I’ve been working from home since my little one turned 1, right at the beginning of the pandemic. Whew… what a time to grow up in. While so much has changed since my sweet baby came into our lives, one thing that has truly been a blessing is the ability to work remotely and to practice yoga at home.
For years, I have tried hard to wake up early and start the perfect morning yoga routine. But now, I have quietly accepted that the wannabe #influencer life is just beyond my mental capacity. There’s no soft music playing in the background, no fluffing up the pillows or making a glass of green thingy they so delightfully relish.
LOL, my mornings are busy and rushed, and involve convincing a tiny tot of the benefits of brushing and eating breakfast. After the school drop-off, I have enough time to make a hot cup of masala chai and get ready for a day of coding (and saving the world). 😛 On days when my husband works from home, he prepares breakfast – poha, thalipeeth, or upma. Ahh!! the good life.
My workplace has transitioned to a hybrid model, where I only need to be in the office once a week. It’s still great, as I enjoy meeting colleagues and chatting over a cup of coffee. Also, pretty happy that I no longer have to endure the two-and-a-half-hour daily commute.
This has helped me to focus on my fitness and do yoga at home after work. I started the month of February with two yoga challenges themed around self-love and kindness. It motivated me to practice asanas I hadn’t practiced in months, like splits and backends. Here are some photos from the past few months.
The above was probably my first proper yoga practice at home this year and I just wanted to check if I can still roll into a ball. Shoulderstands or Sarvaganasana are my absolute favorite to stretch my back and feel the shoulders open up.
I don’t get time to indulge in a peaceful practice every day, so on most days I would be doing strength training or a bit of cardio. I even did cardio boxing once and was sore for days – sigh!! age is catching up.
Related Post – My journey to front splits
Practicing yoga brings me a deep sense of peace and calm, helping me find the right mindset. The combination of mobility drills, hamstring stretches, and focused breathwork centers my body and mind, allowing me to feel grounded and balanced.
Also, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally achieve the asanas I once only dreamed of. Surya Yantrasana or Compass pose took its sweet time, although I can do it only on one side. The other side is stuck in beginner mode. It’s a perfect reminder of how our bodies can be imbalanced and need different levels of attention.
Fallen Angel or Devadutta Panna Asana – the only fancy inversion that I can transition into anytime anywhere without the fear of breaking my limbs.
Forward folds are becoming harder as I grow older. I don’t know if there’s a connection, but I definitely remember not struggling with this asana before. After a lot of deep breaths and warming up, I could reach my knees, but without the flat back that I was aiming for.
Arm Balance – Last year I made surprising progress in holding Bakasana. I could finally hold it for 10 seconds (yes, I timed it) without putting any cushion in front of my face. Oh! the joy of balancing on my arms!! Side Crow or Parsva Bakasana Variations are other arm balances I practice often.
Here’s a collection of them – Crow, Grass Hopper Pose, Side Crow variations
Last year, I learned the Scorpion Handstand. So even though I am still stuck doing handstands with the Paul the Wall, I am upgrading myself to practice the backend version of this arm balance. It takes a solid 30-minute warm-up – wrist strengthening, stretching, and backends – just to get into the position. I am absolutely loving every minute of it. Can’t believe I am this excited about a yoga asana. 😀
I think I have come a long way since I wrote – Life is all kinds of clumsy. It may not be at the pace I wished for, but I try to make the best of what I have. 🙂 I also post my practice reels on Instagram – Rajlakshmihb
How do you fit fitness – between chores and the usual madness of life?
Ah yoga! I’ve come to enjoy it now and I go all freestyle on the mat based on my mood. My core is a problem and I’m working towards strengthening it now.
You are a yoga champ!
My yoga poses are nowhere close to yours, Raj, but I enjoy my time on the mat, focusing on what I can do.
You are incredible—managing a little boy, work, and house chores, while still finding time for drawing, blogging, and rolling into a ball to showcase a fallen angel and whatnot! What are you made of, dear??
I hear you! I’ve become so reliant on yoga and meditation to destress and breathe after a long day. But I’m still working on the basics. Your yoga skills are incredible!
I cannot even imagine how crazy these poses are. Hats off to you, Raj. Managing any kind of exercise routine is a win in itself.
Wow, Rajlakshmi! You are a yoga maestro. I can just admire your extremely difficult to do yoga asanas from a distance. 🙂 I can’t imagine doing even one of these half way right. I have always liked your posts about yoga and loved how your son would stroll into pictures and videos. You go girl, have fun remote working and enjoy your yoga sessions.