#365yoga Fail!

I've neglected the blog this week. Since the blog is more or less a reflection of my yoga lifestyle, it's not a stretch to note that I feel like I've hit (and succumbed) to a #365yoga obstacle.


Lately I've been seeing other blogs here and there asking, "how do you keep your yoga fresh?" I would love for someone to step up and pass on some suggestions regarding how to keep going with #365yoga when the body starts to fail you?


Side note: you can win a MeSheeky outfit from YogaDork if you comment on how you're keeping your #practice fresh here ... the contest ends tomorrow, so don't delay!


After my long, slow, deep vinyasa session on Tuesday evening, my mindset turned cranky (at lightning speed). Throat sore, I cuddled into a warm bed for a good night of sleep and potentially, recovery. This wasn't the case.


I struggling my way into work on Wednesday morning, only to stick it out until noon. Influenza. Full-blown. Unable to keep myself warm and think clearly ... and nearly unable to ambulate, given the sudden lack of balance and severe pains running up and down my spine, I hunkered back down into bed. Still committed to #365yoga and not hindered by fluid in my lungs or congestion (yet), I settled for a supine ujjayi practice.


Thursday came and went without any improvement in my health condition. Although I was spiking a fever, I climbed up into the Ethereal Room for a Lasater-esque restore session. I found some inspiration in the practice, mostly driven by the discovery of the Do As One website (I found this through a Yoga Journal blog posting).


Friday rolled around. Still committed to #365yoga and repeating to myself one of Patanjali's sutras:

1.13 The practice of yoga is the commitment to become established in the state of freedom;

I ascended the ladder and plopped down on my mat for a Yoga Nidra session, using a recording from Richard Miller's book Yoga Nidra: A Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing. By this time, a whooping cough and intolerable sinus congestion accompanied the aches and pains. It didn't make for the most productive Yoga Nidra session (hard to relax amongst all that hacking) - but still working the name of #365yoga and the commitment to liberation. :)


The hacking and drainage increased in severity on Saturday. Another Yoga Nidra session was out of the question. I still needed to find a practice that was still for periods of time but where a cough or a sniffle wouldn't completely tear me from my point of focus. I looked to Bernie Clark's YinSights: A Journey into the Philosophy and Practice of Yin Yoga and selected a recommended passive sequence for the Liver. My reasoning was, that since the Liver is seen as a critical point for the vitality for the body as a whole, it might be a good approach. In the rearview mirror, I must say, I really like this sequence and will be revisiting it to assess its effect on a healthier body.


Today, however, I woke up with conjunctivitis in both eyes. Come on, universe! I guess my body is really trying to tell me something.


This post was going to have an air of indignation ... but my blurry vision just passed over some of my notes from last night's yoga session. In short, the gist of the note was to remind me that I could meet (i.e., welcome/surrender) the experience that arises after entering a posture or I could meet (i.e., challenge/resist) the experience that arises after entering a posture. Even as my body is continuing to throw me a curve ball or two (which, let's be real here, the curve balls are only going to be here for a very short period of time), I still have a choice re how to respond.


Maybe I'll stay out of the Ethereal Room today, but I'll practice yoga some other way.