Intercostal highway

The Practice of a Practice.

  Pranayama Breathing. Standing Deep Breathing.  The musings on this blog are on the practice of  Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class-

a series of 26 breathing and asanas designed to be complete workout of your entire body in 90 minutes.  This is a beginners class and all are welcome. Follow along as best you can and pay attention to two things, what is being said to you  in class and what your body is telling you.   For my first year I tried to pay attention to my feet and my fingertips in every pose.  I know where my feet and hands should start and end up in every pose. I know where they go and I know where they are supposed to go for the perfect posture. And that is why I try and practive as often as possible to bridge the gap between what is possible today and what is possible tomorrow. Slowly working my way up to and my ankles and wrists, and now these parts are beginning to strengthen and become more flexible. This year I hope that my joints  will join the party and become stronger and more flexible, along with my lungs. When people ask me how long it takes to perfect a single pose, I know they do not get it, not yet.  The best part of yoga practice is the practice. 

Bikram Yoga Tip of the day:Pranayama Breathing Standing Deep Breathing.  The first thing you will do Warm up from the inside out with yhis deep breathing exercise designed to stretch your lungs, and oxygenate your blood, waking you up for  good work out and stretch. Your wrists, shoulders and neck get a good  run for the money, too.   Pay attention with your mind and pay attention with your body. Focus 110% and the time will fly by. 

B Itchy (C)

Thursday's dinner guests for a spaghetti feed were a no show for "Eat at your own risk Thursday." For me, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, spaghetti on the menu chez moi.

Sunday waddled into class with big Buddha belly bloat. All tolerance for comfort foods gone.

Time to Breathe.

Minds chatters and yields a slogan for the "butts" of yoga pants ... ala juicy couture.

B Itchy. (c)
Spa wear for the AARP generation.

This is a visual joke.
You need to want to see it.

While in a savasana the yoga instructor announces a days in the row challenger was in class and was about to "get on the wall".

Linda Blair would have be proud of the head snap. Spine straight up. Neck muscles relaxed, head spun, lips barley touching, jaw loose, mouthing words "liar liar pants on fire" while profound finger gestures filled the air.

Yoga pose hint of the day: Standing separate leg forehead to knee pose.
Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana.
This pose follows the curvature of the spine, not a straight line like a plank.
Note: Too much spare flesh makes compression poses difficult.

to start Hips aligned, arms extended, elbows locked, forearms smashed into ears, no air between, palms and fingertips actively stretching out with maximum strength throughout the pose. Plant locked forearms with ears and curve neck back first before bringing chin down to the chest. Spine follows curving neck slowly down eyes look for the ceiling behind, head curled under. On the way down Hips aligned, arms extended, elbows locked, forearms smashed into ears, no air between, palms and fingertips actively stretching out with maximum strength throughout the pose. coming back up press arms and head smashed together, reach out with fingertips to slice a semi circle through the air from the floor to the walls and up to the ceiling apex, stretching fingertips out to all points of the 180 degree arc from floor to ceiling. Bring neck all the way back to your first bend, where the stretch started, and pull with all your might to the ceiling.

This circle awareness will slow the posture, maintain the spine curve. Use equal fingertip stretch to reach each point on the arc, see each degree as you pass it, this aligns hips and feet stay firmly planted as you return up.

Trying on new titles for size.
Decided Your Highness may be more apt then Your Majesty.