Wheel Pose = WHOA pose

Wheel pose (and the accompanying preparation) just kicked my ass.  Yes, I said 'ass' on a Sunday. It's appropriate here.

Holy smacks. That was HARD for me today.  I'm not certain whether the sequence itself was challenging or whether my lack of strength and endurance training as of the last couple months contributed most to the near-torture just endured; regardless - WHOA. Wheel pose. 

Let's just clear the air and note I was already slightly fearful of how my body (and mind) would accept the preparatory movements after seeing the image associated with Day 23: Peak Pose Sequence, Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose) in my email inbox:

Day 23 Challenge = accepted.  

(Am I a Pitta or what?!!)

Of note to self:

• wrists have been uncomfortable/painful for a few weeks in various poses
• noticing that planks and chaturangas have been harder lately
• thighs were tight - unable to grasp left foot and barely could touch right during the monkey/pina colada prep thing (no, I was not drinking alcohol at a zoo today...)
• I modified some of the preparatory work (example: straightened legs multiple times during a few poses, moved into child's pose, or released arms because they were tingling)
• I'm trying not to be judgmental of myself yet am very aware of what seems like a decrease in strength, flexibility, and endurance
• I MADE IT INTO A FULL WHEEL POSE!
• I came out of wheel pose after about 2.6 seconds because I thought if I didn't, I was going to land on my head and thereby crunch my neck/and or rip my shoulders out of socket and/or my stomach was going to burst into flames, since my solar plexus was NOT happy and threatening to explode...

FYI Solar Plexus highlighted in YELLOW here - mine has been acting up for a few months - point just below my sternum/seems to be right on my xyphoid process.

• Moving into wheel pose = wrist discomfort, acutely aware of my bottom-heavy body minor neck discomfort (likely error on my part due to my PITTA trying to do/be/accomplish everything), and vulnerable chakras. 

My stomach is not settled right now, even 15 minutes after the practice. Whew.  Time to chug some aloe.

Day 23 Challenge = completed. 

@CoachBurow #30for30 #yogachallenge #yogaeveryday  #dynamicwellness #mindbodyhealth #chakra #wheelpose