Please Utthita, Extend - Baddha Konasana

 

Baddha Trikonasana - Bound Triangle 

Utthita - extend - your yoga into all aspects of yourself and your life.

Today I was lamenting (as per usual) that two particular (multi-year!) commitments of mine misalign with my talents and sap time away from my passions … but bringing that yogic vibe and bright creativity to non-zen, stale situations is, actually, a very special kind of pleasure. 

Sweat It - Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana

 

Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana - Three Legged Downward Facing Dog Pose
& Drop to the forearm opposite the lifted bent leg - hurts so good.

Make it hurt a little, sweat a lot, and then take it easy for the rest of the day. 😉 

Fundamentals - Sukhasana neck side stretch

Sukhasana - Easy Pose, Neck Side Stretch
Underlying everything - Pranayama is to yoga what attitude is to life.

My children’s Waldorf school aligns with the very essence of how (and with whom) I believe they should be spending their days; and the details of our life are worked around the decision to have them there.

Poise ~ Ashta Chandrasana

Ashta Chandrasana - High Lunge, arms extended forward 
Let us train for the strength and control to improve our posture. 

By refining our physical comportment we will, in turn, upgrade numerous facets of our lives (or so I have been told 😉… still a sloucher over here 😬).

🌈Arc🧚‍♀️ Parsvottanasana

 

Parsvottanasana - Pyramid Pose
I am having a ‘put your head down and work’ type of week. 

🌈The rhythm of the day, the arc of the week, the ebb and flow of the month, and the seasons of the year. Looking ahead and zooming out at your calendar is how you are able to ‘put your head down’ and (enjoy) work(ing) unremittingly - because you plan (and look forward to) when you’ll be coming up for air. 👙⛵️🌞

Mow.

Mow some more.

Completely clear out 4 bedrooms.

Daily lunch for 4.

Hit the Wall ~ Handstand Preparation

 

Bunny Hops Handstand Preparation 🐇

Arm balances are, for me, “you can have it all, just not all at once.” Some come easy most of the time, many are insurmountable some of the time…

This is where THE WALL comes in. I get in that back row and sidle on up close to the wall, so I may feel all the thrill, freedom and benefit of flying inverted (with an extra stretch, might I add,) while being unconditionally supported by that big, strong vertical assist. 

No Namasana ~ Fire Hydrant Pose

 

Standing Fire Hydrant Poses - it will feel like all of a sudden, (but it is, in fact, 1.5 years of regularity with your habit!) that you feel one (little) level stronger.

Standing fire hydrant pose? Poses with no names welcome.  

Acknowledge and celebrate consistency and progress with more consistency and more progress. 

Or Sell Yourself Short ~ Dandayama Janu Sirsasana

 

Dandayama Janu Sirsasana - Standing Head to Knee Pose

Dandayama Janu Sirsasana is most common in HOT yoga practiced at 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40% humidity. 

Progressing from where you currently are (yoga, life…) may require that you OVEREXTEND yourself. 

Class act

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose

Give and take; take the blame, give the praise. 

Notes from my last flight

 

Notes taken in the air - originally in pen 🖊️ in a mini notebook 📓 — never, ever leave home without one. 

🩵💚Not to be forgotten when flying with kiddos 💛🧡

Now you know

Sukhasana - Easy Pose, Side Stretch in muted lavender 🪻 current favorite color.

Sukhasana Side Stretch - Easy Pose, Seated, Side Body Stretch 

Sometimes you have to do the thing to know not to do the thing. EG skipping yoga is not an option, but I had to skip it just to make sure. 😉 

It IS all too much

 

Bananasana 🍌 

Bananasana

Just say ‘no’ — without any addendum, 

Contemplation

Parsva Anjaneyasana - Low Lunge Side Bend Pose with block

For answers at first, revelations at last:

CONTEMPLATION sees everything, holds on to nothing. (Warning: takes years)

When you feel it, you know

 

Baddha Konasana - Bound Angle Pose

Are all decisions better left to the heart ?? 💜❤️🧡

Not mydailydrawing

Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana - Volcano Pose, Mountain Pose variation

🌋

On tippy ‘palm tree’ toes 🌴

Not Big News : I have been playing with stylus (ipencil) and alternative programs (procreate from sketchbook) and even an upgraded iPad (I have always used my toddler’s), but the stylus sits in the crook of my hand while I type and draw with my middle finger, the new keyboard lacks emojis, and sketchbook continues to fulfill my meager doodling desires. So, as of yet, dailydoodles are lingering in their old ways - created in refurbished older model apple products with sharpie-esque outlines paint bucketed (filled in) in a marker/highlighter manner… for this doodler, old school still rules, plus - it’s not mydailydrawing, that’s for sure. 🥵😅

Foundling

 

Upavistha Konasana - Wide Angle Forward Fold 📐 

FIND that which you are hiding from yourself.

Everyday anow?

 

Marichyasana - Sage Twist Pose 

 Symphony not severity.

PAST poses create PRESENT poses and FUTURE poses and they all exist all at once.

Trianga

Trianga Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana - Three Parts Forward Bend

Trianga:

Three poses - Dandasana, Virsasana and Paschimottanasana 

Three body parts - buttocks, knees and feet. 

Why draw yoginis most often on their mats? Because I am personally terrible at - practically incapable of - asana-ing without attending a class. 

If three tenets of our happiness are faith, family/friendship and meaningful work then we must hunker down and stop seeking. 

A message from your host.

Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana -  Half Bound Lotus Standing Forward Bend

Here I am always judging in order to ‘improve performance’, but guess what? JUDGEMENT keeps us from ENJOYMENT. Advancement and optimization is only scarcely interesting because we are NOT machines.

Consistency - HOW TO:

Padukabandhini Asana - Shoelace Pose

Yin yoga

Can we slough off a fleck of ‘the world’ to excavate a glimpse of our true essence?

Consistency is the key 🔑. We will find consistency when we DIS-COVER our inner selves. No copycatting, no idolizing, no formulas. No prescribed diets, uniforms, or interior spaces. No dictated timetable or curriculum.