Yoga Envy

I'm almost done with my 30 day yoga program. The price included 5 classes per week. I have done pretty well with hitting that mark.
I have been practicing mainly 1 form of yoga for about 3 yrs. This was mostly because of money. It was a great deal, they let me clean the studio in return for free yoga. When I could no longer do that, I would just attend the classes when my friend was teaching and she didn't seem to mind letting me slide in gratis.

Here in OZ, I have discovery several veins of yoga. I have been fully taking advantage of the discounts and deals offered to a newcomer at a studio. It's usually "pay for one class and get 7-10 for free". Making the rounds with this, I have seen lots of yogis.

I also use my gym membership to attend our gym yoga. Just to say this, there IS a difference between gym yoga and studio yoga. You only know this if you have done both. Due to our normal gym instructor, Jerrod, taking holiday, we have had the pleasure and boredom of having substitutes. Some of them suck (boredom), but a few are really good and bring a kind twist to our normal routine. While we love the diversity, we welcome the return our long time teacher and his soothing voice. Recently coming from a NY holiday, I think he realized he is far too kind to us and is pulling out some new poses to challenge our practice.

Back to the studio...I am normally pretty comfortable in class. I can do a lot, but that has come with work and practice. Sometimes though, just sometimes there is a crazy yogi - like a human pretzel- that shows up. The last 2 days, Miss Bendy has come to class. It's not so much that I want to be like her (yes it is), but I really just want to watch. Like in most situations, staring is not allowed in yoga class. It's not the normal poses she does that I want to see, it's the ones I'm not good at...like I'm not able to do a headstand, tripod or crow. Somewhere between kindergarten and turning 31, I have unlearnt tripod. Crow is the same thing, only your head isn't touching the ground.

This is me attempting to do crow. The second the flash went off, I toppled over.

So, Miss Bendy can do tripod into headstand. It's pretty fucking amazing. A few others can do it too, it's just that she does it like an acrobat. Now, not to be funny, but there just happens to be an acrobatic school in my neighborhood so in all probability, she could be circus folk.

While in class with her yesterday, I thought up yoga envy. Then we both returned to class today. During class the teacher said something along the lines of "doing what your body can and not pushing it just so the pose looks good." This was an excellent reminder that yoga comes with time. Then I thought of golf. Golf comes with time. Then I thought of parenting. Then keeping up with the Joneses. And it just came back to me. About everything. I have to be reminded not to compare myself to others. My yoga practice is great and I discover new limits every time I try. It's like that with everything. I have to work with what I have. I have to work within my limits, but it's okay to push and challenge and hopefully grow.

This is bridge (or full back bend), it's the hardest thing I can do. My friend Nan helped me with it when she was here in Feb. When I say help, that means my ass was the same height as my knees and she wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled up. See...that's how it's supposed to feel. Ugh.

I only took the photos, because I've spoilt you with this format forever! Using self timer and then getting into the poses was a challenge! If I could have swung a golf club instead, I would have. Muahh!