Week 6: Up to Garba Pindasana. Can’t even get my finger tips through my legs - no matter the amount of lubrication. The rolling around part feels so ridiculous.
Able to place focus on things like keeping my foot arches lifted - no longer just barely making it through. Panic attacks are gone. Not even bringing my water to the back of the room anymore.
Week 7 beginning: Hands are through in Garba Pindasana! Boom! But now I’m tipping when I try to roll around. So frustrating! I have a love/hate relationship with the practice.
Week 7 end: Forearms through in Garba Pindasana! Major bruises on my inner elbows however. Rolling around with more control, less tipping. Jump throughs are coming! The key is to reach my chest forward as I jump!
Complained to my teacher that I can’t get my arms through past my elbows in Garba Pindasana - he kindly reminded me that I was complaining not long ago about my fingertips not going through. The grass is always greener!
Week 8: Convinced my husband to try it out. He’s coming daily now too.
Tweaked my right knee in Garba Pindasana. Can no longer do ½ lotus with the right leg - need to let it heal and modify through the practice.
Week 9: Bruises on ankles from jump throughs are constant.
Week 10: Marichiasana D to the left without assist!
Week 13: Convinced that drinking ½ a coconut water before practice makes my practice better. Putting this to the test. Have my husband in on it too.
Ankle bruises seem to be diminishing.
Week 14: I’m light! Floating through better than ever. Catching air on the jump backs too. Have no idea how or why it’s happening yet. Just started happening one day!
First drop back with my heels down happens! Coming back up does not happen.
Right knee finally feels better. Back with Garba - forgot how much of a pain that pose is. Arms go through easily, but stuck at elbows. Back with the elbow bruises!
Month 4: Baddha Konasana a & b is given to me. Forgot to drink ½ coconut water before going into the practice room; thinking Mula Bandha is easier without a liquid filled belly.
Frustrated at coming up from drop backs without flinging myself into the person in front of me. Feeling annoyed at the lanky, overly flexible man next to me in practice. His legs are all up in my space.
Gave it a good go on coming up from drop backs. Must have let out a noise or loud breath because the lanky man offered a whisper of encouragement: “That’s good! You’ve almost got it”. I wanted to cry - I was previously thinking mean thoughts about him.
Month 4, week 2: Tweaked knee again. Back with modified Garba Pindasana. Tweaked right wrist, feeling sharp wrist pain in jump throughs and jump backs. Jump throughs and jump backs are on hold. Working on patience in full force - not going so well.
Month 4, week 3: Back with Garba Pindasana. Tweaked left shoulder when compensating for my right wrist. Back is hurting in drop backs - I seem to have a vertebrae that’s pushing inwards. Drop backs are assisted again. Feeling pretty low about my practice with all the modifications these days.
Month 5: Up to Urdhva Mukha Pacimottanasana. Hard pose - what on earth am I supposed to balance on?? One pose left until I complete the Primary Series (Setu Bandhasana)!
Month 5.5: Back is starting to feel better although I can still feel 1 vertebrae pushing in. Discovered that keeping my first finger, middle knuckle down supports my wrist. Building forearm strength to really keep it down now.
Loving the dedication and devotion that the practice brings to my life. I feel more settled after my practice is complete in the mornings. I do miss other poses from other styles (pigeon, side plank, wild thing, Hanumanasana (splits), handstand to name a few) so I’m trying to do one other class per week to keep this side of me happy. I’m also doing some of these poses at home on my own.
I love the community at the Shala and I love my teacher David Robson! Super glad I started this personal challenge in the first place.
