Moments...

I have been struggling with Chakrasana all through the years. And viola today I held the pose for 15 secs Yippee Yeah Yeah. The headstand and plow pose is still struggle for me; but patience and I will do it!! So this was June 28th....and now Nov 28th... Chakrasana for a minute (WOW 60 secs) Plow pose - halasana a little better now and even hold for 20 secs Yippee Yeah Yeah Headstand till to be conquered. Next coming is Bow pose - go deeper into it, Paschimotasana (Seated forward bend). Let's see what 2020 holds for me.

“I am so close, I may look distant. So completely mixed with you, I may look separate. So out in the open, I appear hidden. So silent, because I am constantly talking with you.” –  Rumi

A mindfullness retreat or any retreat always has this poetry... The Guest House This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. — Jalaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks ( The Essential Rumi )

The Uses of Sorrow | Mary Oliver Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift.

Teachers make or break your practice. The encouragement from them will enable you to correct and enthusiatically continue your practice. Everyday is a learning. Today I learned how to hold myself in kakasana / crow pose. I improved a lot and am happy with my advancement. Thank you teacher!!! Also I chanced upon this blog which very neatly and simplifies to describe the difference between Mountain Pose and Downward dog. https://www.thanyapura.com/blog/yoga-talk-downward-facing-dog-mountain-poses-wellness/ Thanks!

A couple of years back, I started my yoga journey. It was quite on and off. I enjoyed it at times, I hated it at times, I couldnt make up my mind frankly. I wasnt sure I wanted to be in the path. I am not sure if I was unhappy with my yoga teachers or was it the level of difficulty. Then one day, I took the leap of faith and enrolled myself into a yoga certification program. I had to commute for nearly 1.5 hours one way to reach that school. It was a weekend program for a year. It was again a hate and love relationship. The commute was tyring and the teachers were least bothered or concerned about real teaching. They just ticked and did their job. But I made good friends over there and just to meet them kept on going. At the end when I received the certificate, sadly it wasnt a very honest one. After the course ended I quit yoga. But there was something a deep in me which kept gnawing me towards yoga. And I am glad I did it. I started to read a lot of materials / reasearch papers....