This morning I realized that I am only five weeks out from my departure date. I need to keep up the intensity of the preparations I have begun.

One area I have been focusing on is the length of my sirsasana (head balance). In India, they expect you to have 8-10 minute head balance. I have been working on my head balance almost every day and can easily do 8 minutes, but 10 minutes is still a challenge. Staying in sirsasana for 10 minutes is certainly a physical challenge, but it is also a mental challenge. My mind tries to convince me that I need to come down because my limit has been reached, but if I focus on the breath for a few moments, the feeling often passes. For those of you working on poses that are difficult for you try this! See if you can stay a few more breaths, and then perhaps you can stay for a few more.

What to name the blog?

I was chatting with a fellow yoga nerd about how our lives revolve around yoga. She reminded me of the saying (forgive me I don't remember who first said this) that at first you have to fit yoga into your life, but then you have to fit life into your yoga. What a great name for a blog about my first trip to India to immerse myself in the practice of yoga. Classes six days a week for 2 hours, plus a 3 hour daily practice time for an entire month!

I leave at the end of July so the first postings will be about preparation - mentally, physcially and yogically.