Bikram progress

1 Standing Deep Breathing – This has become much easier, but I still need to work on exhale timing. I feel left hamstring/calf tightness quite a bit, not to mention left foot weakness, which tends to distract me.

2 Half Moon Pose – I've made great improvements on this posture. I've worked to lift more out of the hips--as opposed to folding at the hips--and, as a result, I feel much less pinching and discomfort in my lower back.

3 Awkward Pose – I've become much stronger in this posture, particularly my arms (no more shaking fingers). I've noticed that on the first variation, my left foot begins to collapse as I move deeper into the posture. Perhaps it makes sense to stop moving deeper into the posture just before the foot begins to collapse.

4 Eagle Pose – This posture puts a great deal of stress on the medial aspect of my feet, particularly the left. The deeper I move into the posture, the more I feel it, as if the insides of my feet will spill out onto the mat.

5 Standing Head to Knee – I noted last time that this is probably my favorite posture. I take that back--for now, anyway. My left side has become so tight that I feel a great pulling (and subtle pain) behind my knee, even while just balancing without the kick. Perhaps I should just forget about the kick for now.

6 Standing Bow Pose – I love this posture, but, again, I think that I have overdone it on the left side with these standing postures. Time to back off and embrace what I can do and enjoy the breath.

7 Balancing Stick – What can I say? This is a great posture once you figure out your limitations as to hamstring flexibility. It's too easy to push beyond your flexibility.

8 Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose – In hindsight, I progressed too quickly to locked knees in this posture. I can barely engage my quads without feeling a great pulling behind the knees, which is probably an indication that I've taken it too far.

9 Triangle Pose – This is a difficult posture, but I've made good progress in getting the hips down and aligned with the high arm more overhead (thanks to ANB showing me where that arm really belongs).

10 Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose – This posture is most likely the hardest on the left hamstring. I need to take more care in this posture, particularly on the left side. Things feel great on the right side. For whatever reason, it's easier to safely stretch the right side than it is the left side. I yearn for the day when my right and left sides are in harmony. Can it happen?

11 Tree Pose – This posture has helped markedly to open up my hips. My right hip is still the tighter of the two. It's clear that I have deficiencies/weaknesses on both sides of my body.

12 Toe Stand – I don't know that it makes sense to attempt this even on the more flexible left side, as I feel I have a lot more to gain in Tree Pose. Granted they are two separate postures, Tree Pose progresses into Toe Stand.

13 Dead Body Pose – As of late, believe it or not, I have a hard time letting my left leg relax on the mat, as things are so tight and bound up behind my knee.

14 Wind-Removing Pose – I feel a great pinching in my hip on the more flexible, left side. It's exacerbated by the follow-up, Turkey Pose (or whatever it's called).

15 Sit Up – Some days I can touch my toes, others I cannot. This is a testament to the fact that the body is ever-changing, even if that means regression when the goal is progression.

16 Cobra Pose – Quoted from my last report: "Not a huge fan of a lot of these floor series postures." This is interesting, because I have come to enjoy the floor series more than the standing series. The reason is two-fold: 1 my left side makes the standing series uncomfortable and 2 my back has gotten a lot stronger, allowing me to get deeper into these postures. This is a challenging posture, for sure, but I love the challenge and the strength that it's given my body.

17 Locust Pose – The contralateral leg has been able to more easily take a vacation, but it's quite difficult to allow it to relax completely. The second half of this posture, involving both legs, has become so much easier. It's definitely top 5 in quickest progression.

18 Full Locust Pose – Usually, I'm cashed for this posture, given that it's sort of a combo of the Cobra and Locust Poses. Also, the more space, the better.

19 Bow Pose – I've made great progress on this posture, from barely able to get knees off ground to kicking and lifting with ease of breath. I never thought I'd care much for this posture, but I do now.

20 Fixed Firm Pose – Most days, I can get my ass down between my heels and even get a back-bend going; other days, I feel as if it's my first class. The good news, though, is that I feel a lot less tension in my right knee and ankles.

21 Half Tortoise Pose – Still, I'm having a difficult time getting my butt down on my heels because of the tight, right hip. If I were to fully relax in this posture, I'd fall over onto my left side, so my tendency is to sway right and get a solid stretch in the hip to balance things out.

22 Camel Pose – I've made great progress on this posture. Perhaps top 3? I love getting into that back-bend. It feels great but it probably doesn't appear that way. Anyway, ppearance is not the measure of quality.

23 Rabbit Pose – This is now one of my favorite postures. I feel strong and confident in it, particularly now that I've figured out how to get the weight off my head and onto my knees.

24 Head to Knee Pose and Stretching Pose – I feel that this is more of a hip opener than hamstring stretcher for me. One of these days, I'll remember my stretching strap.

25 Spine Twisting Pose – Between reports, I've learned that the goal is to get the sit bones down. The one I twist into likes to lift up.

26 Blowing in Firm Pose – I struggle to keep up on the second set.

In sum, I feel a bit defeated. My foot has been giving me fits for months and now my left hamstring is limiting my yoga practice. What gives?  This is OK, though, because I have the next 50 years to figure it all out.