Thanks to simple steps, I’ve resumed my daily yoga practice with my ashtanga DVD, which I previously reviewed here. Sometimes when I’ve been away from it for awhile, I notice my legs ache when I first get back to it. This time it feels really comfortable; probably because of my daily weights and walking. For me, having a daily practice boils down to making the decision to do so. There are many reasons to skip a day, many excuses and other priorities, but once I have decided to make it a part of my day, it works for me.

I’m enjoying the standing poses. Practice is never boring, always fluid. There are so many things to focus on and challenge me; breathing, posture, alignment, lengthening, relaxing… My entire body feels strong, particularly the legs. As Mark keeps reminding throughout the DVD, “The strength of this posture is in the legs.”

“The standing poses are invigorating. They refresh the body and mind by removing tension, aches, and pains. They stimulate digestion, regulate the kidneys, and relieve constipation. They improve circulation and breathing. The back, hips, knees, neck and shoulders all gain strength and mobility through practice. The standing poses also teach the principles of correct movement. This is fundamental for the postures and also in everyday life, where they develop awareness of the right way to sit, stand, and walk.”

Ref: Yoga the Iyengar Way by Silva, Mira & Shyam Mehta

Trackback Post

Related Posts