Wow, I haven't written in my Bikram blog in almost three months! I did let extended periods of time slip by without going to class (I think the longest was two and a half weeks), but I still go fairly regularly. In fact, today I started my second 30 day challenge! Three cheers for discipline. I am really excited about maintaining a steady practice and not having to feel guilty about skipping class anymore, or at least for a month. I mean, I have been on and off and it's got to stop. My sister said we should just feel good about the fact that we still go to class after 7 months, even if it isn't as consistent as we'd like.
Anyway, for anyone that's just started and is dissatisfied with their flexibility, I've got some good news: just keep at it. It comes. Today was actually a breakthrough for me, as the top of my head grazed my mat in Standing Separate Leg Head-to-Knee for the VERY FIRST TIME! It actually freaked me out for some reason. I spoke to an instructor after class and he said I should start reaching for my heels instead of the sides of my feet from now on; for some reason, I've never attempted this. I should mention that I always had a lot of trouble with this pose and it took me ages to be able to lock out my knees - for a long time I couldn't even grab the sides of my feet. Meanwhile, my sister's head touched the ground months ago! I am just not flexible, so this is truly amazing. After I locked out my knees it was steady progress.
My strongest pose is probably Standing Bow, right side. Left side has improved immensely, but there is no question that I can go deeper and just feel more comfortable on the right. My body just likes this pose for some reason, which kind of surprises me. I was never able to do the full splits in any direction despite taking a bit of gymnastics as a child, so I know that I have limits in this posture, but I can see a lot of my leg coming up over the top of my head now--thigh, even--and on the best days my torso is almost parallel to the ground. Through practicing and listening carefully to the dialogue I discovered some pretty good tricks in this pose. Here they are:
1. Yes, you have got to actively kick. The entire time. Kick up. However, don't waste all your energy at the beginning- spread it evenly to create a nice hum.
2. Speaking of energy, I think that losing it is the number one reason people fall out of the pose early. If you rev your engine too high, you'll waste all your gas before you're finished your trip, so remember that hum. 60 seconds has never felt so long, so learn to conserve energy and relax wherever you can. ALL you're doing is kicking and stretching. Period. Otherwise, relax and focus.
3. Get that torso down. Pull as you go lower.
4. Grip higher on your ankle than you have been. Don't be touching your foot at all.
5. Use that last 5 or 10 seconds at the end wisely and go to your edge. Go beyond your edge. Believe me, it pays off!
6. FOCUS POINT! Find one. It's absolutely necessary for holding balance. I know because my balance is naturally the shits.
What else? Standing Head-to-Knee is still incredibly challenging, but I definitely lock my knees out for a period of time nowadays, especially the left knee. The right still wavers. Kicking out happens on both sides, and I've even begun to lower myself, but it's very tough and I do fall out all the time still. This is another pose (well, I guess this applies to all of them) where you must relax and focus for balance and stamina. Everything is resting on that knee.
Wow, when did Triangle get so bearable? I was reading over a few previous entries and it reminded me of how much I used to dread this pose. Not anymore. It's still tough but man, the way I felt about it before...I complained bitterly! Now that it doesn't burn me out completely I am working really hard on my form and stealing glances in the mirror when I can. I have a ways to go but it's coming along.
I still balk at spine-strengthening series during tougher classes. It's just so much damn effort! My legs do go up higher in Locust these days, thankfully, but I've got to say that it still takes a lot of effort for me to give it my all. I still slack sometimes. Must work on that.
Lots more to say but I should get to sleep so I can wake up early for class tomorrow (hehe). I do want to mention that in terms of flexibility, the third portion of Head-to-Knee is also among my most improved poses. My head is nowhere near my feet yet but I am also very far from where I started. No more pain. It's gone! Just pulling.
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