I’m participating in my first Instagram yoga challenge and I’ve successfully completed three weeks of the month long challenge. I’m having a lot of fun with it and it’s definitely inspiring my practice. When I watch Michael Gannon and Minnar Martinez’s challenge videos it lights a FIRE under me. I want more than anything to get my handstand press and this challenge is making me want to commit to making that happen!
Week three started to introduce some more advanced postures. Get ready for some binding, twisting, bending and overall craziness!
Monday
Day 15 is one of my least favorite poses of primary series, tiryam-mukha eka-pada pascimottanasana. So freaking hard for me to keep my hips square while I fold.
Tuesday
Janu sirsasana series for day 16. Janu C has been IMPOSSIBLE for me since I started practicing ashtanga. My foot/ankle/knee will never bend this way and I’m at peace with that. Shall I ever make it to Mysore to practice ashtanga in India, I will probably get stopped at this posture! 😛
Wednesday
Maricyasana A and B for day 17.
Thursday
Maricyasana C and D for day 18. These poses are HARD. Intense binding and twisting. It took me a long time to be able to bind in Maricyasana D and it’s one of those poses that I make myself do on the regular even in power classes to make sure I still have it! I feel the craziest sensations when I come out of this pose. It definitely shakes you up.
Friday
Love, love, love navasana for day 19. I think navasana is the ultimate core challenge. Ashtanga primary series requires 5 breaths in navasana followed by “picking it up.” Example of how this challenge has inspired me…I have been able to jump back and jump through for years but I never knew I was strong enough to hang in lolasana between my navasanas until I saw Michael Gannon do it! Next step…press to handstand from lolasana! 🙂
Saturday and Sunday
I had to combine days 20 and 21 because I didn’t practice on Saturday and there was NO WAY I could get into titibasana after running 9 miles and not practicing first! I shot this after practicing on Sunday night. What you’re seeing here is bhuja pidasana to titibasana to kurmasana. These are all really hard poses for me due to my tight hamstrings but I work with what my body gives me and I remain grateful that I’m strong enough to lift and run in addition to my yoga. It’s all a worthwhile tradeoff.
Do you have a yoga goal? Is there a certain pose or skill you want to master?
I want to get into yoga! I really need to do it for flexibility. My muscles are SO tight!
I had to show my boyfriend these videos because I’m just so amazed at these videos. Thanks for sharing!!
Your videos are amazing (well, your flexibility and commitment to practice is what’s amazing! 😉 I clicked over those links and saw some of the other IG challenge videos – holy cow! I NEED yoga in my life – I feel like you but a few years back – a runner (now I do it for fun and sprints for fitness), a personal trainer, a weight lifter and someone needing to break into something new. I bought some downloadable Clubbell Yoga videos but need some clubbells! I have this weird feeling that I’ll take my teacher training for yoga even thought right now I have virtually no experience and have some tight muscles and imbalances… What should I do from here! I have trouble committing to anything outside of work (and can’t make any of the yoga classes at our gym b/c I’m training those hours) because at the end of the day, I don’t want to go back out to train… Maybe I need to just get outside my box and comfort levels! I admire how you’ve made that transition – I know my body is aching for more lengthening!
I go to my 2nd yoga class tomorrow. It’s definitely a practice.
Thanks for sharing your practice with us. I find these posts so inspirational.
I struggle with the jump back/jump through in spite of practicing for a few years now. I would love to see more on how to work up to this. I feel that my body is probably capable but somehow mentally I just don’t get it yet.
Holy yoga!!! Your videos are amazing and inspirational. Thank you for going to the trouble to make them!
I have converted to a home practice since I got a new puppy and he requires a lot of attention (OK, so it’s hard to not come home directly to him everyday vs going to the studio)! I have stuck with it great though practicing 4 times a week. I feel I can push myself harder and have accomplished a lot more at home vs. in the studio because I can work on what I need- not what the teacher is instructing that day. I’d say my yoga goal is to continue/expand my home practice and work on flying pigeon pose (almost there on one side!). Would love to play around with more inversions too.
if you dont mind….how do you find the motivation/routine to practice at home ? do you follow a video or write up a workout before or just wing it ? i would love to start an at home practice but not sure how to do it and still make it hard.
ive been trying to work on jumping from downdog into a handstand. i’m slowly getting there. i can go into a handstand from standing splits with some hops but cant quite get to it from my down dog. also trying to jump into crow. i try but i feel like at the last second i will splat on my triceps and bust my wrists so i always land on my feet ; )
oh my gosh…so impressive..esp that last pose.
those are some insane yoga poses!
I love your yoga videos!! So beautiful and inspiring 🙂 I love taking yoga but I WISH I could look like that in some crazy advanced poses 🙂
You’re amazing and my new inspiration for yoga! May I ask how long you’ve been practicing?
thanks alex. i’ve been practicing for about 6 years.
AMAZING! What do you use to shot the videos?
hey! i’ve been using hyperlapse for the sped up video and videosound for the audio overlay.
Amazing! Each time you post these I get so much closer to practicing. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make these videos!