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.