Change of scene

When I’m at home I love to roll my mat out in the same place each time. I know exactly where I need to be to avoid the lampshade in Urdhva Hastasana… In my local studio I have my favourite spots also, depending on which class it is, how I’m feeling… Oh yes, many attachments and conditions I like to think are necessary for a comfortable practice.

Now I’m travelling and in company I have to make the best use of available time and space to fit around others. My practice feels more established now, so I feel I’m better at adapting when I need to and just letting the practice be what it is. If it has to be a simple 30 minutes snatched while everyone is faffing around packing up for a road trip, that’s OK; if I get the place to myself for a solitary quiet hour, that feels like luxury.

At the family home in Vancouver the only available space is outside in the backyard, when my nephew finishes his practice at baseball pitching that is. Thankfully the temperatures have been OK and practice outside has been quite pleasant — without needing to resort to thermal layers!

Now we’re away at a resort further east in BC, chasing some proper sun. The temperatures here are wonderful — mid 30s. Australian Hubby is in his element and loving it! When I slid out onto our terrace in shorts and vest my brother in law joked that I was going to do my own personal Bikram class. He clearly thought I was insane to practice in such temperatures. Even at 5pm it’s still pretty warm I have to say, but to me it feels much preferable to sweat a lot and pace myself than to need ages to warm up properly and still feel I have cold, tight muscles. Plus the view as I look up from mat is pretty nice — just a bit distracting as I see interesting birds pass overhead: there’s a pair of ospreys, some kind of falcon, some hummingbirds… Not to mention the swallowtail butterflies. At least the fact that we’re on the first floor means I don’t have to worry about the snakes!