Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana

Apr 12

On Sundays the Ashtanga yoga week starts. These 90 minutes on the mat this morning relaxed my body and my mind. Focus was breathing and the correct posture.

I’m away from whipping myself through two and a half series or even more. It wouldn’t be possible either.

Even breath, correct posture and dristi (focus) this is my mantra.

I remember very well that I could move my chin to the shin bone a couple of years ago only. I’ll get back to deeper postures with time. No worries.

The Ashtanga yoga series are not build logical from easy to difficult for instance. It’s OK. After difficult asanas can come easier asanas. The sequence needn’t to be like a step and each step is more difficult.

Yet when a difficult asana is not possible, I get a step back.
Ardrha baddha padmottanasana is a sitting posture. Yet it can also be performed while standing. This adds another challenge. One must balance. Before ardha baddha padmottanasana I exercise the asana in the picture. This stretches the body already. It makes it easier to balance.

Engaging the bandhas, a calm deep breathing and soft eyes that don’t wonder around but gaze at a point makes it easier to balance.

I’m curious how far I can get within a month or so.

I don’t repeat the mistakes that I did for decades. If an asana is difficult I hold it longer. I repeat this asana. I don’t rush from one position to the next. It’s so much better to omit asanas than to hurry through one, two or three Ashtanga series. I’ve been there. I used to practice 2 and a half hours daily with not much progress. At the end of this episode I was injured. It makes me laugh.

Injuries happen. It’s a tragedy, yes, but it can be seen as a learning challenge.

I forgot how good I feel after every practice. This day will become wonderful.

A side mark: Finally I managed it to add the possibility to comment. Your comments are welcome.

Ursula Preiss