Travel Yoga: A Bumpy Road

Jun 27, 2016 | Yoga Sequences | 2 comments

A Resident of Yuraygir National Park

A Resident of Yuraygir National Park

Practising self-forgiveness along the bumpy road

I thought it would be easy, but no. In two weeks of travel up the coast of NSW, I’ve only managed a few yoga practices. 

‘Just do it!’, I’ve advised students over the years. Set up a regular practice. Do it and you’ll reap the benefits. If you do your practice regularly, it will become an unbreakable habit.

Well, I’m feeling a little chagrined about the fact that habits are breakable. I’m not fitting in much practice time.

Worse, my body is suffering. I’m doing plenty of beach and bush walking but the driving takes its toll. So do cold nights sleeping in a camper trailer. I’ve been experiencing that, as a seventy year old, there’s no rest for old bones.

The last two days I’ve been back on the mat. It happened when I was staying with my friends Eric and Bev. Eric gets up early and does Bhuddhist practices–chanting, prostrations, that sort of thing. So I got drawn into his disciplined wake. Him praying and me nearby asana-ing. It would seem that doubling up on discipline creates a critical mass of resolve.

An extra Travel Yoga boost

Fortunately this week, I received inspiration from the BKS Iyengar newsletter; it was promoting International Yoga Day. In it was a practice designed by Mr. Iyengar that perfectly suited this increasingly tight body of mine.

I’ve printed this lovely sequence here so that you can reap the benefits, too. I’ve kept the Sansrit names for the poses. If Sanskrit is not your first language, refer to Light on Yoga. This book written decades ago still stands as a bible of yoga. Any keen students of yoga should have one. Failing that, there’s always Google to help decipher the names.

Adho Mukha VirasanaAdho Mukha SvanasanaUttanasana[If you have a regular practice of inverted poses, add those here.]Paschimottanasana, feet apartJanu SirsasanaTrianga Mukhaikapada PaschimottanasanaMarichyasana I – twistingMarichyasana I – forward bendingPaschimottanasana (feet together)Upavistha KonasanaBharadvajasana IMarichyasana IIIArdha Matsyendrasana IAdho Mukha SvanasanaSupta Baddha KonasanaSavasana

2 Comments

  1. Yes its always inspiring dear Eve to practice with others. Even if our traditions differ a little, the Guru Yoga I was doing, emerged from the same rich spiritual culture as Ienga Yoga. In that sense both yogas are imbued with the same principle of improving oneself, in order to help others.
    There is a lovely verse from Tokme Zongpo’s Thirty Seven Practices of a Bhodisattva: In everything we do, question how our mind is moment by moment. By being constantly present and aware, we can bring about what helps others. This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
    Big thanks for your yogic inspiration! Travel safe and warm.

    Reply
    • I think you (and Bev) are shining examples of kindness to others.
      BTW, the mandarins were delicious!
      xo

      Reply

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