Obstacles & Distractions

It's been quite interesting to watch my mind as I have experienced a large amount of obstacles and distractions the past few weeks. Since living in Asheville (almost a year now) I have had a very consistent, with very small ups and downs, practice that has allowed me to personally experience a lot of the benefits of an asana and meditation practice.

The recent set of distractions/obstacles have been the biggest challenge to my practice since moving here and I look forward to regaining the momentum and daily benefits I was experiencing before.

On July 1st I joined Michael Johnson's 365 yoga/meditation challenge. (So I'm on day 6.) It is certainly a lofty goal but the benefits that come from working towards such an accomplishment are well worth it. I will get back on track when it comes to blogging my experience as well.

So this blog post is more of an outward voice committing to getting back on my asana/meditation feet with a modest, consistent, and growing practice.

द्रष्ट्रदृष्ययोः संयोगो हेयहेतुः - drashtr drshyayoh sanyogo heyahetuh ~ "The cause of our pain can be eliminated by seeing how we see." Yoga Sutra 2.17

Sunday - Day 63 - I did a very light restorative practice that fit within the dentist's guidelines. It was nice to stretch out a bit. Looking forward to getting back to the regularly scheduled program.

Yoga cabin fever???

Day 62 - no asana (not allowed through Tuesday when I go back to dentist...)

Feeling a bit down and discouraged with it all today. Left the Hatha Yoga Pradipika workshop that the lovely Michael and Stephanie Johnson are teaching an hour into it due to feeling uber wonky. Definitely need to stay horizontal. Standing up rocks my world.

Asana today consists of prolonged periods of śavāsana. Ha! No, but really.

Yikes.

Four antidotes for the obstacles to yoga from sutras 1.32-40 of the Yoga Sutra:

1. maitrī – kindness

2. karunā – compassion

3. muditā – joy

4. upekṣā – equanimity

Obstacles.

Day 58 - Tuesday - regular home practice

Day 59-61 - Wednesday-Friday - no physical asana as I have a terrible toothache/infection set in my body that has rocked my world. On strict orders to not intentionally increase my heart rate or tip my body upside down. That plus a lovely cocktail of strong antibiotics and painkillers and I'm down for the count. No asana through next Tuesday I'm afraid.

My asana practice (currently defining as work with the outer body in order to help produce happiness in the inner body) has consisted of doing my best to keep good food in my belly so I don't get sick from the meds as well as doing my best to drink plenty of water as my immune system could use the extra help.

Surprisingly, I don't feel as though I have lost my momentum. I just feel like it has shifted momentarily and I rejoice in this growth. I will continue to count the days, as obstacles are also a part of the journey.

My "ritual" meditation practice has also been on hiatus as sitting peacefully and closing my eyes with awful pain pretty much seems to be a one way ticket to the loony bin. So instead, I've been watching my mind go in and out of fight or flight mode and doing my best to bring it back to the present moment and attempting to be content with the moment at hand.

I'm doing my best to fight the lovely mental afflictions that arise in me when my body is in freak out mode. It's quite interesting to watch especially as I learn more about the brain, instincts, etc. My body really wants absolutely nothing to do with being in pain and it's fun to watch the great lengths my mind will go through to try to get out of the pain as soon as possible.

May any obstacles you experience be as informative for you as this one is for me!

Pro. Gress.

Day 57 - Jivamukti at AYC with Michael

I hadn't been to that class in a long time and was a bit worried that I was going to die as I remember it being a whole lot harder than it was tonight. Perhaps I'm learning to use my energy more efficiently?? Noticing progress is a beautiful thing.

May you notice progress in your endeavors this evening.

Blog ketchup!

Day 54 - (Friday) light practice. Super tired from the week.

Day 55 - (Saturday) another light practice. Light practices consist of 5-10 sun salutation A, B, and Cs followed by an inversion and shavasana.

Day 56 - (today!) full home practice.

I have been doing Prana Vayu Vinyasa (push ups) and Samana Vayu Vinyasa (sit ups) every day though. I'm starting to notice slow improvement over time. And I feel like I'm stronger from my core out.

I have much gratitude today for being inspired by people that I surround myself by. I imagine many people go through life without being inspired by others and I wish I could help change that. Inspiration carries me when I am not motivated for myself.

Here's to taking a moment to be thankful for those in our lives who inspire us!

Triangles.

Day 53 - Jivamukti with Michael at West Asheville Yoga.

Triangle pose (trikonasana (may have butchered the spelling...) used to be an asana I despised and I seem to like it a lot lately. Here's to realizing that every thing I dislike or could definitely do without is just as capable as changing as triangle pose.