I am a loyal practitioner of Ashtanga yoga below the late Pattabhi Jois instructor lineage and have been practising yoga for 9 years.My instructor is predicated at a shala in London. I do not go typically and so have a solitary ‘Mysore type’ observe at 5 am, 6 days per week. It is extra a lifestyle than a self-discipline and it has taken years to get used to an early morning observe. I bear in mind a instructor saying to me as soon as that practising yoga at the moment of the morning will quickly turn out to be akin to brushing your tooth every single day. I could not fairly get it at the moment, however after years of getting myself on the mat, no matter how I felt, it really has turn out to be simply that.I’ve by no means actually discovered another train that works alongside yoga, though I’ve tried, and agree vastly with the saying that there can solely be one grasp. Nevertheless, 5 years in the past I began swimming and after only a few periods, I realised it simply labored. In truth I cherished it; there’s one thing actually stress-free about being immersed in water and being a water/moon signal, it type of is smart that it resonated a lot with me. Different train at all times appeared to work in opposition to yoga, however possibly as a result of swimming is in a method an throughout physique exercise, very like yoga, it labored with it. There have been instances when the swimming would improve and the yoga would undergo, bizarrely by no means the opposite method round, and after a while I discovered the steadiness with swimming three instances per week. About 6 months in the past although I began to get ache in my knee. Simply delicate at first, however because the months wore on it began to have an effect on my yoga observe. At instances it was painful to bend my knee into Padmasana or crossing my legs leaping by way of in vinyasa. Was it swimming?I banished the thought and continued, however ignorance was not bliss and the ache turned extra problematic. I sought the recommendation of a sports activities physio, who suggested it wasn’t actually my knee however my sartorial muscle, the place it turns into tendon near my knee. My breaststroke leg motion being the issue. In my regular ‘Google fanatic’ vogue I discovered solace in YouTube and watched some Olympic swimmers who demonstrated completely different breast stroke leg methods. Lastly, the reply!Or not. Though the leg motion modifications had been delicate, they had been sufficient to make the swim expertise a special one. That is not essentially a foul factor, nevertheless it eliminated the relief aspect and though it was at all times nice what swimming did to tone my physique, a big a part of it was the way it made me really feel. That had gone. It was extra like I used to be having a stroke than doing one. Nonetheless, I battled on, decided to grasp the brand new breast stroke kick.Lastly, final Saturday, really, I made a decision sufficient was sufficient. If the relief and delight that made me love swimming a lot had gone, then maybe it was time to let the swimming go too. I imply it is to not say I can not ever swim, however I realised my physique was telling me in any other case and that for now I wanted to let it go. I cancelled the membership the place I swam and contemplated about what to do subsequent…Being a solitary soul (I make money working from home so spend most of my day alone) I made a decision I wanted to hitch some lessons, discover new actions and meet different folks. Once I say solitary soul, I imply I’m a little bit of a hermit. I will make plans to go combine with the folks of the world after which change my thoughts and retreat again into my dwelling sanctuary. It isn’t that I do not like folks, I assume I’ve simply allowed myself to turn out to be that method.I concluded, what higher class exercise works higher with yoga than yoga! Other than once I did my instructor coaching and the odd Ashtanga class with the instructor lineage below which I observe, I’ve by no means attended yoga lessons…… and so begins my journey. Being the all or nothing lady I’m, I made a decision I would do a gargantuan journey by way of as many alternative yoga lessons as I may; no expectation. Ashtanga is woven intrinsically into my being and stays in my coronary heart to be savoured at 5 am, however the lessons, nicely who is aware of.108?The sacred quantity.108 connects the moon, solar and earth. The common distance of the moon, solar and earth is 108 instances their respective diameters.Based on historical Vedic knowledge (the oldest on this planet) 108 is the variety of wholeness of existence. There are 108 sacred websites, often known as pithas (no not the bread form!) all through India, 108 Upanishads (Sanskrit assortment of historical texts central to Buddhism and Hinduism) and 108 marma factors (typically often known as strain factors) which can be deemed sacred locations all through the physique. There are additionally many different important references to 108 being a sacred quantity.Historically, prayer beads, typically known as garlands or malas are available a string of 108 beads, plus one which represents the guru bead. You utilize the mala to rely as you repeat a mantra (not Hail Mary!)The 108 beads circle the guru bead very like the planets circle the solar.Yogis typically give reverence to 108 by performing 108 surya namaskar or solar salutations at Spring Equinox.Nicely for me, 108 weaved its magic into my life within the type of the variety of lessons I’m going to attend… the primary one I’ve to say wasn’t fairly the place to begin I had hoped for…
