Another Friday comes and goes

I got up this morning and did my usual Friday practice at 6. I am quite getting used to doing it now. We usually precede it with Curry on Thursday night, which is nice! I even strayed from my usual sag paneer last night and had dahl... plenty more of that to come soon!

I still notice that my morning practice is stiffer than practicing later in the day, but what I do like about it is how meditative it is. I can get up at 5.50 do yoga then watch the world wake up as I have my breakfast. If I were to get up at 5.50 and just get going for my day, I would feel horrible and tired, but doing the yoga doesn't have that effect - my body seems to perceive it as rest time still!

One more week at work, and making some progress towards my departure! I am also hoping not to leave too late tonight so that I can get a round of Karaoke in at the local pub with my colleague before I go home :-D

Ouchhhhhh

Had a nice practice last night - just straight primary series, but I was quite in my flow. Three of us did the class - it could have been a bit faster really, but one of the ladies is pretty much just a beginner and is kind of slow. I took things at my own pace and just stopped now and again for them to catch up. Note to self - if you do Mysore practice this will not happen.... all the more reason to 'go Mysore' after my TT course is finished.

With assistance I pretty much managed Supta K. I can grab my fingers, but the pull back from my legs on my shoulders is pretty strong, so I can't hold it for so long. If I could actually get my legs properly over my shoulders, I guess it would be easier, but my left hamstring is still playing up a bit, so it isn't comfortable.

I got an absolutely MASSIVE cramp in my left calf doing Setu Bandhasana; OMG I thought my leg was trying to rip itself apart. When I rolled out of it, I think my teacher thought I had hurt my neck - she was quite concerned. But OUCH.... I could hardly walk out of class, it felt like I had done 200 calf raises with 50Kg weight! Today it doesn't hurt so much, but is just really, really stiff - lactic acid overload! Hopefully it will be OK in step class :-S

Health warning

This is nothing like Ashtanga.... I think this is what Rodney Yee's DVD should have on it! I am not normally one for yoga DVDs, but last night I practiced with the neighbour and she had bought Rodney Yee's DVD. The practice claimed to be advanced - which it was to the extent that it had some interesting transitions from headstand into arm balances, but other than that, it was pretty lame. During the 50 minute 'total body' practice I never even broke into a sweat! I also found that the sequence flowed really, really quickly - almost too fast, never holding any posture for more than a couple of breaths. He and his editors also didn't do a great job, and on two occasions a posture given on the right was not repeated on the left.... ahh well, I needn't do it again. Whinge over!

Proper Ashtanga tonight, that will keep me happy. And between me and that practice stand 10 hours at work!

I was pleased to find out yesterday that girl I know from my step class will be in Delhi at the same time as me. We are going to exchange contact details at class tomorrow!

I sold my soul...

.... for a date. What was I thinking, missing practice too - oops, where did my self discipline go? Oh well, I only have two more weeks in London before I leave for India, what could I do?

Nice early start in the office for me - 7am... I have to leave early as I have an appointment to get jabs etc for India - shame I left my record card at home and have to go back and get it before the appointment - Damn...

I have a clear evening, so will definitely fit in practice later on.

Now, WORK!

Christmas

Is it just me, or is Christmas being promoted even more this year than ever before? I seem to have received e mails, mail shots, inserts with bills, all about Christmas!! Its such a waste of paper for a start and I am not buying anything this year. I am sure I don't remember being this bombarded before, or maybe its just because I won't be here for Christmas??

Yoga has been fine - nothing interesting to report - practiced on Friday morning, and then went to a led primary class in Dublin this morning. The teacher was fine, a stand-in apparently. I had a few mat etiquette issues, someone who came late plonked themselves right next to me and didn't stagger, despite having 2 metres of room in front of her - D'oh, why not just move forward instead of having to avoid my arms all of the time.... perhaps I was in her spot??? Who knows!

2 weeks 2 days to go, and still done nothing on the to do list....

Am I mad?

I have two weeks left in the office and loads of work to finish off. My colleague comes into my office with one of my cases and says, "something has come in on this, as you are going away soon, I'll deal with it, OK?".

So, what is the first thought that goes through my head "It's my case, you can't take it away from me".... whoa, hold on brain, re-think.... right answer is "thank you so much, feel free and enjoy!"

I think I am a bit weird sometimes; it's only work after all!

Todays post

Its funny how being mentally exhausted seems to make you physically exhausted - I worked another really long day, and my practice was so lacking. I went in with an open mind, and didn't feel physically tired, but I just really couldn't summon up the enthusiasm to do much. My colleague tells me that this is how normal people feel all the time when faced with the prospect of exercise - and that I am just a yoga junkie!

As I have trouble getting the backs of my arms to the floor in Kapotasana, my teacher decided to use me to demonstrate kapotasana around a chair - I thought I might die - I don't think my problems are related to muscle stiffness, but compression in the shoulders; bone meets bone, it doesn't go any further - see the photo in this entry. I really couldn't breath, she insisted it was a panic reaction... I wasn't convinced!

As i finished my practice and assessed how half hearted it had been, I started to look forward to all the yoga I have ahead of me - a time to really concentrate on doing it properly, really trying.