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.
Practice Makes Practice 