I think I'm stuck in Blank Page Syndrome. I have been writing this newsletter for 11 years! I have covered many topics. Sometimes I feel as if I have covered them all, maybe more than once.
Last year I used a book called Arogya Yoga for inspiration. It had 50 relatively short chapters and I focused on one each week. That meant that I always knew what I was going to write about. Plus, I had two free weeks.
But now that I don’t have that structure, I've found myself staring at a blank page. There are so many things I could write about; I don't know which one to pick first.
I need your help. What is it that you'd like to learn about? Do you want to read about the poses, how to do them, why you should do them? Do you want to know more about anatomy? Answers to the questions you might have trying to do the poses? Do you want more philosophy? Do you want more information about yoga applies to your life? Do you want to know what’s keeping you from making progress? Are you interested in my struggles? Or, is there something else?
Would you rather read something or watch a video?
If you have any comments or suggestions for me, leave them in the comment section below.
These musings have led me to wonder if this is why a lot of students don’t practice at home? Do you face Blank Page Syndrome when you roll out your mat and you ask yourself the question: Now what?
Here are three suggestions for what to do once you roll out your mat:
EASY
If you are tired, start with some supine poses like the Supta Padangusthasana (Reclined hand to Big Toe) series. Reclined poses energize you and they might inspire you to try those same shapes standing up:
Trikonasana (Triangle)
Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon)
Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon)
Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle)
Add in Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Leg Standing Forward Bend)
Sirsasana (Headstand)
Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
Savasana
And you have a whole practice.
MEDIUM
If you feel more energized, try starting the same sequence with: (But leave out the Supta Padangusthasana series)
Adho Mukha Virasana (Child’s Pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
Uttanasana, concave spine (Standing Forward Bend)
Uttanasana, convex spine
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutes) – 3 to 5 repetitions
Trikonasana (Triangle)
Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon)
Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon)
Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle)
Add in Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Leg Standing Forward Bend)
Sirsasana (Headstand)
Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
Savasana
CHALLENGING
Start with either the Supta Padangusthasana series or Surya Namaskar. Then do the standing poses:
Trikonasana (Triangle)
Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon)
Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon)
Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle)
Add these same shapes balancing on one leg:
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana series (Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose)
Leg in front, out to the side and revolved
Add in Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Leg Standing Forward Bend)
Now see if you can do these shapes in Sirsasana.
Hold Sirsasana for at least I minute before doing any of the variations. (The general rule f thumb is that you should be able to hold Sirsasana for at least 5 minutes, away from the wall, before you attempt any variations.)
Eka Pada Sirsasana (Lower one leg straight down, keeping the hips level)
Parsvaikapada Sirsasana (Lower one leg straight out to the side)
Parivrttaikapada Sirsasana (Separating the legs front and back and then revolving the pose)
Finish with this sequence:
Catush Padasana (Four-Footed Pose, aka Bridge Pose)
Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
Upavishta Konasana (Wide Leg Seated Forward Bend)
Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose aka Cobbler’s Pose)
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
Savasana
Was this helpful?
Next week, I will give you some other suggestions for what to do when you face Blank Page Syndrome when you roll out your mat.
What keeps you from practicing at home? Time? Knowing what to do? I’m not sure that I can help you with the time part of the problem. Other than to say, prioritize time for your practice and simply roll out your mat. Showing up is 80%. I can’t make you show up, but I can give you some suggestions for what to do once you roll out your mat.
If there are any poses you’d like to work on, write them down in the comment’s suggestion below. Next time, I’ll talk about how round out your home practice.
Namaste,
Karin