Week 13:

Monday, 11 June: Endless wait for the bus so arrived late and flustered.  Not a great practice in terms of mindfulness as was more occupied by the hassles arriving and the many, many pulled muscles in my legs and upper arms courtesy of a vigorous dressage lesson on Sunday.  Aching a lot, think I might need to take tomorrow as a rest day. 

Wednesday, 13 June: Full house today for yoga in Bloomfield. 6 of whom 2 were first-timers and very bulky (slightly rowdy) rugby players.  Did a warm up on all fours. Followed by some modified surya namaskars and surya namaskars with lunges.  I had planned the class to target core and upper body for my long term students so we did dolphin, and leg lifts (which stopped the giggling).  As my rugby players have very tight hamstrings and hips I left out the more challenging hip openers I'd planned and did a seated sequence and some twists, finishing off with happy baby for giggles.

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 June: Anatomy and physiology weekend.

Week 12: 4 June 2012

Tuesday, 5 June: Working at home on a wet and grey Tuesday, so decided to try out my local yoga school in Ranelagh.  Very disappointing, but some useful pointers about what not to do: (1) set out bundles of props for all the student – just messy; (2) speak softly – you are not a PE teacher; (3) surya namaskars should be guided to some extent – otherwise the students do different things and end up not knowing what direction to face or what side they are on when the S.N leads straight into another asana.  Only useful thing was an exercise to stretch the quads – knee on a soft block, leg bent back with the foot pressing against the wall at hip height.

Wednesday, 6 June: Rory H., S and G for class this evening.  I’m going to try to focus on shoulder strengthening exercises to help the boys with their Adho Mukha Svanasana. Grace is excellent and has been doing yoga for years so I assist her into a  handstand and we try out a few arm balances.

Thursday, 7 June: 20 minutes of self-practice before work.

Friday, 8 June: Caught in traffic because of the rain so eventually gave up on making the 6pm class and arrived home hungry and tired.  Short practice by myself so took the opportunity to practise the arm balances with which I continue to struggle. Just about got into a Parsva Bakasana (side crow) and a Bakasana (crow).  Somewhat like headstands I think it will just happen in a few weeks.

Saturday, 9 June: Up unusually early and out for 9.30 class in Yoga Room.  Really challenging practice with a substitute teacher whose name I missed.  Incorporated elements of kundalini and movement with the breath that I think would be a great warm up for my beginners – and has the added advantage that they will feel a little silly while doing it!  A much slower practice with poses held for longer, really felt the effects after.

Week 11: 28 May 2012

Monday, 28 May: Regular 6.15 class in the Yoga Room.  Inversions are getting a lot easier!

Tuesday, 29 May: Rory H. got another private yoga session.  We’ve eventually mastered downward dog – he the pose, I the teaching.  Resolve to go to a few beginners classes to get inspiration for my own.

Week 10: 21 May 2012

Saturday, 26: A week of referendum work got in the way of any yoga practice this week, so atoned with an early morning class in the Yoga Room with Michael.  A lot of shoulder strengthening work, which led somewhat expectedly to a Pincha Mayurasana.  Lot more comfortable this time.

Week 9: 14 May

Monday, 14 may

6:15 yoga with Brian. Always feel like the whole room is working together during this class.

Wednesday, 16 may

Gave my friend R. a one hour beginners’ class.  Introduced some modified surya namaskars with lunges and hip openers.  All the boys have really hunched and tight shoulders.  Need to look for exercises to loosen them.

Thursday, 17 may

6:15 ashtanga in Samadhi. First headstand on my own! Never been to one of jess's classes. Really good way to teach utthita hasty padgustasana by doing it first lying on the floor then using a wall for balance and a strap.

Sunday, 20 May

 45 mins self-practice using a sequence Tony did with us.  Started with 5 Surya Namaskars a & b to build up some heat and wake me up after a busy weekend.  After several attempts – and a short rest – finished with a headstand.  Again need to be more conscious of the value of incorporating rests!

Week 8: 7 May 2012

·         Monday: Enjoying the practice but can’t work up much enthusiasm for the sutras/ chakras/ etc.

·         Tuesday: Lots of inversions incl first successful supported head and handstands.  Feel a little dizzy and nauseous by the end of the day.

·         Wednesday: Real life always seems determined to intrude into my head once everyone else is back at work so a little hard to focus today.

·         Despite feeling like I never wanted to see a yoga mat again, gave the boys a short class based on Ciara's gentle Hatha sequence. Lots of lying down! Forget how challenging downward dog can be if you're not flexible. Arms and shoulders are a surprising problem.

Week 7:

·         Monday: aching after yesterday.  Have to work late so missing my usual class : (

·         Wednesday: tried out teaching sequence on reluctant, inflexible boyfriend.  Think he’s hooked.

·         Saturday: Module 2 begins