I have now been back in Stockholm for a year and since I moved back here during the pandemic there wasn't really much to do. Luckily I have been pretty self-sufficient with my yoga practice for years now. I'm so used to having a self-practice and I have come to appreciate the comfort and convenience of practicing yoga at home. I usually light some incense and listen to binaural beats. And I flow with whatever kind of yoga practice my body wants to do that day, or if I feel a certain resistance, I might go with that instead.
I have been practicing many different yoga styles throughout the last 10 years but lately I have been focusing a lot on a rather slow practice, I usually hold the asanas for 5 minutes, sometimes longer. I have come to really appreciate the stillness. To just be. And to feel my body. It's a meditative experience and I feel very grateful for this beautiful practice.
As some of you might know I started with pole dance about 6 months ago and that's been an interesting contrast to yoga. I recently started Pole Level 3 so I have progressed and on level 3 we start with a lot of inversions on the pole. It's a bit scary because it's new and I don't trust myself fully yet, that I can hold on to the pole with just a knee or my armpit. But being upside down isn't scary in itself and I have my yoga practice to thank for that. I have actually also started taking Contemporary Pole, which is more of a dance class, mostly rolling around on the floor 🙂 I like the movement a lot and I feel so inspired by my favorite pole teacher (she was the reason I signed up for this class, she is such an amazing dancer).
I feel such a strong urge to really move and use my body more. It kind of kills me to have a desk job, I'm constantly reminded of how bad it is for my body. But well, it could be worse. I cannot imagine how I would feel without daily walks, yoga, and now the latest addition, pole dance.
My experience with a beginner's yoga class
But what I actually meant to write about is that since things have opened up again here in Sweden, I have been going to a yoga school once a week. I chose to return to a school I really appreciated like 7-8 years ago. I think this school was the first yoga school in Sweden so they have been around for quite some time now. It's very traditional and what I like most about the place is the energy there. I remember when I went there I felt so relaxed, like I could spend the night, just falling asleep after the class. I felt so supported and safe. The class is also long, 2 1/2 hours with asanas, pranayama, and meditation.
But of course, it's always risky to return to something after so many years. Maybe the experience will be completely different this time? I also followed their recommendations, to actually take their beginner's class, since I had been away for such a long time. In the beginning, it felt a bit frustrating, since some people in the class had never done yoga before and the information wasn't new to me at all. But then I decided to really adopt a beginner's mindset, a concept from Zen Buddhism.
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
— Shunryu Suzuki
And I just appreciated the teachings and the opportunity to practice with this group of people. I have the same strong experience as 7-8 years ago and it's still a very special feeling to meditate there. Even though I have been very tired most of the weeks, I haven't skipped the class because I know how good it is for me and it's a good reminder that there are so many opportunities in Stockholm if I just open my eyes. It'll be helpful to adopt a beginner's mindset about Stockholm as well.
It's the dark season here though and people tend to stay indoors a lot. I have decided to make an effort to make my place cozier. Since I have been thinking that I'll leave soonish since I got back here I haven't really been willing to buy a lot of things for my flat. But I actually don't see myself moving somewhere for another year at least so it's time to settle here a bit more. I think something good will come from this mindset 🙂
Thanks for reading 🌸
Love and blessings to you all 💚
Oh wow - that's an absolutely incredible sunrise - those colours! Pinks and golds - wow. Love it. I love your coaching footer too! Very cute! I love a slower flow yoga - it helps you inhabit your body more, in my opinion. now that things are opening up more here, I might go back to studio classes - I'm feeling unfit these days because I haven't had a regular practice due to lockdowns etc and feeling depressed etc - you know, pandemic stuff. Slow flow is sooo delicious! I like practicing like that at home too, putting on tunes and slipping into the now through breath and body - aah I want to practice now instead of going to work!
I know, that sunrise really lifted my spirits 💚
Thanks, I actually really like pink, even though I'm not a 'pink' person at all if that makes sense 🙂
I know the feeling, it's a challenge to stick to our routines given how the situation has been. But physical movement is so important for our well-being. Personally I feel that I want to dance more. I have actually also been attending a so-called 'power hour' class at the pole studio, a strength-building class for the pole. It has been some intense workout I haven't done for years. Like burpees, tabata, and so on. It's been so much fun actually, but that's mostly because I had a great instructor and the group was so small (max 4 people) so it was almost like having a personal trainer.
xx
I'm not a pink person either at all, but I am kinda feeling the merits of pink of late. I wouldn't WEAR it, although I did just buy some trainers with a dusky pinkish and burgundy stripe...
that's sooo coolllllll - I loved that kind of fitness at 40... I keep thinking I should do something a bit more hardcore but I need to gently get my fitness up first so I have confidence. Go you!
I actually wear pink quite a lot 🙂
Yes I understand, it was kind of a shock for my body but I got so much stronger every week. I worked out a lot like that in my 20s but well, all my health issues that started about 10 years ago kind of slowed things down.
You attitude is so humble. It's a great approach. Really love your footer image and how much empowerment for women radiates out of it.
Thank you. I don't like to call myself humble but I take it as a compliment hearing it from someone else.
Also, thank you for what you are saying about my footer. For some reason I use pink a lot in my branding so I have decided to just go with it.
Pink is good! I feel it's about that time women all over the world are empowered. And i'm not saying this because of some me too movement. I think it's a natural process in history. I think even the hive is inhabited by very strong and wonderful women. to be honest it's them that actually made me stick around for so long.