Yoga: Lightening Up

I know, I know, it's hard to believe but here's an actual yoga post!

I changed my mind this morning.

I've been pretty beat of late with the many projects I'm working on. Though I've been practicing daily I've not had the rock hard attitude that I usually carry with me. I'm sure some of you know exactly what I mean. I often take yoga a bit too seriously and my practice becomes quite stern and mechanical. It's my impression that when doing a long term Ashtanga practice this can happen. So this morning and yesterday I started playing with lightening up my mind and body. Instead of going into every asana as deeply as possible and working really intensely on focusing my mind to the breath and the bandhas I've relaxed a bit. I'm still going completely into each asana but not over extending my hamstrings or going too far into my twists. I've been relaxing my face muscles and working towards breathing more organically. This has been good for the practice as a whole. Yesterday, due to an early meeting I did primary up to Navasana as I worked on this mode. Today, I did full primary and though I fell into a stern mind set in some asana, did a pretty good job at keeping it light.

And, lest I forget to tell, 5 Urdhva Dhanurasanas can get you high as any illicit substance I've come across. Those messed me up today, whew! Changed MY whole perspective. :)

We'll see how it goes when I return to the mat post moon day on Friday. I'm not always going to be going for lightness, but it is important to mix up the energy on occasion.

Enjoy your moon day!
~Gregg