So I haven't blogged for a few weeks, but I've been keeping steady in my practise. Good thing is, backbends have improved: (1)Laghu Vajrasana - I used to have problems coming up after the five breaths with head on the floor, but it's all good now. My teacher taught me these "prep-Laghus" which involved bending backwards as in a normal Laghu, bounce my head off the mat once and then coming up (do 2 reps), then bounce my head off the mat twice-in-a-row and then coming up (do 2 reps). After almost two months of these prep Laghus, my quads are now strong enough, and I can stay five breaths and come up on an inhale quite easily. (2) Kapotasana - I used to dread this pose, but now I am slowly able to walk my hands towards my heels. It's one of those poses where I had to stop "wanting", but just surrender, keep a steadfast practise and wait for the back to open up eventually. There's still scope to get a deeper bend, but I'm happy with the progress so far. (3) Urdhva Dhanurasana - I can touch my heels unassisted. With my teacher's assistance, I can grab my ankles. That sensation of coming full circle is intense, but exhilarating at the same time. Legs are worked super hard, and it really opens up the shoulders. I'm working on walking my hands up my heels and grabbing ankles on my own, though I think I'm still lacking some strength in the legs.
My Supta Vajrasana, however, is still looking pretty hopeless. There's no way I can do anything with the pose if nobody is pushing down on my knees. I can't even find the correct pivot point, or whatever it is that's required to make the leaning backwards more controlled and stable. The other day, my teacher commented, "Long way to Mecca, huh," and we both laughed. She said the key is getting my lotus really tight (which is not my strong suite), and the rest will come. Couple of days ago, in my zealousness to get the tight lotus, I pulled my feet in tighter, and ended up hurting my right knee somewhat. I'll just have to take this one easy. Long way to Mecca, indeed.
My Supta Vajrasana, however, is still looking pretty hopeless. There's no way I can do anything with the pose if nobody is pushing down on my knees. I can't even find the correct pivot point, or whatever it is that's required to make the leaning backwards more controlled and stable. The other day, my teacher commented, "Long way to Mecca, huh," and we both laughed. She said the key is getting my lotus really tight (which is not my strong suite), and the rest will come. Couple of days ago, in my zealousness to get the tight lotus, I pulled my feet in tighter, and ended up hurting my right knee somewhat. I'll just have to take this one easy. Long way to Mecca, indeed.
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