Issues that I like

Knowing what the #1 priority is in one’s life helps a lot to get rather elegantly through the days. My #1 priority is my yoga practice. There is always something that gets on my nerves. There is always something that I like. It alters. It distracts. Many things are annoying, many things bring joy. So it goes all the time. It’s easy to be busy. So many things need to be done. Really?

I want to chose my issues, my focus. Today I fought to hold urdhva dhanurasana for 1 minute and 20 sec. I set the timer to one minute and twenty second because I need time to get into the pose. I want to make sure that I’m for a full 1 minute in that asana. It was hard. Finally I heard the peep of my multi timer. Done. Wow. It was doable. I felt exhausted. Tomorrow it will be easier, because I know it’s doable.

Early in the morning I practiced second series. My mind was concentrated on the activities I want to do - practicing asanas. I cut out all the chattiness of others and my own, too. If this is possible, if this happens, deep contentment arises.

After every intensive practice I feel ready again for all the entertainment called life. What annoyed me a day ago, is seen as entertainment. Everything is as it has to be.

My yoga practice guides me through my daily life. I cannot have a better guide.

Wheel every Wednesday

Another Wednesday has come. Another Instagram challenge #wheeleverywednesday wants to get fed with a picture. It’s already the 4th week of this wheel party.

My plan was to publish from time to time a variation of the classic wheel pose. Today I wanted to stretch one leg to the ceiling. It was heavy like a van and didn’t lift an inch. Creativity is needed. Are there exercises that are doable and prepare my body for this variation, I wondered? I found them.

First I supported the back with my hands. Elbows and hands, the foot on the floor and the back did the work of the leg in the air.

Then I lifted the leg without support for the back. It’s more challenging. This pose will build strength that is necessary. Again it’s really different to get the straight leg parallel to the wall. Important is to hold this pose for some time. 15 breaths or more would be good. Trying variation also means that I repeat this asana. Repetition is a method to speed up learning. To repeat the same asana again and again might be boring, but the variation keeps the exercise interesting.

Summer supports my practice. It’s warm here. For me it’s joy. The body becomes so much more flexible, it’s amazing.

Tomorrow is the challenge #Thursdayswesplit. I also joined the #pinchaparty. This is again so much. It would be good to take all the pictures on one day.

Every photo shooting spoils a practice. A pictures shows the direction, it gives feed-back. Once a week this is enough.