Sunrise yoga

Today's yoga practice was amazing. Last week I had so much tension in my legs that it was hard to enjoy the moves, but this week it all came together. My legs are so stiff but I was able to push myself, I think. My intention for the day is "resilience". I don't want to give up so easily!

I need to focus on proper form (doesn't everyone?). Today my teacher corrected my sun salutation, from forward fold to standing to back bend. I tend to keep my back rounded, when I should be keeping it flat, just like when you fold forward in the first place.  The only time the back should be rounded is during ragdoll pose, when you shake out your back first thing in the practice. I am happy I was able to learn something new.

When I do boat pose, it's very difficult to keep my legs in a straight line. I think I need to strengthen my core to be able to really keep them high, and eventually straighten them out and upwards. Teacher mentioned a useful trick to make sure you're sitting on your buttocks, and not your tailbone: from seated with bent knees, walk your feet in towards your butt until they naturally lift up from the ground.

I also need to remember to always keep my shoulders rolled back and down from my ears. 

Saturday yoga is one of my favorite things, especially on days like these where everything just comes together. I wake up at 5.45 and stumble into my clothes, have a sip of water, and start the half hour drive to the beach. Today the hills were covered in mist, and for those few minutes after the sunrise the sky was a beautiful pink color. The morning drive is peaceful, quiet, with few cars on the road, most of them still with the headlights on. Once I reach the beach, it's bright outside. The ocean was calm and shining like a pane of glass. Fishing boats rest further out in the bay. The sounds of swallows swooping down to catch breakfast are muted by the lapping of the waves. 

I just feel so incredibly peaceful after today's practice, and I really appreciate that, because I know it's a fleeting feeling. I was able to fully relax and enter a meditative state for the first time in a very, very long time. I feel like I'm on the right track with my practice. I don't want to take a break! 

What I love about yoga is that it connects the mind with the body. We work on our muscles, stretching them out and strengthening them, while connecting our minds to that feeling. And afterwards, we thank our body for being able to do all of that, for being able to exert itself and then relax, which puts our minds in a calm state. I find it hard to explain. I just really appreciate it.