Today is day three of being able to stand from drop-backs. I chanced upon the ability at the end of last week. I was next to somebody else doing their drop backs, with assistance and plenty of spoken guidance, so had longer than usual to mess around on my own and try out the tips being given to my neighbour. I had a couple of goes and on attempt 3 I came back up!! So, I tried it again on Monday and I could do it again – 3 times in succession, then again this morning, stood up on two and did an inelegant collapse on the third attempt. Hurrah.
Next week I’m in Japan, for three weeks. I need to find shalas and have only been successful in finding a convenient one in Kyoto. Drop ins seem to be phenomenally expensive though, so I may have to ration them. Problem is, I am just not so dedicated to a full practice outside a shala environment and I don’t want to take a mat with me. But I REALLY don’t want to lose the dropbacks.
August 25, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Hi Clare,
Do please share the standing up tips, I managed to drop back last year, but the standing up thing is as far away as ever.
Enjoy Japan, its a wonderful place.
August 25, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Dear Clare,
Could you share the names of the ones you go to? I’m going to the same cities in October – Kyoto and Tokyo. Hope you enjoy your trip.
Congratulations on the coming to standing. I can’t wait for mine to happen.
hugs
Arturo
August 25, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Hmm, tips… I think getting the weight over my feet helped. Usually I try and walk my hands in, but I don’t find it helps. I actually walked me feet in and somehow that helped to get my weight in the right place to stand. The first time I also turned my toes out a bit, which I suppose isn’t great, but it worked better that way!!
Regarding the walking the hands in, is this a standard ashtanga thing, is it ‘better’ than walking the feet in? Anyone any ideas?
Arturo, in Kyoto I’m going to try Mysore Kyoto, as it is walking distance from my hotel. I’m not sure in Tokyo yet, probably where ever is easiest to get to. My language skills are pretty basic too, so somewhere with an English website! I’ll certainly report afterwards.
August 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Thanks Clare, interesting that you got a better outcome walking the feet in, maybe this kept the pelvis higher and more forward over the feet. I will give it a try tomorrow.
August 26, 2010 at 6:06 am
Hey congratulations!!! How fun : )
I know of two reasons for walking the hands instead of the feet. Fiirstly, you can see your hands and ensure they are even, whereas most people can’t see their feet and have trouble controlling them in the first place. When I see someone walk their feet in, invariably they end up horribly splayed and with one foot further in front….it’s just sloppy. The other reason is that it’s easy to jar your lower back this way. So, great beginning, but I would look to find a way to achieve the same by walking the hands (hope I don’t sound like too much of a killjoy here). Kevin – make sure it’s not on my shift !!
So envious of your trip to Japan, hope you’ll find time to blog a little! When you get back would love to meet up, or maybe we should start planning a Xmas drink, LOL
August 26, 2010 at 6:12 am
Oh, thought of another reason – you want your feet to stay absolutely rooted for standing up. Now if you are doing a toc (or making a lame attempt, in my case), you want your hands to stay rooted instead, to come into handstand… and that’s the only case where you walk the feet instead of the hands.
Anyway not trying to detract from your accomplishment!! But you did ask : )
August 26, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Hey, congratulations on coming up Clare. And Kyoto, lived there for a few years and still feels like home, we’ve been waiting until the chinchilla is no longer with us before we go back but he just seems to go on and on………..and on : ) Misa’s mum says it’s really hot at the moment, especially so in Kyoto, might be worth heading up to mt Kurama or Mt Hiei,(mountains in kyoto) lots of temples and a little cooler, walking north along the kamo gawa (gawa=river) feels somehow cooler too, we used to live next to it. We were married in Shimogamo jinja beautiful shrine and one of the oldest in kyoto. You’ve probably picked out all the places you want to go but i’d recommend Heian jingu Shrine, don’t worry about the shrine itself but go straight to the garden, one of my favourites, they have a little tea house in there too. So many, best thing about Kyoto is you try to find a temple get lost and come across another hidden one by accident. Have a wonderful time