Back on the mat

The first day back on the yoga mat, after 'getting out' of Vipassana. I have literally been dreaming of being reunited with my mat. Although Yoga and Mediation have the same common goal, doing it is just one the many things you must renounce whilst on the programme. Nevertheless, that didn't stop me doing a few illegal postures in the woods, when no-one was looking.

I am avoiding returning to London for as long as possible, to try and retain this beautifully calm and quiet mind I have developed over the past 10 days. So, I am in Norfolk at my parents and as soon as they leave for work I launch into Surya Namaskara and boy does it feel good! I wince and twist a couple of times, by way of habit because my lower back often protests, as a pull through from upward dog to downward dog, but quickly realise there is no pain. I feel fluid, supple and light. This is the theme for the entire session the postures are coming more easily to me now my body is not putting up so much resistance.

I practice for what must be over an hour, slightly put off my the thick carpet under the mat which seems to be affecting my balance, and float through a series of standing postures, kneeling postures, back bends, twists, seating postures and a couple of short inversions. I am trying to recall as much of the primary series as I can, without cheating and looking in a book. I do many of the postures, although I'm not confident they're in the right order.

I have been itching to do a headstand the entire time I was 'inside.' I usually need the wall for support, although my yoga teacher told me off for doing them in this way because it will teach me incorrect alignment. Whilst I agree, at the moment it's the only way I can do it and from my perspective it gets me used to being upside down which I always had a slight aversion to before.
I line up against the wall and tentatively kick up (again, I know this is bad but I can't help it). I do it with ease and it feels great, I try to correctly support the weight on my shoulders and hover one leg away from the wall, then the other. I wobble, but stay up there - my first unsupported headstand (sort of)! I am delighted. I can feel the difference in my alignment now and where my feet should be, when I do this posture unaided. Wall or no wall, right or wrong, this is progress.

I perform the closely sequence and lay down for relaxation. I put into practice the Vipassana technique, focusing on the my breathing and scanning my body for sensations. I feel good, I am relaxed and I can feel the Pranic energy flowing through my body. I bound off for a shower.