Lazy Sunday

It was anything but during Mysore class last Sunday. K and E were somehow able to hold their tongues for a whole class (except for some opening chanting...and one-on-one instruction...and some witty banter...and...) as each student, with the help of study guides, wove together his/her own practice. The energy was distinctly different and...delicious. Most students found that when practicing on their own, it became apparent that during regular class K and E's definition of five breaths is distinctly longer than average. 

Go figure.

The Primary Series has its own topography, beginning with forward bends, peaking with some arm balances and other assorted madness, and then cooling down with some fun poses - Ubhaya Padangusthasana and Urdhva Mukha Paschimottansana - that have us rolling up to balance on the sitting bones. All Ashtanga series finish with backbends and inversions. The inversions are said to be the height of purification, when all of the toxins loosed during the other poses are consumed in the gastric fires. Whatever that means. And then Savasana: that's the one were you fall into a pile for a while before trying to make it out of the practice room. It's very devotional, as in "Thank God that it's over."


We're thinking about making this Mysore thing a regular part of class, maybe once a month. It is surprising how different the practice feels when done independently, even though it's the same room, same poses, same day and time. A new awareness, and that's what it's all about, eh?

Well, enough talk. Let's step back from the computer, lift up and jump back...