Pain, Part 2

OK, so today the opening started show how it will manifest itself. Still, my back has been killing me all weekend but in back bends today I felt great. Super open and strong. So I told Sharath that I was experiencing pain but felt open. He said "Today, you go back, it's possible". Lo and behold he was totally right. I took my time did a few warm up half bends after 6 or 7 urdhva dhanurasana, Slowly, felt the muscles engaged in my quads and lower bhandas and then put my arms back and went. Surprisingly, I floated back, didn't bonk my head, kept my arms soft but strong, mainly didn't let my bhandas collapse and landed gently on my hands. WHOO WHOO! It was such an amazing feeling. Most importantly, I didn't have any fear. I believe that is what has been holding me back up until now. I fell pretty hard on my head back in September and got scared. But I feel so strong after this 2 months in India and all is coming together these last few weeks.

So, I am convinced that the pain is an opening and will subside soon. I just need to stand up now. I will keep my attention to this and try not to let the fear in.

It just shows how when you truly trust your teacher how much can come from that. He said it's possible and I believed him, and he was right. Such a great day!!!

Pain

I have experienced pain with my practice in the past and I am going through it again. In the past the pain has always occurred right before my body has opened or I have been really working a particular posture. This time it is Supta kormasana. This is an all encompassing posture that is a killer. Before getting to Mysore I really believed that I would never get this posture and I was OK with that. Then Sharath (my teacher) stopped me on it in Primary series, which was surprising as I really believed that I just couldn't do the posture. So, it forced me to focus on it. Now doing it a few times each practice to really focus on it. The pain has been building all week. So, I can look at this as a positive thing and hope that it means that my body is opening. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

The only problem with all of this opening pain is that there is no telling how long it will actually last. It could be a week, or months. We will just have to surrender and see where it takes me, trying to always remember that it isn't about the postures.

expectations

Isn't it funny, for all those that have come to Mysore, how what you expect to happen here never does but other things happen instead? No matter how much I tried not to set goals for my practice while I was here, I still did. AND none of those expectations were met, however new and glorious things have happened. The lesson? Just be with it no matter what it is. I love that.

2 weeks left here. Sad to be leaving but happy to see my hubby again.

These are my beautiful little sisters, Hayley and Makayla Lucas. I miss them and can't wait to see them next. Only problem is that I live on the other side of the country and have no idea when I am going to get there??????!!!!! Bummer.

Love you girls!

A long time and so much has happened

Hi all,

I am back in Mysore, with 3 weeks left here. I have really enjoyed my time. Such a growing experience as it usually is. Things I have done here this trip; Ayurveda foundational course with Dr. Kumar at Dixit Health Clinic, Went further with my Sanskrit studies, lost weight, as I always do, became physically stronger, became mentally stronger in my resolve, did my first pancha karma (Indian cleanse with Dr. Kumar), learned to surrender more, learned that I can do whatever I set my mind to, discovered that I really love coming here but I miss my husband terribly and 2 months is probably the limit from now on, made new friends, saw a lot of old ones, drank a lot of coconuts, chanted a lot, started to find more meaning in the yogic texts (thanks James), have learned that refined sugar is not a necessity of life and I can do just fine without it, discovered that kitcheri can be good as a daily diet and you can make it taste differently every day, ate at home more, better.

That is it in a nut shell. More to come on my adventures.