I follow many, many yogis on social media. I am inspired and encouraged by their posts, especially progress pics. It’s amazing to see the space and skills that come with consistent practice! Like a progress post showing a backbend that goes from looking like a broken Barbie doll to a fluid acrobat over the course months or even years. Or a post showing the progress of Monkey Pose – also known as good ol’ fashioned splits – that begins as a kneel but becomes the stuff of ballerinas.
This is not that kind of post.
You’ve surely heard the saying, “Use it, or lose it…”
After a limited practice since last March and absolutely no practice for 6 weeks and 3 days, my yoga postures, my balance, and the space in my poses has done the opposite of progress in a very big way.
And that’s okay, because as of yesterday, I am excited to Begin Again. Again.
Like I mentioned last night, I created this class back in 2016, right after completing my Yoga Teacher Training and RYT200 Certification…at a time when I had been spending 5 hours, 5 days a week on my yoga mat. But I want to be open and honest, so I am sharing my regression from then to now. I am putting each picture from 2016 right next to a photo from tonight.
It ain’t pretty.
My hamstrings are screaming, my IT-bands won’t allow my feet to rest flat on the ground, my neck is crazy stiff, my hips are creaking, my shoulders are tight, my arms are shaking, there’s no bend in my back, and my core is like a bowl full of jelly.
I have a long, long way to go to get back to my better self.
But that’s okay as well.
It’s okay to digress, to stumble, to fall. It’s the getting back up, finding your footing, and moving forward again that is most important!!
And that is exactly what I intend to do.
Last night we learned Easy Pose.
Here is the next part of my Begin Again yoga flow: Surya Namaskara A or Sun A.
Google “Sun A” and you will receive “about 2,590,000,000 in 0.48 seconds.”
It’s the first thing I teach my football boys and volleyball girls at TU, and I nag them regularly about making time to roll through a few Sun Salutations each and every day.
These 11 poses and the flow from posture to posture can change your life:
1. Samasthiti – Stand Upright with Hands at Heart Center
2. Urdhva Vrikshasana – Upward Tree Position
3. Uttanasana A – Forward Fold (bend knees as much as needed)
4. Uttanasana B – 1/2 Lift
5. Chaturanga Dandasana – Tricep Push Up Down
6. Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana – Updog
7. Adho Mukha Shvanasana – Downdog
* HOLD FOR 3-5 DEEP BREATHS *
8. Uttanasana B – 1/2 Lift
9. Uttanasana A – Forward Fold
10. Urdhva Vrikshasana – Upward Tree
11. Samasthiti – Hands at Heart Center
I hope you’ll give it a try…it’s never too late to begin!
With love and hugs,
Ashli
* PS: please click here if you would like to support my efforts to #END ALZ –
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! A.
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