Practice in the body you have today, so said AJ on a YouTube video she released on moon day eve about self care. The oil Bath thing I never got in to, far too much mess, but simple advice like practising in the body you have today and also the mind you have today, especially as we (I) get older and have come to realise I just can’t physically bash out my full , given practice 6 days a week without being wrecked for the rest of the day.
Practice needs to be sustainable and also enjoyable, though we all have those days when we slog through, dreaming of breakfast as we sweat in Navasana.
It’s a new year and it’s back to the shala on Sundays again, plus the odd visit to the local studio. I did both this week, same practice, but different experiences, Friday at the local seems noisy, the teachers giving a lot more verbal instructions in the studio and to the people connecting via zoom, I find it hard to be in my own headspace and quiet space with the distraction. The room also feels very open with windows down the length of 2 sides.
AYL on Sunday is a different world, it’s warmer, darker, more like a cocoon, the quiet focus, whispered instructions, the friendly waves and smiles across the room. Despite being in the centre of London, next to a main line station and the HS2 project, it’s quiet, the loudest noise is the occasional call of “one more”, it’s so much easier to be in my own little world by the window. It seems to take less effort, asana flows, as does the sweat and sooner than my brain expected I’ve done Laghu Vajrasana and it’s just backbends and closing to go.
This environment is definitely conducive to my full practice, it’s not a mind fuck to get on the mat, it just happens as if by magic, with the odd bit of “tidying up” by Louise.
The monthly AYL yoga study group is finally starting in March, philosophy, chanting, asana, theory & practice.
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The Journey of my practice 
