Whilst rummaging around in a draw looking for some of my book binding stuff, I found a Japanese binding sketch book I had made, which I had almost completed practicing my calligraphy writing out the Heart Sutra, so new intent for the new year is to finish it. Another book started and need to keep reading segments is a book I think you recommended some while back, the Tibetan book of living and dying. Another sketch book I had made and not finished writing is my ‘A Haiku a day’ I had written one a day on my travels around Europe. I need to continue - another intent- and a book again to finish a bit at a time is Stephen Pearson -Whispers of Algorithms (Haiku unveiled by chat GPT). Can AI really be this thoughtful? I feel a need to follow up on Devi’s recent Mexico experience. And finally in intents not readings, I too will continue leaving some legacy trees in my paddock/woodland, mine being named trees of dear close friends, I have two of the Chinese fir Cunninghamia Ianceolta, then my family, the Stewart’s I had a few species once before moving so need to find them again. The next is actually based on my meditation ‘drug’ ( Eucalyptus) or essential oil should I say. Particularly the peeling snake skin bark variety. Back to books, I also have open and reading slowly and play around in my head in my Yon practices and meditation’the sound of one hand clapping’ Yoel Hoffmann. I am fascinated my the Koans - do I try and solve or let them revolve around in my head as I ‘ melt further into my yoga mat?

Well my inner introspection had a brief chat and decided it was definitely butterfly at the end on a cushion - nice. Melting into my meditation at the end the sensation of my body shrinking (contracting) as it relaxed - nice. Great end to a day thank you Devi

The small mantra throughout was Relax - everything done only enhanced this feeling - thank you on a cold wet evening - just what was needed.

Let go of some of the self imposed ‘Have to’s’ and make space for more of the ‘want to’s’ hoping to bring more smiles to my life and time to enjoy those precious moments, playing with the dog, meditations moments, slow Yin yoga moments - in fact it is to slow everything down,copy what I do in the speed of walking in my forest bathing meditations - an author I read on the subject said “cut your normal pace by a half then half it again” it really gives you a totally new experience, I have just got to apply that to all my other ‘want to’ activities and soak up those moments.

That was most satisfying, the early poses on each side were the best individual side stretches i have experienced in a long time, I didn’t want to move on, though the craving was satisfied as I did go with the flow. Devis word intuition in yesterdays practice came up for me in the beginning, I used my cushion to sit on to help my posture and I experiment with using my ‘posture’ stick or whatever it is called hooking my arms over the stick against my back in those first few moments gave my back the signals to sit more correctly (more comfortably) than usual. But for me just a great luxurious session thanks Devi.

My body went Oh! When i heard shoelace, my left knees arthritis jusn’t doesn’t like it, but persevere and Devi’s comment play around and be intuitive, made all the difference, it was a more to the left move with my arms eased of the, what is normally a very painful experience for the knee, Note to self be more intuitive all the time and go with what the body tells me, of course with Devi’s permission to be intuitive, of course.. Thanks Devi

When in the the first pose, sphinx, i kept sending the messages to my hips and below, Devi said relax them, what my head then thought about was some of those Salvador Dali pictures when things melt - my hips and below truly felt like they were melting into the yoga mat - it was hard to leave the pose after that sensation. A little like the sensation of the flotation pool in the pitch black - sublime. I must go lie next to my dog and see if we can melt downwards next to each other she seems to have it mastered - at least the downward and upward Dog pose!!

Well it is the little things that I notice that bring joy in this just right , for me, practice tonight. How easy to move to banana from star, the crow/duck in the background and then the dog as if they were in the practice. Then after months of experimentation I found the perfect height for a pillow to ease my neck during fig 4 move. The only trouble with this mindfulness moments of Joy is keeping up with the flow. I have been thinking through the Japanese saying ‘Ma’ and how to highlight that in my Yin practice. Many thanks Devi

Perfect timing for me tonight, my body found last nights just a little too long at the end of my day. Having used props for my fish pose, which felt good, as my neck seems to not be able to find comfort in thread the needle to the right, though pushing down a little more on my left arm eased it somewhat I wonder what prop I could use for this. Funny when the note from Devi about he practice and calendar for the week dropped into my inbox earlier I think my soul soul did a little dance of joy as I saw 20 mins was on the agenda for tonight. It is Sunday after all isn’t it ( day of rest!!!) Thanks Devi

Moving my hips just that little bit more over before twisting gave my spine that satisfying ‘clunk’ allowing me to relax even more into the mat - those little adjustments do make that difference. Another piece to share on my practice was giving myself permission to use cushions - I always heard what Devi said “you can also use a…” but my head said that would be cheating. Boy does it make a difference for my own satisfaction using the cushion at appropriate poses, like today’s crossed legged’ or half butterfly, i can reach further, it is more comfortable and I come away feeling more relaxed. Yep we need to look after these aging bodies!!!