Didn’t want to run today. Had a great run. 🏃‍♂️ Didn’t want to practice today. Had a great practice. 🧘‍♂️

I’ve no idea what lesson to learn from that other than “you never can tell.”

The photo was taken on the run I didn’t want to do. (I guess I should seek forgiveness given how lovely the views are!)

Highly appropriate quotation from Thich Nhat Hanh to accompany the photo taken on this morning’s run.

Thoroughly enjoyable restorative practice this evening. Very relaxing and equally invigorating. I almost feel ready to head out for another run! 🏃‍♂️

Needed that!

My usual restorative practice with Melissa Krieger “Oceanside Restorative Yoga.” I always feel super refreshed after this session, although today I fear I may be going down with something. Feeling a little rough.

Early practice today as we’re heading out after lunch. The temperature is starting to rise. Considered practicing outside, but if anything, it was probably a little warm.

Sticking with adding a pose each time and I’ve now reached seated sequence. Prasaritas were a little better today as were the standing balances with the hips opening more freely in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana.

A little more energy for tonight’s practice. Worked through the standing sequence and added my usual Malasana, Supta Vajrasana and Baddha Konsana along with some sit-ups, press-ups and Sirsasana. Felt refreshed.

Felt a little more fluid on the mat today. I added one more pose in my quest to get back to a regular “half-primary” practice. That’s my steady effort.

I know it’s probably not accepted best practice, but I also like to add a couple of extra poses at the end which help with the running - typically Supta Vajrasana, Malasana and Baddha Konasana.

This photo was taken over the Bay of Biscay from the plane window on the last trip back to London. Although it’s a sunset, it reminds me a little of Dark Side of the Moon.

I like the simplicity a lot. But at the same time it’s a vast canvas. The dark and the light, the apparent contradiction of invigoration and relaxation occupying the same space.

And that’s what restorative yoga is for me. Relaxing and invigorating. It’s the perfect cure for muscles tired or sore from a hard (or long) run. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Short practice after a day’s shopping at the sales in Plaza Mayor. Enjoyable, though I struggled with the breathing and vinyasa synchronisation today.

After my last Ashtanga practice I wrote about how I focused on the breath. It was a great session because I managed to do just that. Inhale / exhale appropriately with each vinyasa.

Today was the opposite. My mind was everywhere, preparing for a podcast that I was set to record as soon as I was finished on the mat. Consequently, there was no flow. It was jagged, spiky, uneven. I was not in the here and now.

But that's the great thing about yoga. There's no judgement. I just need to observe that is how it was and return to the mat tomorrow. That's why it's called yoga practice.

Last session of a great first week in 2024. I missed one practice this week, but got all five planned runs in. Today was another focus on the breath and although maybe it’s not prescribed, I used ujjayi breathing throughout the restorative session. Deep, focused breaths.

I generally do my restorative practice using Melissa Krieger’s Oceanside soundtrack (below) and, as she says, “the main purpose of this practice is to relax. To calm the mind. The focus is on breathing.”

Watch on YouTube

A lovely quote from Richard Freeman. This evening’s practice was particularly great because the space was so quiet (and not cramped) allowing me to flow with my breath. It was a short but good quality practice, focusing on inhaling and exhaling correctly with each movement. Result: super refreshed.

Quick practice tonight. Not in the spirit of yoga, I whizzed through Sun Salutations A & B and through to Trikonsana.

Saw this image on a Strava post from Phil I today. Nothing new in the sentiment, but it felt appropriate given my recent return to the mat (and the humility that always brings).

Still very little flow in the vinyasas and today it wasn’t easy at all. My mind was wandering and I felt a little cramped for space. But, just like the running, no regrets now I have completed a short practice. I‘m just looking forward to having more zing!

Last practice of 2023 - an hour of restorative yoga. Really needed that after the drive to the airport and the flight. Everything was feeling very tight so that did the trick.

Another lovely (short) practice tonight. Just the sun salutations, a couple of standing poses and 10 long breaths in Sirsasana.

Wearing my “Spanish Yoga (Siesta)“ T-shirt that Carmen and Estefany bought for me on their last trip to Seville.