Day 16 September Challenge

Today's practice with Mr John was filled with the giggleasana I needed! 

Tired, stiff, achey, not enough calories, powered thru 4:30pm. 

Legs nearly locked in Padahastasana, and that's only pose 3. 

Day 15 September Challenge

9 am practice, plus 11 am training. 

Day 14 September Challenge

Whew. Kick ass 7am with Miss Elizabeth. A room filled with teachers always shifts the energy in the room, it a positive & strong way. Every pose, every time. 

Then, this happened. Elbows bent & knee stayed locked. My right side kick is millimeters from locked! This progress is inspiring me to really train, in earnest, for the regional competition. I actually said the words: I think I'll compete. 45 years old, what do I have to lose? *deep breath* 

Standing Head to Knee

Standing Bow

Floor bow

Stretching 

Rabbit 

2 poses of my choice 

Training tomorrow after 9am practice. I am excited. 

Day 13 September Challenge

Miss Jeannie led me thru a serious kick in my pants tonight! Mind whining, flesh able — IF YOU CAN YOU MUST — I powered through like she expects. Like the mean gramma, who demands the best of you and whom you're eager to please. Yeah, I need better words than mean gramma, she's Burgess Merideth to my Rocky. That's it. 

Every pose, every time. 

And I got called out for smoking. Quitting is imperative. 

Day 9 September Challenge

I knew something was missing :) 

Day 11 September Challenge

Beautiful Opus Dei with Leslie tonight. Formerly an oxymoron, just one more stolen story at the Bikram studio <g> Quiet, softly lit, we sweated our hearts out in earnest. 

I had two breakthroughs: briefly bent elbows while left kicker remained strong & locked AND a brief mo' with right kicker slipping into lock position. As soon as I noticed, I squeed & fell out of pose! 

Still, personal best! Go me! 

Day 8 September Challenge

Counting today as a double. Strong practice with Miss Elizabeth this morning, every pose, every time. Followed by training practice for about an hour. Whew. It's goon a be great. 

Day 7, September Challenge

Making progress on my Right Kick; I can feel the need to relax and breathe into my kick. Trust. I know I have the physical ability, I need to BELIEVE I have the ability, *in that moment* of kicking. 

7am was an odd shift from my afternoon/evening practice; more endurance, less flexibility. Miss Elizabeth does a great job of forcing my mind into the present. Practicing next to Mr Steve was good inspiration, I thanked him for his telepathic encouragement :) Finish Strong! Ask Your Body What It's Got Today! You Never Know! (Teachers have the best yoga ear worms of encouragement) 

Tomorrow is double duty, 9 am practice & 11am training. 5+2 (Standing Head-to-Knee is one of the 5 compulsory poses, two are yogi choice) I am so excited! I need to EAT & EAT CLEAN & A WHOLE FUCKTON to train properly. Did I mention my excitement? 

Day 5 September Challenge

I did not want the yoga today. No how, no way. So I dragged my crabbyass to 6:30 practice, retribution for listening to the grumpy mcgrumbles all day.Leslie led us, quite gently, through the rough & humid practice. The monkey minds were rowdy and drunker than usual, her compassion was inspiring and welcome. I finally stayed in the room! Only sat out one set of standing separate leg head-to-knee, to soothe the voices screaming about sweat up my nose. 

To make matters magic, coaching through standing head-to-knee brought big progress towards full expression. She mentioned the very important grip, at the ball of the foot, allowing the heel to propel forward & the toes to point back. Viola! First instance of locked left kicking leg (photo is mirrored) Upside down L like Linda :) 

Five days. In a row. Go me.

Day 4 September Challenge

Miss Kim for the 4:30 practice today. Less intense than days 1-3, still incredibly intense. Will be reverting to mornings to see if there's a shift for me. Left again, though after busting my ass during the first half! 

Asked for coaching on Standing Head-to-Knee, I want kicking leg locked by month's end. I have the physical ability, I know it, just need to hush that chatter! Also working on Standing Separate Leg Head-to-Knee -- ha! Both back rounding poses! Belly in! Belly in! Belly in! Confronting the last belly issues with these bellybutton focusing poses :) Good!