2014 Yoga Project

Last week I had a ridiculous breakthrough in my practice. First came pincha mayurasana, next came scorpion. I am still in shock. I learned a lot while working up to these poses and I'm so glad I kept trying. 

After seeing this type of unexpected progress, I decided I would start a little project for next year. A few years ago, Kathryn Budig started a column for Yoga Journal called "Challenge Pose." She regularly posts different advanced postures and the steps to work up to them. So...I had a nerd moment, wrote down the name of each challenge pose, and put them into 5 categories: Headstands, Backbends, Hips & Hammies, Transitions, and Arm Balances.

 I'll be using my list throughout 2014 to expand my practice. If you want to follow along, I'll post links to all the poses as I attempt/fail/accomplish them. You can browse through all of them if you click HERE. 

- HEADSTANDS

  - Tripod headstand

  - Traditional headstand

  - Baddha Hasta Sirsasana B

  - Funky headstand

  - Fallen angel

  - Headstand lotus

- BACKBENDS

  - Camel pose

  - Camatkarasana

  - Urdhva dhanurasana

  - Eka Pada Urdvha Dhanurasana

  - Padangustha Dhanurasana

  - Mermaid

  - One footed king pigeon

  - Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II

  - Eka pada kapotasana

  - Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana I

  - Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana

  - Funky chopasana

  - King dancer

- HIPS AND HAMSTRINGS

  - Lotus

  - Tortoise

  - Standing splits

  - Anantasana

  - Compass

  - Visvamitrasana

  - Hanumanasana

  - Eka Pada Rajakapotasana in Hanumanasana

  - Bird of paradise

  - Eka Pada sirsasana

- TRANSITIONS

  - Pick up

  - Jump through to sit

  - Pick up and jump back

  - Crow to chaturanga

  - Headstand to chaturanga

  - Tripod to crow

  - Bent knee pike to handstand

  - Dropbacks

  - Chakrasana part 1

  - Chakrasana part 2

- ARM BALANCES

  - Vashistasana b

  - Kapinjalasana

  - Baby bakasana

  - Bakasana

  - Side crow

  - Silly crow

  - Funky side crow

  - Urdhva Kukkutasana

  - Parsva Kukkutasana

  - Flying pigeon

  - Eka Pada bakasana

  - Flying crow with leg up and back

  - Arm pressure balance

  - Firefly

  - Baby hopper

  - Baby hopper ii 

  - Grasshopper

  - Eight angle

  - Eka Hasta Bhujasana

  - Eka Pada Koundinyasana Variation

  - Eka Pada Koundinyasana I

  - Eka Pada Koundinyasana II

  - Peacock

  - Pincha mayurasana

  - Pincha scorpion

  - Funky pincha 

  - Ardha Shayanasana

  - Hanumanasana pincha

  - Hollowback pincha

  - Charging scorpion

  - Ganda Bherundasana

  - Dwi Pada Koundinyasana

  - Handstand

  - Handstand scorpion

I'm Back

Excuse my hiatus. I was just COMPLETELY avoiding talking about my life in any way. 

Christmas is less than a week away, and until a few days ago I couldn't care less. I'll spare you the details. Life still isn't cooperating as well as we'd like, but we're feeling better about it. 

I have some plans for this little place. The Blushing Bride series was a lot of fun even though I didn't finish. Maybe I'll bring it back as a weekly or monthly post. I'm also looking forward to sharing some yoga breakthroughs I had earlier this week! And of course I'll be sharing my plans for 2014 resolutions and my new 30 before 30 list. 

That's it for now. Have a lovely weekend!