Introductions

I feel like introductions are in order, although I think I’m probably introducing myself to no one, or to people who we’ve told to come here and so already know me and us.

So I’ll be brief.

I’m Tim.

Okay, that was silly.

I’ve been a dedicated practitioner of asana (from here on, a yogi for short) for almost two years. In that short time, I’ve learned many lessons. Or maybe it’s all one lesson. I’ve grown and shrunk. I am, with no ambiguity, extremely grateful to have found this path.

I write for a (so far meager) living – a sports journalist at the Concord Monitor.

So I decided to mix the two – asana and writing – and here I am. Actually, here we are. Denise and I are partners (we’ve been using the old wife and husband terms less frequently, but we are married). Our styles are different, which should make for a rich collaboration. Actually, it already has made for a rich collaboration. Now we’re just blogging about it. (Love that word ‘blogging,’ it captures the endless ramble of cyberspace)

My goal is to post daily, just like a practice, though I’m sure I’ll miss some days, just like a practice. I want to share the sign posts I find along the path. Those signs may be tidbits on poses from me or my teachers, quotes from yogic texts, personal emotions or breakthroughs that come with practice, random thoughts or various inspirations from books, music, movies, the river near our home in New Hampshire or our son Philip, the great guide who has blessed Denise and me.

And who knows what else will evolve and appear on here.

Since I just posted a handstand picture, let me offer a tip that has helped me there. When I first tried handstands, I would usually flop into backbends. I had too much momentum going forward. So I adjusted like this: from down dog, I walk my feet forward, leaving my hands on the ground. I try to align my hips over my shoulders (it feels like I’m actually leaning forward, or over my shoulders) so I don’t have the momentum of my torso moving me forward and pushing me over when I lift my feet off the ground. Instead, I can focus on raising the legs up and just keeping my torso still. Also, I usually start by lifting one leg up faster than the other into the upright position, so I just use that up leg (for me it’s the left) as a guide and try to “snap” my other leg to it.

Hope it helps.

Namaste,
tim