could just get to my fridge.

This is what I wanted this morning - all I wanted - during Savasana, while coming out of Camel, struggling to strengthen my spine during Cobra and as I walked soaking wet out of class.  And now I'm sipping on my coffee and all those cravings are gone - well, except maybe for the yummy prawns.

Happy Saturday!

A Gentle Reminder

One of the things I love the most about my practice, is that I am able to forget about the rest of the world. For 90 minutes all that exists is me, my mat, the instructor and my fellow yogis.

This morning I could not tune it out. I was thinking about getting the oil changed in my car, cooking dinner, how I was going to spend the weekend, anything and everything. These thoughts do drift in and out when I am in Savasana but never in the standing series. Seriously, to be in Standing Bow and thinking about when I'll get around to getting the oil changed is ridiculous! I had to laugh at myself.

I left class feeling a little unsatisfied with practice this morning. But it was a nice gentle reminder that no class is ever the same - ever - no matter how far you feel you've come. This yoga is a journey, there is no prize at the end because there is no end.