As the days pass, and I continue to test where my edges are, I find that my practice brings such a delicious relief to me-like the exhale...I find myself stretching alot over the course of the day, laying down on the mat here and there, using the steps, walls, table, and the counter. Some days my body hurts, and it doesn't feel good to extend and reach...i honor my bodies tempo...and I try again another time. I am humbled by the thought of how the beginning student must feel-body unfamiliar with the twists and turns of this movement. "A little bit of something is alot better than a whole lot of nothing" -Swami Satchidananda...his words I take to heart on a way deeper level these days!
Today I did my first downward dog!!! It felt good, yet some pressure in my head(havent been inverted for awhile!) and in my palm. I continue to do a modified practice, using the stairs as before, with the addition of some lateral stretches while on steps.
Another exciting step is that i can do a standing forward bend! I do not hold the pose very long. I can easily do warrior II, chair, squat, goddess,and triangle-all modified. I have also started to do some restoratives, like legs up the wall for 10 minutes at night. On 3/17/12 I was involved in a serious car wreck. It caused a broken neck(C2&C3) and multiple compound fractures in my left hand. I am starting this post 11 weeks after the incident, to share my journey back to yoga.
About 3 weeks after the wreck I was able to start doing some leg stretches. I was wearing a "halo" brace around my trunk and attached to my head-leaving my neck completely immobile and arms only able to lift part way. I would sit in the wheelchair and put my foot up on the bed(hip and bed level) and stretch a TEENY bit forward with each leg, a few rounds on each side. The other stretch I was able to do was a very slight twist(while seated), to the left was a bit easier.My left hand was totally un-useable at this time. At 4 weeks i went home. At home I started using the the carpeted stairwell. I would put my leg up 4 stairs and hold onto the railing with my right hand. This caused a very nice stretch and i would alternate legs 3 times for 30 seconds.Next i bent my knee on the 3rd stair and braced myself with the other foot and did a type of "lunge" there, trying to bring my opposite hip closer to the stair.repeat both sides 3x. At about 5 weeks i discovered i could get my leg/foot up one step higher and then turn away from the stairs and create a really good inner thigh stretch. Then adding the teenyist lateral stretch(the vest brace didn't allow for hardly any lateral movement). I also used the bottom step to create a calf stretch and top of foot stretch and to practice going up on tippy toes. At about 6 weeks I really needed to figure out how to stretch my quads(as I have been sleeping half seated this whole time). I could manage facing out on the stairwell and lifting and placing the top of my foot on the 4th stair and my knee(of the same leg) on the 2nd stair. I used the forearm of my left arm and my right hand to steady myself. The other side was a bit trickier but I was able to do it, and it felt delicious! On many days I then went into the kitchen and used the counter for a gluteus/hamstring stretch. I lifted one leg up to the counter and placed the shin in-line with the edge of the counter, then leaned forward and ahhhhh.... :))) And now i am at week 11. The halo has been off 2 weeks. I continue with the above routine and now have added many other poses. In September I had the opportunity to participate in the Yoga Journal Conference and represent Organic Valley. The 25th Annual conference was held at the YMCA of The Rockies, in Estes Park, CO. There were appx. 1500 teachers and participants from around the world in attendance. Organic valley had a booth in the exhibit hall to promote our new Body Organic booklet. OV was well received in the Exhibit Hall, with many people interested in Organic and Local farming and the correlation of organics and healthy lifestyle. Organic Valley also co-sponsored the much appreciated water stations at the conference. I also was able to attend many 2.5 hour seminars on different aspects of yoga. I had the good fortune of discovering and participating in “Acro Yoga”, which is a blend of acrobatics, yoga and Thai massage. Here the practitioner lies on her back and supports and balances the client up in the air, performing movements that help stretch and massage the body. Giving the participant a sense of freedom to feel and move the body in expanded ways. I was able to get “flown”, as they call it- It was amazing, it felt good to be getting an upside-down back- rub! And when he repositioned me, my hips were suddenly balanced upon his feet, guided to stretch my arms and look forward...i was flying! One of my favorite classes was with Alanna Kaivalya of NYC. It was the first class that I had ever been too that was 100+ people. The group energy was amazing. This master teacher led us through a yoga practice that brought together body, mind, spirit and a sense of community. She spoke such words of wisdom...reminding us that we take care of ourselves first and then can share that good feeling with those around us. This teacher reminded me that we have to start from deep within, to really feel our very best. And with that it is easy to be at our very best in our daily life. And Yoga is A Key. I am so excited to finally have created a website! it feels so good to have all my yoga offerings out to the world-wide-web!
This is just a start! i am really looking forward to having some pictures taken and posting them here. I want to create a visual reference for you all to refer to. perhaps even sample practice classes you can do at home! I also plan on posting my inspirational writings and introducing you all to what I study: The law of attraction/teachings of Abraham :) 2011...lookin' good! ~namaste~ |
AuthorI am Kumari Sky. Yoga lover.Life lover.Teacher by example. Inspirational guide.Namaste. Archives
January 2015
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