Reading Reflection Week Two: How Yoga Works 9-16

The first thought that came to mind when I started reading this book was surprise. I did not expect to be able to relate to any of the characters as I expected them to be discussing “Eastern philosophy” in terms I could not understand. However, I find myself relating to the Captain and admiring the narrator. I was definitely impatient like the Captain (and have been every time I have tried to take yoga back up again) in wanting to do the poses quickly and without attention to technique. For that reason, I am particularly interested in how he learned patience and became less lazy. I was intrigued by the motivation of compassion to make him practice his yoga everyday, and I am searching in my own mind someone that can serve as my own motivator. I also liked the idea of being able to use breath to send energy flows to parts of the body that are hurting in a pose. I am going to try to remember this when I am working through some of the harder poses in class. I also really enjoy listening to the inner monologue of the narrator. I loved the moment in the “Breath and a Smile” chapter where she reminded herself that her happiness did not depend on where she was. I admire that contentedness and suspect she was able to make that realization through meditating. And that’s not to say that meditating is happiness, but meditation can give you the time to find and realize what happiness is to you.

Asana Practice Reflection Week One

Day One!

The first day of class and my first day back doing yoga practice in over a year! I would be lying if I said it was not difficult for me. I could not believe how inflexible I was nor how weak my back was. After a few seconds in the "upward hands" pose, I felt like I was the Tin Man with no oil. My joints were creaky! I never realized how little I actually fully stretch out my body. I thought since I am an avid runner, I would not be so inflexible and weak but I was wrong. Even though it felt a little strange, I felt better after doing it. Sitting down on the mat, I also noticed how hard it was for me to sit up straight. It should not be that hard to sit on the ground, but I have a very weak back. When I sit up straight, I feel the pressure of every back bone on top of each other. I hope that after a semester of practice, I will build up the muscles to make sitting easier and to relieve that pressure. Honestly, the best part of the practice was the pose where we laid down on the mat to do the supported corpse pose. I don’t often bend my back backward so it felt amazing to bend it another way and to relieve the pressure.

Overall, while I am embarrassed to say that some of the practice today was difficult, I am excited to keep practicing and to improve my flexibility and strength. I also think once I can feel more comfortable in the poses and not strained, I will be able to focus and relax more. Right now, I am a little distracted by how inflexible I am!

Welcome BIC Yoga and Philosophy class! 

I am excited to start off this school year with this class! I took the HP Yoga classes (or as they call them at Baylor, Rest & Relaxation) but I don't remember much. Honestly, I think I was too stressed those semesters to truly enjoy them which in itself seems like a contradiction. In high school, I was really into yoga and actually lead sessions for my cross country team as a part of our warm up and cool down. From that, I really appreciate what yoga can do for athletes. Now, I am excited to relearn that aspect as well as the philosophy behind the practice. 

See you in class! And here's a yoga joke:

Q. What did the yogi say to the sandwich vendor at the ball game?
A. Make me one with everything!