Yoga

I was initially just going to do a monthly yoga post, but I have taken a lot of photos and videos these last few weeks, and I'm currently obsessed, so here goes.

I'm continuing to take Zoom classes with Eryca (ERL Yoga on FB) about three times a week, and I've even had a few blogger friends join in on the fun! At least once a week, Eryca and I have a play date, also on Zoom, that involves us doing "see a pose, try a pose" from various sources (Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, and our current favorite book, 2100 Asanas).We have mixed results. Some poses look harder than they are. Others look reasonable but we cannot contort ourselves into the shapes required.

Eryca has also been experimenting with various ways of teaching flows during a pandemic. This includes Facebook Live videos as well as IGTV. This week, we pooled our resources and she designed a yoga flow specifically for equestrians, which should drop on Thursday. I am definitely going to be recommending it to all my students as they try to get some of their "sea legs" back after lock down.

In between sessions with Eryca, I try to do a YouTube video every day, varying what body parts I target each session. Currently, I'm actively chasing splits, which I tend to do on Mondays.

While there are an infinite number of possible poses, and I'm constantly trying something new, I'm also having fun fine tuning poses I've tried before. Even though I'm still really new to this, I'm seeing some real progress already! Day to day, I don't feel any more balanced or flexible, but when I see what a pose looks like now compared to what it looked like a few short weeks ago, I am almost always impressed!

I still have sooooo many goals that I'm desperate to achieve, and I have to remind myself that flexibility does not happen over night, and that I'm still a greenie when it comes to all this. And I seriously need to start splicing together all the falling over,  graceless tumbling, and awkward hopping around videos into a blooper reel for the blog...

These photos were taken 33 days apart! I was so proud of myself when I got the first one. When I saw them side by side, my jaw actually dropped! 

I think this pose was my favorite discovery this month. It's called Fallen Angel and it looks super dramatic. In an ideal world, my bent leg would be pointing up.

Like so.

We've been practicing various binds, which should help open my shoulders up a bit. Julio is never far away during my practice.

Started playing with toe stands, which are one of those things that look easier than they are. My attempt at a baby cradle variation, which I cannot seem to find a Google picture of.

Screenshot from my book.

Spending some time playing around with firefly prep variations, even though I'm nowhere near being ready for firefly pose.

Spending some time upside down, as usual, and getting almost independent of the wall.

My hurdler's pose has improved dramatically.

I can do it on both sides. July 7th.

This was June 11th.

When we were playing around with fallen angel, we discovered flying side crow Some day this will be my "before" photo. 

Julio looking concerned after I face planted repeatedly.

This was one of our play sessions with see a pose, try a pose. A variation of thread the needle. 

This one was also in our book. It's a bird of paradise prep pose and was surprisingly easy. It's also a possible candidate for my upcoming naked yoga series.

Another attempt at flying side crow.

Julio looks concerned as I try to figure out a standing mermaid variation.

Better alignment a few moments later.

What it looks like when more flexible people do it.

Trying to straighten my legs out in side crow. Lots of wobbling involved.

The other side.

One of the asanas in my book looked absurd so I was goofing off and got surprisingly close. This is also the moment that I realized I would not be wearing these leggings in public ;)
"I just need to climb through my own leg hole!!"

It's called a Lizard Tail Lunge.

This was a pretty shape that we saw on IG. Puppy pose variation. Really working on melting my chest to the ground, which is hard.

Julio for the assist!

This face cleaning lasted a while.

Both sides!

My assistant checks in with my coach on Zoom.

This is coming along a little bit.

As a refresher, this is where I started in May.

And this is the goal.

More firefly prep. This should also help with humble flamingo, which is a pose I fail so spectacularly at that I don't even have photos.

I managed to get grasshopper on one side!! Lots of room for improvement, but this was a lifetime reach goal so I was tickled pink. I have not even gotten close on the other side.

I played around with shoulder stands, which I quite enjoy.

Using gravity to play.

I'M BIRTHING MYSELF!!!!

Pretzel pose (feet behind head) is another lifetime goal.

If you really want your mind blown, watch this three minute video of this average-looking guy who can just remove his bones apparently. Did not see that coming.

Working on keeping my spine long in forward folds. 

Playing with hand to toe.

I saw candy cane from the front on Pinterest and thought it looked cool so I had to try it.

Gate pose variation that looks really awesome but is actually pretty doable.

My other assistant rarely makes media appearances, but she made an exception at dinner time.

An attempt at flying pigeon for the first time in a while. 

Another IG-inspired pose. Yes, in jeans.

Revisiting compass.

I guess skeptical is just my face during this pose.

Trying to twist deeper while my obliques scream at me.

Compared to June 16th. 

Not even sure what you would call this one.

Tried photographing it from all different angles.

I was there and I'm still not sure which limb is going where.

This is another clothing optional one, whatever it is.

My most recent splits.

Compared to a month ago.

And now for my newest "before" pose. I recently discovered super soldier, which looks reasonable, but is actually just about impossible. This is as close as I've managed to get.

See, not even close.

And just me goofing off with more random IG poses in my free time. At least I've retained my arm/shoulder muscles through this lock down...?