Gina

Back in reality I don't have hours to devote to my practice in the way I did in Sri Lanka. My press handstand has taken a turn for the worse. I'm back to using a block but even a couple of weeks ago the block wasn't possible. Progress isn't linear. All you can do in any moment is all you can do. I'm working hard to build a schedule that fits everything in my day but the thing I'm most proud of is how my mind diverts to compliment instead of complain. When this happened I chose to think "WOOHOO you can do anything!" Rather than "this was a lot easier 6 months ago." This line of thinking won't help you progress. Let your thoughts raise you up like a super supportive parent. ❤️❤️❤️ (at Wells, Somerset)

Yesterday post class practice. Mats are for losers. 😜 I will be starting a Wednesday evening class in the next few weeks as my Saturday morning class has been going really well. Sign up for the newsletter on my website for more info. 🙏🏼💜🕉 (at Wells, Somerset)

Playing around at the studio. Time goes by much quicker when I'm not in the middle of nowhere in Sri Lanka. Because of that it's important that I do something productive everyday because the days slip by really easily (it's almost April...). This productive thing can be as small as a to do list, getting started on clearing out a patio (I did this today), sending a few emails, in my experience it's a feeling of being stagnant that makes people feel unhappy. So long as you're moving, you're moving towards happy. 🌞 If you're new to the handstand, work outside the handstand inwards. By that I mean, work on a light but strong kick up and a slow, smooth exit, then the actual handstand part will look after itself. Also remember that (like a lot of things) it's really, really, not important. It helps. 🙆🏽 (at Wells, Somerset)

No handed lotus arrived yesterday. Lotus is my nemesis and to be able to do it no handed seemed like something that would take more than a few lifetimes. When I started it was painful, impossible, and I've taken 6 month long breaks from it due to the knee injuries it's caused. I've even had a teacher look at my struggles and say that it's likely with my body type that to do it no handed will NEVER happen for me, and looking at my struggles I believed them. But I worked on it anyway because, goals. 🙏🏼 (at Plantation Villa)

More days off, more Airbnbs. This time I thought I'd visit Kandy, a major city in the middle of the country (I don't like when people show off about where they are in the world so I keep it brief, it's hilly and beautiful). Continuing the theme of the Ashtanga self practice - getting into Supta Kurmasana (sleeping turtle! 🐢) without a teacher is really challenging especially if like me you're struggling a little with leg behind the head (because my right knee doesn't want to get on board). So I've perfected the towel technique. I put a towel next to me which I use to "climb" my hands towards each other until I can grasp my fingers then work on wiggling the feet into a cross, I actually edited out some feet wiggling because it took a little while! It certainly doesn't feel pretty but when you don't have a teacher to come over and simply lift you into it, the towel and some patience are your friends. 🙏🏼 (at Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy)

I like to make this roll slowww, no momentum. Some days in the practice we are kind and some days we work. I fell out of the practice recently, I told myself it was too rigid, too challenging, too unforgiving, too much, too DIFFICULT. Then I came back. On this path the door is always open, you can leave at any time, and that's scary knowing that it's up to you to make it. Ultimately we are given the exact right dosage of what can handle, and you can handle a lot. If you're lucky enough to be in constant contact with a teacher, cherish it, because it can be a rough ride without one. #oneisalonelynumberonthemat (at Plantation Villa)

"The soul must stretch over the cosmogonic abysses, while the body performs its daily duties" Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi. Getting absolutely lost in this book at the moment, I made a blog post on meditation yesterday. There's nothing wrong with goals, but you don't need to achieve ANY of them for lasting happiness, happiness is ONLY here, sometimes we can forget this and think happiness is way over there. Don't miss out, don't spend your day lost in made up scenarios, peace is only right here, I promise. Playing with that foot hover out in the jungle this afternoon. ☄💫🦄 Xoxox (at Plantation Villa)

Intimate angles and things. I just wrote a blog post all about forearm balance, Pincha Mayurasana including pressing up like this which happened for the first time yesterday.🎊❤️ The link for such things is in my bio. Don't forget to meditate today, just 5 minutes to sit and be with yourself. 🙏🏼 Love you lots like ice pops. 🍡💜🦄 (at Plantation Villa)

Press it up! 👀 Block has been eliminated (no choice really as I didn't bring any blocks with me to Sri Lanka). I have a few days off which I'm spending in an Airbnb in Colombo. Yesterday I made a blog post just about the handstand, if it's something you're working on -link-bio. 😘👌🏼 Play around with keeping at least one leg as LOW as you can handle, holding it halfway is harder but there's less fear of going over and takes more plugging the leg into your core. I have a long way to go with this but it's nice to finally have some consistent off the floor time. 🦄 (Unicorn because I can.) Attempting it on a balcony made me feel like I KNOW my fears are dissolving... that or I've just gone mad. 🦄🍇🦄🍬🦄🍥 (at Wellawaththa Beach)

Aaaaaand in case you thought it was all sunshine and palm trees ... Some examples of transitions that DON'T want to happen. (Advice plz - the amount you have to bring your face forward to the floor for this is simply terrifying) ☀️🌴 I also now have a blog, honestly this is mostly for my dad who asks for lengthy updates every day (he is very happy with my blog oh papa ❤️👴🏼) if you're interested in yoga, meditation, and Sri Lanka then link in bio etc. 🐅 (at Plantation Villa)

We've had no wifi for 3 days and as a result I've had some of the most deeply profound meditations and I'm now in a place where I can just sit and be happy. This is really really worth taking at least 5 minutes a day to practice. Also I can now do a free standing handstand consistently, this has always been my favourite entry, keep that bottom leg down if you're scared and you won't go over, also it takes more core because the leg is pulling you down. Lesson: put your phone down and let life in. 🙏🏼🍃🌴⭐️💚 But perhaps most importantly, I'VE BEEN WAITING MY ENTIRE EXISTENCE FOR A UNICORN EMOJI I CAN'T BREATHE. 🦄💜🦄💜🦄💜🦄💜🦄💜🦄💜🦄 Also I bought an orange cup for 50 rupees and I really like it. #toomanyupdates #okbye #unicorns (at Plantation Villa)

The transition like a leaf in the wind series part deux. Showing off to my Buddha statue. Might take up break dancing. 🍃🍂🍁🌿🌾 (at Plantation Villa)

When your foot hits a washing line and you're like shut up life and then roll with it. #lemonade 😎🍋 (at Plantation Villa)

I learnt a new transition. 🌺✨ Transitions (rather than the poses themselves) were the thing that had me spellbound from the beginning. Seeing people move from one pose to another like they were surfing the air hooked me into this practice and hasn't let me go. (at Plantation Villa)

Smiling like a lunatic in fresh prints when people dig this shit. 😎 (at Plantation Villa)