I have been ploughing through the primary series for a few years now. It doesn’t bother me so much because I know there is a lot to improve. My biggest challenge is Marichyasana D. I have to admit that I stopped Mysore practice for about eight months or more last year. Before I left, with some help, I was almost able to touch my fingers in Marichyasana D, and could bind in Marichyasana D.
In December last year, I decided I needed to pull up my socks and get back to Mysore practice and discovered that I had totally lost the bind in Marichyasana C (even with help), so let’s not even talk about Marichyasna D! In addition, my Urdhva Dhanurasana was really not as good as I had thought it would be. When I had stopped last year, I was doing stand ups (although not yet drop backs). All unable to do!
So now after four months of once-a-week Mysore practice (plus one home practice), the Marichyasana C is back to the bind (yay!) with some help. The Marichyasana D? Still can just about bind with help but because of a knee injury in mid March, things aren’t as good as I would have liked.
Still, I know Marichyasana is ‘gateway pose’, so I’m okay with working on it. Here’s Kino MacGregor giving some tips on Marichyasana D:
I like the end when she gives a little yogic advice. Sometimes, we lose sight of that on the mat and it is great to be reminded.
[Here’s some handy tips from Neil Keleher as well on the Marichyasana group of poses]