Small Signs

Monday arrived with rain again. At this point, it almost feels routine. I’m a little tired of giving the weather so much attention, even if it continues to shape the day. Energy is still low, but experience has taught me that it often shifts once training begins.

There are things I’m quietly looking forward to this week. Mostly the chance to spend some time with Ri and create a little space. This trip has felt more tiring than the last two, and I can’t quite place why. Maybe it will change. Maybe it won’t.

I caught myself wondering whether I’m pushing hard enough, or whether something else is happening instead. My legs don’t ache the way they once did, yet the forms feel more settled. Perhaps that’s its own kind of progress. The thought that I might be improving — slowly, without fanfare — brings an unguarded smile.

A familiar face returned to the school today. When we saw each other, we smiled. Nothing more than that, and yet it felt like exactly what was needed in that moment.

She’s a yoga teacher, and my body is far from supple. Not a bad pairing. She mentioned that my hips aren’t weak so much as tight — the tendons holding things back. It felt less like criticism and more like useful information. Something to work with.

I trained alone later in the park. Quiet. Open. Enough room to move without interruption. I find myself drawn there more often now. The atmosphere suits me.

What should have been an easy day left my hips sore, with the hint of a sharper sensation beneath the surface. I’d hoped today might give the body a chance to recover a little. Instead, it asked for more attention. That’s fine. It’s only one day. Rest will help, and tomorrow will arrive as it always does.

Stretching is clearly going to matter. There’s no way around it. Progress here will mean accepting a step back before moving forward again. It’s a familiar pattern. One I’ve seen play out in enough places to trust it, even when it’s uncomfortable.

For now, noticing feels like enough.