Much of our sinewy summer has passed, hence, a check-in blog that is looooong overdue!

It has been quite a journey since my hip replacement at the end of April. Good news: My recovery is going well. I had my 3 month post-op with my surgeon and have been officially cleared to “begin practicing yoga.” With this news, you may look for a virtual yin workshop in September. I will be sending out more details soon.

Of course, I never officially stopped practicing yoga. For yoga is so much more than the physical postures. Breathwork and meditation were soul savers with all the physical limitations I had early on.

Do you remember when you first started attending yoga classes as a complete beginner? Everything was new and fresh and the mind and the body were curious? It is this same curiosity that has guided my recovery from anterior hip replacement surgery. Every movement must be approached with mindfulness and what is often referred to as in yoga as ‘the beginners mind’.

A ‘beginner’s mind’ comes from the Zen Buddhism term 'Shoshin'. It is also a principle presented in the ancient Indian texts of The Upanishads. The principle ‘Atmaikatva Vidya’ in the Upanishads calls for the seeker to be open and receptive. It is when we absorb information enthusiastically. It also requires humility, a willingness to let go of ego and perfection.

Much of my first two months humbly focused on the art of walking with the ‘beginners mind’. For a while, walking and supervised physical therapy were my only forms of physical exercise, and it was tough. I had to mindfully learn to walk again: carefully land the center of the heel to the earth and evenly shift the weight forward to the toes with each step.

Just as a yogin would celebrate their first crow pose (or goal posture), I celebrated a series of ‘firsts’ with fresh eyes, a fresh new hip and an open heart over a slow time progression: first time walking with a cane instead of a walker, first time walking without a cane, first ¼ block walked, first ½ block hike, first full block hike, 1 mile hike, 2 mile hike, and then to 3 miles. Gradually, I built my distance using the principles of strength and surrender (stira-sukham) ala Goldilocks style: not too much, not too little, always chasing the edge but not going past it.

Although my doctor just gave me official clearance to begin taking vinyasa yoga only last week, I worked with my physical therapist over the last two months to understand what yoga movements to temporarily avoid and to identify what was safe for anterior hip replacement. In the first few weeks, I created a chair yoga sequence that was safe and didn’t violate anterior hip replacement restrictions.

As I completed more physical therapy, the external rotation of my new hip improved tremendously in just two months, while internal rotation has been slower to return. Now I that have 'official clearance', I will have more independence. There is an inherent responsibility to listen to my body, honor my limitations and modify temporarily. All ego must fall away so I can celebrate those little yoga victories once again. Most yin postures (with the exception of sleeping swan/pigeon) are accessible now.

I have begun taking some virtual level one vinyasa classes and face challenges with even rudimentary movements. It helps to have a good working knowledge of yoga so I can tailor a yoga sequence for my body as I continue to regrow my physical practice. Blocks and props are a must and movements from one pose to another must be taken slowly. Transitions in vinyasa more challenging than they have ever been. Movements that were once accessible (even with my bad hip before surgery) aren’t necessarily accessible right now. But as my surgeon explained, muscles had to be shifted to insert my new joint. It’s necessary to allow time to build strength and allow time for my muscles to assimilate.

Just to give you an idea, here are some difficult movements (transitions) or poses. This may be useful info for teachers reading this blog to understand.

1. Pressing up to a high lunge or Warrior one from low lunge with my right leg forward. Using blocks is helpful here.

2. Shifting from a high lunge or Warrior One back to a low lunge.

3. Standing splits on my standing right leg

4. Balancing Half moon on standing right leg

5. Triangle with right leg forward

6. Humble Warrior is not currently accessible at all on one side (right leg forward)

7. Malasana/Garland pose (Squat)

8. 1 leg down dog with scorpion leg (right leg grounded)

But there is much I can do once again:

1. Crow

2. Side crow

3. Standing balances (all of them)

4. Warrior 2 (was really hard at first)

5. Extended Side angle

6. Bound angle/butterfly

7. Reclined pigeon

8. Many backbends (at first, I was told not to do backbends. But now have clearance to do them at 3 months)

Clearly, patience is a requirement here. I will continue to celebrate those little victories as I look forward to teaching again.

And those yin and meditation classes/workshops will be starting soon! Although I may be practicing in level one vinyasa class next to you soon, I will most likely not be teaching a level one for another few months. Fortunately, restorative, yin and meditation are on the plate for now.

In the meantime, enjoy every moment left in this gorgeous summer.

Love and light,

Kristin