Yesterday was my boys’ Parent-Teacher Conference. I had to visit several teachers and this got me walking up and down the various floors, from 3rd to 5th floors. After the last teacher, I headed off to the gym to do a round of yoga.

These have been really cool days so after my usual 2 laps on the treadmill, I felt like I could do a lot more so I upped my walking to 3 laps, then 4. All in all — 25 minutes of treadmill. And if not for the time, I believe I could have done still another lap.

This would be my 3rd self-practice this week and slowly, my muscles are remembering what I used to do. After my first yoga, the muscles began hurting (in the shoulders, my arms, back of my legs). As I began my routine, I realized that there was no sign of pain where I was hurting a few days ago. At least if there was any, it was tolerable.

I took my Surya Namaskars very slowly, trying to hold each one at 4 breaths each and making sure I paid attention to alignment and breath rather than doing it at a hurried pace. In a sense I was glad I wasn’t in a formal class where I had to catch up with everyone else. This time, I could go into the pose slowly, at my own pace, taking care that I did no abrupt movements that could cause injury. I went on to balancing poses, twists, forward bends, the shoulderstand, and chest opening asanas. And during Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), I extended my outstretched arm further back than I would do in a vinyasa class — the Anusara way.

It just felt so good to do the familiar asanas once again!

I still have not dared many of my ‘enemy’ poses for fear of injury but over the next few yoga sessions, I will attempt them once again. My greatest difficulties, as always are the hip opening poses as well as those involving my shoulder joints due to tightness and inflexibility.

Wish me luck!

Namaste.