the movement of the skin gives an understanding of the asana. you must feel the extension of the limits of your skin. as i have said, the skin is the brain of the body, telling what is happening everywhere. the skin, like a mirror, reflects one’s mental state, whether tight, slack, flaccid, swollen, tremulous, or stuck. so watch the quality of the skin in your practice.

when you extend your skin, you are also extending your nerve endings. extending them opens them so that they can throw out their stored impurities. that is why i teach extension and expansion. the nerves release and relax. you feel as if you are extending the skin, the muscles, and even the bones of your body. practice asanas by creating space in the muscles and skin, so that the body fits into the asana. to do this, the whole body has to act. to extend the part, you must extend the whole.

if the stretch is even, throughout the body, there is no strain at all. this does not mean that there is no exertion. there is exertion, but this exertion is exhilarating. there is no wrong stress or strain. a state of elation is felt within. where there is strain, the practice of yoga is purely physical and leads toward imbalances and misjudgment. one feels weary and tired and gets irritated and disturbed. when one stops straining and the barin is passive, it becomes spiritual yoga. when you have extended to extreme, live in that asana, and experience joy of freedom in that asana. while stretching, you must always create space and extend from your center. compression is bondage, and expansion is freedom.

- b.k.s iyengar, light on life [emphasis mine] 

about 2 weeks ago i started adding more and more minutes to my self-guided yoga practice. it’s hard to stay focused yet i’m always grateful for any minutes - even if it’s 15 or so. i practiced in a class setting for 10+ years but the scene has turned into a scene which no longer feels good. maybe that will change but for now these solo classes are evolving into this truly wonderful quiet fluid space. for thinking. for unraveling. afternoon yoga is my very favorite time of day, it has eclipsed my love for morning runs. i still run but stretching the skin, as bks would say, it where it’s at for me, right now. my practice feels like a combination of yoga and ballet which is not why i posted dancer’s pose but the two schools of movement are great gifts. i’ve said more than 100 times it’s worth finding those things in life that you can take with you anywhere, at any age. of course i don’t dance like i used to and my yoga has been stronger than it is now. but i’m still having fun while finding that balance of what works, now. i also love photography and preparing meals. what do you take with you wherever you go?

… the early morning is my favorite time of day.

most of the world is still asleep and so it’s just you facing all this possibility, this quiet anticipation. and you come face to the face with the awesome truth that what you do with the possibility is entirely up to you. 

- 12minds | original picture removed via  flickr. [emphasis mine]

this is why i run ever morning. to move through the city as the birds call the sun and the sun calls the city and its people to wake up. goodness.