A forest is more than a collection of trees......

....and an Ashtanga series is more than a collection of asanas.

I work on two ends, the whole picture and the details.

The whole picture means indeed to respect the vinyasa count, to stay focused and to move on and on and on and to create flow and heat that way, as long as the practice lasts. To have it easier I switched on the CD by Sharath. It gives me the correct rhythm. It doesn't allow breaks and dawdling around.

The details count, too. After navasana, I practiced on my own. I wanted to repeat asanas, like kurmasana and upavistha konasana A.

I also dropped back again, from standing position I went to urdhva dhanurasana. It's still possible, fear is felt but no comparison to how it was. I gained self-confidence over the years. My arms were strong and I could hold me easily.
No way to come up. I AM patient and content.

To stay on the mat is possible. It's not easy, but it's so much better than a practice with breaks.

Self-discipline, contentment, self-study, observation, letting go, focus: These are all words that I combine with my yoga practice. It's not only about doing a sweaty work-out.

I had a conversation with V lately. She told me about a satsang in India.
A student asked a yogi: Why do we have to do asanas?
The answer: In order to bend.
I'm not sure if "to bend" has a double meaning in Engish, too. In German it has a double meaning.
Indeed practicing asanas makes me modest and thankful. I bend. I bow down.

No, 4pm. Ah, grghhhhh, but I slept too long this morning. I have to move on.

Thanks to M this post comes with a visual entertainment. :)

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