insomnia and orange light breathing

yep some more early morning waking ........ 2.45am ......marvelous. but i do like this time of the day - good reflection time.

i have a new hobby if i can't get to sleep.... counting and naming asanas but after the umpteenth attempt at remembering tiranga watsit (tiriangmukhaikapada paschimattanasana - she now say's confidently with the book in front of her) i thought it was time to get up.

so here i am blackadder tea in hand and laptop at the ready and before i launch into the whole breathing thang can i just say that yes i'm totally aware i'm in a protected environment of living and breathing and sleeping (sometimes) yoga at the moment... coupled with no access to tv (fantastic) or radio (marvelous) and a reluctance to read a newspaper.......i pretty much have bugger all idea about whats going on outside of stillpoint.

now my father - willy (bless him) would pretty much say whats new? ... and he's probably right. i have a feeling i'll catch up on whats important pretty quickly when i get back to life in the real world outside of stillpoint ......hmmm life outside of the stillpoint.....

ok talking of breathing......

my previous experience of ujayi breathing in ashtanga has been indulging in a lovely deep slow breath and slowing my practice right down to accommodate it..... on reflection it probably hasn't helped me stay with the flow at all. Those of you that have seen me come to class in the winter, do a couple of salutes and lie down in relaxation for the rest of the practice will know exactly what i'm talking about. I've also been firmly of the mantra of monitoring my breath and if it quickens/becomes irregular to ease back on the pose........however........i'm having a bit of a breathing revolution (in my head) because we're learning a different approach here and i bloody like it (if i could only remember to do it)

John talks about the traffic light approach to monitoring and using the breath. The green light (unsurprisingly) is free breathing, the practice is flowing, the breath is free, there are no blocks so keep going baby!... Then there is the orange light... this is the proceed with caution light. basically i see it as practicing on the edge.... The pose is difficult, there may be some pain, and i need to fully resource myself by breathing more rapidly but still deeply into the pose. I need to monitor the breath/be totally aware that i don't stop breathing - because if i do i'm moving into the red zone. The red traffic light is where breathing has stopped, the bandhas have stopped and therefore the body stops... sometimes by injury. Bloody great way of viewing it aye?

So the therapeutic zone where space is created, blocks are worked through, progress is most made is the orange zone... however it requires absolute attention to make sure that you don't transition into the red. Hmmm the orange zone really resonates with the part of me thats into the healing qualities of colour - orange is the colour of wisdom and is useful in clearing thoughts (see lalesha.com)

Yesterday i had a great opportunity to find out all about light in my ankle ( - yeah the one i have consistantly rolled in the past) and practice with awareness and intention in the orange zone. Sounds like i'm getting it aye? - but actually this mature and enlightened approach came only with coaching from John after i did a wonderful demonstration of going completely into the red with the first sign of pain. John also suggested i direct my breath into the ankle at the same time and ... blow me down a rat hole (as willy would say).... the pain went.

now if i could only remember to do that when i'm in the orange zone in other areas of my life......yoga off the mat

I've got to comment on the skill of Lucy..... she's incredible.......she quickly gets me into the orange zone (mostly manifesting as anger) and i'm consistantly needing to stretch myself and be courageous in my response... i'm learning a heap about my own strength and potential. She does it with clarity, precision and just when i'm really getting scared or pissed off - bucket loads of compassion. Amazing

ok study awaits

have a great day lovely

ps i'm reading Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNallys book How Yoga Works and its a goody ... tis a lovely story re how the teachings of the yoga sutra travelled from india to tibet. its easy reading and the lessons of the sutras are woven in beautifully...