Monday 13 June, 2005

More advanced

After last week I made the decision to start going to the advanced classes more. It's true what Jason said - the basic classes often tend to be very easy - but on the other hand I've been a bit apprihensive about the advanced classes. It's hard to admit, but I guess partly it's an ego thing - so even the more reason to do it anyway. I've used to being the one the teacher asks to stand in the front of the class so newbies can take notice, and in the advanced classes I'm the newbie. But. I want to get ahead, I want to learn more, so I need to make the move towards the advanced classes.

So today I picked the later advanced class, and was prepared to suffer, at least bruises on my ego. Unfortunately Jason and Kelly are away, so in addition to a new class I got a new teacher too. I've never been to Kathy's classes before so I had no idea what they were going to be like. She has a very different teaching style and likes to mix things up - this is a bit unsettling for me as I like my routine (yeah, slap my wrist). For example, sun salutations are me-time for me: getting ready for practice, streching out, quieting down and directing the gaze inwards. But with Kathy, she liked to do lot of modifications - you know, moving legs from down-dog and holding them in different positions, going on elbows practicing for elbow stand and so on. All good excercises, but messed up my concentration routine a bit.

Turned out to be an ok class in the end - she just has a different style and I guess the lesson from this practice is to think about the fact that too much routine is not good either, you tend to get stuck in a rut. I actually made a proper advancement in the headstand, and although I was still practicing it next to the wall, I was able so stay up without support for about 20 seconds. Headstand is a cool asana, and I think I'll nail it in next month or so.

Posted by kolibri at 13 June 22:48, 2005
Comments
# 1 - Julie (on June 14, 2005 03:00 PM):

Well, I have a really difficult time with instructors "mix things up" too -- it's why i don't go to vinyasa type classes anymore. I think part of it is that it doesn't give me the deep sense of inwardness a regular practice does and also because I'm not so coordinated in my body that I tend to get confused... move what, where again?


# 2 - kolibri [TypeKey Profile Page] (on June 14, 2005 11:34 PM):

That's a good point, but then again I find that I need some variation. Primary series is good, but somehow I don't want it to be all. With a familiar flow instructor it's easier - you know what they want you to do, and you can do the poses instead of trying to figure out what it is that they mean.


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