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I loved this morning’s practice. It was the first time I said an asana name for The Cop. Paschimottanasana. Of course, he’s heard me say the names and he’s read the names a bazillion times on my blog over the past two and a half years, but this was the first time I told him to do a pose and called it by its Sanskrit name.

And it was also the first time he asked a “detail” question about a pose: Marichyasana C. Wanted to know about the alignment of the non-lotus leg.

Then he commented on how Marichy C and D seem to be designed only to torment the digestive system.
It was a really nice practice.

He’s knocking off at navasana. I went ahead with bhujapidasana, kurmasana and supta kurmasana as he fiddled around a bit with some bridge preparations ahead of urdhva dhanurasana. Then I took a moment from my own practice and spotted him for three UDs. He’s very tall and very strong and also very forward-bendy. The backbends: a challenge of significant proportions. He actually commented on how they make him break into a cold sweat.

I remember, for sure. When I first did UDs, my heart would race, I would be panting and just totally blind with hysteria. Very strong reaction. It’s certainly come a long way, for all my whining about what I still can’t do.

And on that note: My urdhva dhanurasanas felt very good today. I am getting my “stand-up” legs/coordination. It is coming clear. Just keep walking in the hands… Interestingly, I don’t feel at all impatient. I am actually enjoying the learning process on this one. Nice.

As most of you know, VBG had me doing up to supta vajrasana for a while there. I’ve cut back to just primary until I get the stand-up/dropback thing squared away. I may be overly methodical, but I really like to have my last pose be the pose I am working on most diligently. Going on past UD meant I wasn’t giving it my all.

That said, the months that I did the first third of intermediate helped me understand backbends. Like crazy. I did start getting skittish with the kapotasana business though. I think it is useful that I know I can be put into it, but I don’t want to rely on that. I suppose I gained a certain literacy with the intermediate backbends, but it really feels like time to just work and wait for the stand-up/dropback.

Because it actually feels GOOD. And I’m disinclined to be greedy or impatient.

Moment of grace, eh? May it recur often.