Schedule, and "samskara storms"

[Guest guest]

Schedules: I practice six days a week, normally

early evening just after work. I normally do two or

three classes a week and practice at home the rest of

the time. Evening rather than morning partly because

that's when my classes are, partly because I've never

really made the effort to master the art of getting up

early (I think perhaps I should one day). I take my day

off during the week, because I'm not at work on

Saturdays so it's a good chance for a nice long practice

with no time pressure. I observe moon days unless they

fall on a class day, in which case I usually go to

class and take another day off.<br><br>"Samskara

storms" (lovely phrase, MonkeyMind). Yeah. I've been

through a long patch - several months - of feeling quite

happy and accepting of my practice and myself. Which is

a state of mind I haven't experienced very much in

life before. But the spell of good karmic weather

seems to have broken - a couple of weeks ago I had a

practice where I was just constantly thinking "I hate this

bloody yoga. I never get any better at it. I'm sick of

my knees hurting all the sodding time" etc, etc. And

since then practice has been hard. I think it's partly

the cold, damp European Autumn kicking in and making

everything physically difficult. But only partly. Whatever

triggers them, there are bound to be times when practice -

or life - is more difficult than at other times. And

isn't that part of what it's all about? Learning to

face the hard parts with equanimity - accepting that

you are where you are and learning whatever you can

from wherever you find yourself?