Free Primary Series: C'mon get happy!

Day Two of the Challenge saw the shala again nearly full to capacity for a free led Primary Series class. A Friday 5 o'clock led class is traditional in Mysore as well (5 am, rather than pm, but who's counting?) We had newbies, yogis, and card-carrying ashtangis ripping it up together. The night started with the sad news that K (of K & E) would not be there, as she was observing another Indian tradition: mysterious stomach ailments.

No matter - we perservered. It seemed a case of the 100th monkey as even those who shouldn't have known their ekam from their ardha slipped easily into the flow and soon enough the whole room was resonating, inhaling and exhaling. The first Om was probably audible from the Centennial bridge, at least.

Though there was a standing offer to stop and simply watch at any time, everyone (except a few who had another obligation) finished the whole series, Om to Om. Color us impressed: perhaps it was simple a matter of the price is right.

We have a few in the running to finish the full Challenge, and we're halfway home. Today's 1230 Vinyasa III is sure to separate the wheat from the chaff, as we put our own spin on the Ashtanga practice structure and crank it up to 11. There has been talk that for this to really be an Ashtangi Challenge, we shouldn't wander outside of orthodoxy, in which case we may just need to try on a 4th or 5th series today and see how it fits.

We'll just have to see what happens...

Mysore practice? BAM!

(if you don't "get" the title, read this (toward the bottom of the page) - thanks, Jeff)

The Challenge got off to a ripping start this afternoon, with 15 students jumping, breathing, and "studying" their way through the Primary Series. The shala was nearly full to capacity and Baby New Year got his first good whoopin' of '09. The first, but not the last - oh, not by a long shot.

Highlights certainly included the attendance of visiting Ashtangis from Alabama, Iowa City...even "Moline" (ever heard of it?). It doesn't get much better than the opportunity to practice with other teachers and studio owners at our lil' ol' shala. James, Megan, Christopher, Kimberly - mad props.

This was for many of us one of the first challenges/opportunities in self-practice and, while it all seems pretty straightforward on Sundays ("Lemme guess...'jump back'?"), remembering what comes next can be daunting.

Luckily, there were plenty of books, flyers, hand-written notes, and other cheat sheets scattered about. We had to laugh thinking about such a scene were it to take place in Mysore, under the eye of Sharath: oh, the humanity! Oh, the wrathful Ut Plutihi that would follow! Who knows, though, maybe some of those ashtangis have (waterproof) crib notes tucked into their shorts...we were mostly too tired to pay much attention while we were there...

All in all, we can't call it anything but a smashing success, and hopefully a class that can be repeated and eventually added at more times during the week as we continue to peddle this practice on every street corner, looking to get people hooked. Nothing but a couple of pushers.

Best spied cheat sheet line:

"...sit (x10)
lift up (x10)
rest!" (that is, "watch me take this rest...BAM!")

Best adjustment(s):

You've got to hand it to Ann who, after floating through the Intro to Ashtanga course in September (that's only four months ago, for those of you keeping score at home), rocked some Garbha Pindasana today. Sure, it took getting misted like a houseplant and then dribbled like a basketball, but it's all in the name of spiritual evolution, eh? Welcome to 2009, Ann...I think it's going to be your year.

Up next...TGIF (Thank Ganesh It's Free) Primary Series, Friday, Jan 2, 530p. See you there!!