This is Going to Get Me Through the Month of August.

You know, that month when I'm back to school with children, once again honing my time management skills from pretty good to superhero-esque. This time of year asks that I become very particular and focused about what I want from my asana practice:

• I'm probably not going to have a whole lot of time on any given day, so I need something that's safe to do in about 30 minutes or so. In other words, no "peak poses" that require extended prep or warm-up work: August is not my month for perfecting splits.
• It is likely I will want a practice on the more vigorous end of the physical spectrum, either because I have physical energy or because I want energizing.
• My mental focus is not going to be at the top of its game. This means both that I'll want a sequence that offers a relatively lot of repetitions of relatively few postures** and that I'll want to avoid postures that require me to be paying the most attention. Just like hanumanasana, upward facing two foot staff should probably not be in my regular short-term rotation.

Also, I realize that I do not need and ultimate transformative practice for this point in time. Rather, I need something that is solid and sustainable and good enough for right now.

In light of all that, this is what I've come up with:

1. One warm up sun salute with:
   • 5 rounds in and out of forward fold;
   • 5 rounds in and out of cobra;
   • 5 breaths in some kind of mobile down dog
2. 5 rounds of sun salute A;
3. Modified sun salutes B, one each:
   • 5 breaths in and out of Warrior 2;
   • 5 breaths holding Warrior 2;
   • 5 breaths moving between radiant warrior and side angle;
   • 5 breaths holding side angle;
   • 5 breaths holding triangle;
4. 5 more sun salutes A;
5. 1 sun salute A with a held plank, moving into and out of one-handed plank for 5 breaths on each side;
6. camel, 10 breaths;
7. low lunge twist, 10 breaths per side;
8. wide-legged forward fold, 10 breaths;
9. reclined twist, 5 breaths per side;
10. savasana.

    The few times I've tried this, it's taken between 25 and 35 minutes, depending on the day and how long I hold savasana.

    This is a routine to which I can commit - most days - through one of my busiest months.

    ** But not too repetitive because then I will be like, "Fuck this shit," and I won't do it.

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