goals – Practice Makes Practice

On Monday, I achieved one of my most important goals: completing primary series! It was really exciting to be given the last pose by my teacher, and luckily it’s one that’s actually not too difficult. This means that (hopefully) I’ll be moving onto the second series soon, which is pretty awesome. I would love to be at least part way through the intermediate series by the time I go to India next year, and I can’t wait to get started on it!

Also, about a month ago now I achieved another of my initial goals, which was to stand up straight from urdvha dhanurasana. I now do this every practice, followed by three drop backs and come ups, and then half backs.

I guess the fact that I’ve achieved two of my goals means it’s time to think of some new ones… I’m sure it’s not long until my teacher throws a new challenge my way!

I have a number of goals, in both my physical practice and my practice extending off the math, that I would like to reach or at least work toward within the next year. I find it often helps to write goals down, for accountability and organization.

Physical goals:
-Continue to uphold my commitment to practice 6 days a week.
-Nail my jump backs, and refine my jump throughs.
-Complete the primary series (I just have one pose left!) and get a good chunk of the way through intermediate.
-Refine the following postures: utkatasana (chair), virabhadrasana I (warrior 1), triang mukhaikapada paschimottanasana, janu sirsasana C, marichyasana D [getting my hips level], navasana, kukutasana, urdhva mukha paschimottanasna
[While I am focusing on these poses specifically, because I feel that they are most in need of work, I will of course be refining all of my postures through practice.]
-Work toward crossing my feet behind my head in supta kurmasana without the help of a teacher.
-Nail the transition from bujapidasana to chaturanga, and supta kurmasana to chaturanga.
-Continue standing up from drop backs, and work on standing up from urdva danurasana (wheel) without momentum.

Beyond the mat:
-Read the Yoga Sutras of Pattanjali.
-Read Yoga Mala by K Pattabhi Jois.
-Read as many books as possible about ashtanga and yogic philosophy more generally.
-Attend talks about the ashtanga philosophy at my studio whenever they are offered.
-Develop some level of understanding of the eight limbs of yoga, and the general philosophy underlying the practice.
-Take the practice off of my mat, by applying the philosophy where I can to my daily life. There are many areas where I can work on this.

I will be posting about these goals on this blog as I work on them throughout the year, and will add new goals as they arise.

Tag: goals

Progress!

My Goals