Practice Log: Tuesday, June 4, 2013

I'm going to keep a series of practice logs as I progress to note what I do, how I feel, and other things that happen during my yoga practice.

Tonight was the gentle beginner class at Yoga Tree in Keene, New York. I've been practicing there with Robin, the owner and instructor, since she opened it in February. It's an old garage that has been converted into a warm, vibrant, energetic space for practice and healing.

There were three students in tonight's class. One of the many great things about Robin as an instructor is that even if just one person shows up, that one person will have some one-on-one yoga instruction for that class.

None of us were beginners by any means, so we talked at the beginning of class about what we wanted to do. Robin had mentioned that she wanted to do a more meditative class that evening, and I was all for that. My mind had been racing all day, alternating between the lists of things I have to do before I leave in two weeks, worrying about that trip (what if I get sick again? what if I miss my flight? what if they can't use my segments?), and trying to stay awake. (Last night, I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and couldn't fall back asleep until around 6.)

Another thing that Robin says is that even if you want to just lie on the mat and take a nap during class, that's okay by her. And I totally see her point: chances are, if you're there, you're ready to do something. And if that something happens to be taking a nap, okay, at least you're being honest about it!

But tonight, we did some core work and some wonderful restorative yoga.

Core work was hard for me, as it always is. I don't think I've used my core since I had Colden via c-section five years ago. I don't get nearly as sore as I used to six months ago after doing the intense core stuff.

Then we moved on to some restorative work, like fish pose and shoulder stand, and it just felt amazing. Wonderful. Supported by blankets and bolsters and pillows, I could really relax for the first time all day and just let myself (and my worries) melt down into the floor and away.

We did a little bit of what I think was Reiki while we were sitting in square pose. Robin had us rub our hands together really fast until they were nice and hot, and then we held them about 3/4 inch apart. I slowly brought my fingertips together, but felt something in the space between my hands. It felt like a squishy, warm sponge, and I found that I could smoosh it back and forth between my fingers. I really didn't want to let it go, but I did.

Robin suggested that we keep the stillness with us as long as we could tonight. So I didn't turn on the radio, didn't check my cell phone, didn't do any of that on the way home.

It's amazing how loopy I get after a session of restorative yoga. It feels like someone has donked me on the head or something.

I came home quite and relaxed. Tom immediately thought that something was wrong, which struck me as strange - am I really usually that chaotic and boisterous?

At any rate, I did manage to keep the stillness for a while, ate some dinner, and am now preparing to try to get some sleep to make up for lost sleep last night.

One more thought I had: I wonder what it would take to start a seasonal yoga teacher training program here in the Adirondacks?