I ended up taking Denise Payne’s Power Yoga class. I take Power yoga all the time, so it was like signing up for what I always do when I chose it. Little did I realize what I had gotten myself into. You see, I was beginning to feel that I was mastering my yoga practice, working on handstands, is my newest challenge and I am practicing it each and every day, getting better and better each and every day. So, I was feeling, sort of like, “Once I get this pose, I will be complete in my practice.” Of course, that was all ego, and I had to remind myself that I already have everything I need in my practice.

The class began with Surya Namaskar A and then B. No biggie!

Then began the journey-

Downward Facing Dog jumping into Bakasana (Crow/Crane) pose

- 5 times back and forth.

If that didn’t already poop me out on a Friday night when I was already tired, but then came the following poses of course taught in a flowing, nice, charismatic sequence:

Astavakrasana

Eka Hasta Bhujasana

Bhujapidasana

Titibasana

Kurmasana – Sleeping Tortoise

Eka Pada Sirsasana

Bhairavasana

Kasvapasana

Salamba Sirsasana II – by way of Sirasana (Headstead)
Try this one at home for fun!

Eka Pada Koundinyasana

And I saved the best for two last, of course!

Dwi Pada Sirsasana

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana

Headstand and then you keep your head on the floor and walk your feet around your body.

Try that one on a Friday night for fun.

I love a good challenge and although I have to admit at times during the practice, my eyes almost popped out of my head and my mouth out loud said, What?! (I was practicing at home). I still managed to at least try each and every one of the shapes.  Some obviously turned out better than others. I am sure many of you can do some or even all of the shapes, but it was indeed a deep challenge for me, but one that I loved and will cherish for some time to come.

Thanks to Densie for a great class! I especially loved your humor as you taught and my eyes bugged out.

So the moral of the story is that the journey of yoga is one of a lifetime. Just when we think we have mastered something, one pose, twenty, met our goals, calmed our mind, shined our spirit our yoga practice will show us something new, something more magnificent and something worth returning to the mat for each and every time we practice and with that I say, “Practice, practice all is coming” (Pattabhi Jois). Namaste!

What is your hardest, most challenging element of yoga that you are working on in your practice?

Pictures courtesy of Yoga Journal.