These weekend classes present a challenge all their own. Today, I had nothing but water before class. So while stamina wasn't an issue at all yesterday, today it was something of a problem.
The room was hot. I started sweating even before I got my mat rolled out. And it felt really humid. I took a new spot, mostly because my usual spot was already taken. But it had good circulation (I prefer a convection oven.), and it was just fine.
I put some extra effort into pranayama today. I think its a bit too easy to slack off in this exercise, so I really concentrated today on honing in on all the dialogue hints as they came up. I think the humidity, combined with the extra effort here really took away some of my limited energy. By the second half of Awkward Pose, I was already struggling for air. I tried concentrating on my breathing, but it didn't get better for awhile.
So I was sucking air for much of the standing series. On the plus side, my hip felt a bit better today. I did the first forward bend with good form, just to the point of feeling the stretch in my hip. And I did the same in the other forward bends. For the most part, I felt like I was back in about the same form as I was before the five day break. So all that was good.
Then I got a bit overwhelmed in Triangle, and had to sit out a set. That doesn't happen much these days. The main cause here was how hard it felt in my left butt when trying to bend the leg. Between that, and the humidity, I just felt like I couldn't hold it and gave up. It's funny, if it were Zeb's class or Libby's, I probably would have stuck with it anyway. Well, maybe.
By the floor series, for some reason, things had cooled down quite a bit. And the floor was like any regular class over the last couple of weeks, with one exception: In Camel, first set, I got the overwhelming rush that I have heard about from others but never really felt before. I don't know what happened, but I just got this incredible dizzying feeling coming to my head and felt a bit disoriented. I had to come out of the pose early. My breathing was normal, but I felt so weird. Second set, and it was gone. At least now I know firsthand what they are talking about when they say that Camel can do strange things to your head. If it happens again, I think I will probably be able to stick with it. I came out today, I think, as much from the surprise as from the feeling itself.
Other floor poses were good, especially back strengthening and Fixed Firm. I felt like I was working harder in Full Locust and Bow. And I got back on my elbows again in Fixed Firm.
The near breakthrough, however, came in Final Savasana. Recently, I've had little patience for this. I think that may be a result of just having spent so much time in the room. Today, Final Savasana was actually relaxing and a pure pleasure. I think I may have a harder time meditating than most people. My mind tends to race, and making it sit still is a trick I still haven't learned very well. But today, I felt some stillness at the end while lying still. For the most part, I find more meditation in focusing on what I'm doing in the poses themselves. But I think there is a huge difference in the effect of that sort of concentrated focus, and in just trying to be still while lying there. For some reason, today I got a taste of that sort of meditation, and it encourages me to put more time into Final Savasana later.
On the hip healing front: during the afternoon, it felt a bit sore, but it has gotten better again as the day has gone on. So, no signs so far that I have re-aggravated anything. Bill Johns told me that the best advice that he has gotten about Bikram is: "Be kind to yourself." Maybe treating this hip/butt/nerve problem will give me some lessons and experience in being kind to myself.
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