I actually did a modified version of Ashtanga yesterday for my practice. I ended up doing 5 Surya Namaskara A's and 3 Surya Namaskara B's followed by the Fundamentals section of the series. Granted I ended up putting more breath work into it than normal. Rather than taking one breath during the Surya Namaskara's I think I ended up putting two or three in place of the one. It actually seemed to center me more so than just the one breath.
The fundamentals felt really good to go through. It was like coming home. I knew them, but still felt as if I were exploring them. In Down Dog, I'm still attempting to reach my heels to the floor and am getting closer and closer each time I make a conscious note to work on pushing down through my heels (damn near every time). In regards to a different, more difficult pose (for me),—Standing Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose a.k.a. Utthita Hasta Padangustasana—I am still wobbling quite a bit when I bring my leg to the side. It's aggravating, even though I've been told my balance won't be the same while pregnant since I also have to account for the extra weight in my belly and the fact that I'm more susceptible to clumsiness. I don't think that is completely accurate though. I'm perfectly fine holding it out front... I mean I may wobble a bit but it isn't uncontrollable. The side however... that's totally different and I wish I could balance myself properly. I think I'm going to just keep my knee bent from now on and then have a teacher help me after I am recovered from giving birth. Not to mention I need to visit a teacher for alignment issues I know are there but am not sure how to correct.
Nevertheless, my practice ended on a good note. Savasana was nice to move into once I realized I had been practicing for a little over an hour.
Today, on the other hand, is Saturday and that means rest day. How come I don't feel much like resting though? Maybe because I've already rested this week? I'm not sure but if I do any sort of practice it will no doubt be a restorative practice. Something to connect me to myself. Call it a turn inwards. Although some days I wish I were a dog... they seem to be grounded so easily. Plop down and then they're grounded.
My goal for today is to get further into three different books. Totally different.
Numero Uno: Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy by Gregor Maehle
Numero Dos: Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by David Williams
and last but not least...
Numero Tres: The Women's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness by Linda Sparrow and Patricia Walden
Maybe I'll get a chapter read in each book successfully by the end of the day. Three chapters seems like a good goal, right?
Sounds like a nice practice! Uttitha Hasta Padangusthasana with leg out to the side is one of the trickier balance poses around. I think it has a lot to do with the hip rotation, which is not something we usually do when standing. Also it's easy to lean towards the side of the extended foot because your arm is going that way. We are built to stand on two legs with hips square! Anyway, there are three ways I can see of working with this pose:
ReplyDelete1) keep the knee bent and work on opening the hip
2) use a strap around the extended foot so you can keep your torso straight
3) extend the opposite arm as a counter balance, possibly with fingertips on the wall for extra support (good option if you're worried about falling)
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there! Thanks for sharing your pregnancy yoga experience for those of us who have yet to travel that path!
Thank you for the tips. I'll try the last two out. I've tried the knee bent option. I don't really like that one too much. I guess I don't feel as though I'm getting anything out of it.
DeleteAnd since this is the last two and a half months of the pregnancy, I expect it will become more of a challenge. So far though I haven't hit many barriers, thankfully. May your pregnancy be as easy as mine has been :)