om...ow...om

i'm starting my next yoga series this weekend. it was the highlight of my weeks for awhile earlier this year. but as my baby bump grew and i could do less and less sirsasana, bhujangasana, and urdhva dhanurasana, i had to call it quits for awhile. i just couldn't assist students the way i wanted, what with the big belly in front and being able to lift/support less and less weight that wasn't my own.

making the plans for this next six weeks has been exciting. i've updated my website and contacted my previous students. i've started to peruse my ipod in search of a new playlist and have cracked open some old books from my teacher training for inspiration.

but... one thing i didn't do... until yesterday.... is remind myself that i haven't really had a strenuous, serious yoga practice since, oh, i don't know, JULY. i unfurled my mat on my kitchen floor (praying to GOD a mouse didn't decide to join me...) and started with some surya namaskar A. whoa. the backs of my legs were like tight rubber bands and as i folded forward they groaned and resisted, pulling my tail bones down toward my knees. i exhaled, bent further and kept it up, slowly warming and stretching them up, but that was a new feeling. for chaturanga, my triceps quivered. and in adho mukah svanasana, i had to really push my shoulder blades back to keep them from melting toward my ears. what happened to my arm and back muscles? when did my leg muscles get so short?

and this was just the beginning.

i couldn't balance on my triceps in bakasana. and forget parsva bakasana, which used to be my favorite arm balance. even if my arms happened to be strong enough to hold myself, i couldn't get my spine into the deep twist needed to begin this asana at step 1.

its a good thing yoga isn't about being perfect. i know, i know. i will work hard to honor where i am and live in the present moment, as i instruct all my students to do and as all my teachers instruct me.

but you can also bet your hiney i'll be working all this week and the weeks to come to get back to the strength, balance and muscle length i enjoyed before.