Good Stuff

I have been back to the shala since Sunday, and it's beautiful. I'm still in pain, and I have to modify. Garbha Pindasana is a no go, and so are Ubhaya Padangusthasana and Urdvha Mukha Paschimottanasana — rolling onto my back hurts. No jump backs or jump throughs... BUT, and here's the weird thing, twisting is delightful; I've never found so much rotation in the Marichyasana sequence. And backbends at the end feel sooo good, though I am careful only to do them from supine position (no drop backs yet). And I'm holding off on Second Series for a few more days.

My teacher told me today to monitor where my body wants me to restrain, and not to power through. He's so right, and I need to be reminded of that. The tricky thing about this injury is that it acts like a hill...gently pushing through it, as with the journey to Upward Dog, gets me to the other side, which is without pain. So, unlike the clarity that I found in restricting during pregnancy, this rib injury is less certain in terms of telling me how far I can go. The only way to know is to soften and explore...but gently, wisely. The road is long, the road is long.

But the loveliest part is just being back in the shala with my peeps. (I've never used the word "peeps" before, but I like it here.) It's getting warmer outside, and we are working individually with our own openness and restraint, but all traveling together in the hot, sultry room. All in the care of one another and of our teacher. It's damn good stuff.