Slowing down my back

My practice this week has been very altered.

My lower back has been overly stretched, which takes TIME to heal. I know this.
I would tell students, friends and strangers...give yourself time--let yourself heal, but personally, I discover a spot of impatience with myself and time.
Being "hurt" is when I am reminded of how I depend upon my physical body to
emotionally and spiritually deal with my day.
Deal with my time.
My space. 
My body.
And then I realize, how often I go through my day physically incorrectly.
I rarely bend my knees when I pick something up or even put on my shoes,
so I suppose this is a good reminder I am not indestructible or 20 years old.
I was officially 39 1/2 yesterday. Still young, but thankfully--not that young. 
I am celebrating this time, this age by moving forward playfully. Consciously. And trying to develop a gentler mind approach with myself.


So, this morning as I was slowly working through an online practice,
I realized how helpful modifications really can be.
Doing mainly a vinyasa practice, I flow between down dog and standing poses often, which I have struggled with all week.


The first time this happened was during my YTT a year and half ago, but not from yoga--well, possibly yoga--naked time yoga. No details needed other than between all the actual yoga I was doing and a healthy romp, caused me to overstretch my lower back. It took a few weeks to heal, but it did--and now, here again--I'm overstretched.


This time though, it's a symbolic overstretch that is physically manifesting itself.
I am aware that as a well loved, single momma of three divine daughters--that works as a full time librarian and part time yoga sharer, I am spread thin.  And my back wants to wake me up.  
It's shouting slow down.
Take it easy.
Stand still.


So I open my practice this week to slowing down.
Standing in the moment.
Listening in meditation.


Om.

Morning practice

My morning practice was slow and undecided.
I am trying to incorporate more standing poses into my practice...for two, of probably many, reasons:
1)Students tend to love them..I suppose it's where they feel grounded in the practice; knowing whatever I may offer to them before or after, they are able to stand in their place for the moment.  I practice what I teach.  Often obsessively--just to make sure it's safe and playful.
2)I need to ground myself more often.  I am airy. Creative. I love vinyasa movements, linking my moves as if I'm dancing through my practice--how I most often approach life...but sometimes I need to stand still. Stand up. Be planted in my views and know it's ok to feel the way I do, even if it's only a present moment.  Placement. 


Once I got moving, feeling the space--I found some fluid movements...working through spinal rolls, twists, incorporated backbends and side stretches into goddess.
I enjoy creating what seems to be new approaches to me to the simple movements I've done for 15 years...it adds that spark to my moment..to the beginning of my day.


Om