My package

Just some illustrations of last week



package arrived in "excellent condition"

at least the provisions were in tact!

Notes, thoughts, ramblings -- a post practice conversation

My package was at the post office after all and as expected, it was like the black lodge. The poor thing had definitely been through quite a bit and if we could trace the life of the package from the USA to here, I'm sure it would be an interesting voyage that would include car rides, plane rides, boats, being dropped, elephants, mistaken identity, being used as furniture, the night as a pillow, etc. Or maybe that's just how it looks. Note to senders: when mailing packages, I recommend the "divide and conquer" method in which items are all sent individually, thereby increasing the odds that at least one package will make it to the addressee.

We're still hearing drums. The Ganesh festival was last week and I think officially just one day--I mean, we got one day off from the shala. I remember last year that there was a night around the time of the festival that I heard what I was certain was an angry mob that was bringing a riot to Gokulum. Later, my roommies and I found out that it was actually a parade (we had practice the following morning and weren't about to go gallivanting into the night to see for ourselves). But this year, we're still hearing the drums. We heard them outside the window last night. It's this wild raw sound. We went outside and saw a crowd of men dancing (almost capoiera style) and drumming madly around a huge Ganesh statue on a truck (I suppose this is a float) that was lit with twinkling "Christmas" lights. Oh, and they were lighting fireworks/small explosive devices. This was all in the middle of the road and definitely without a permit of any kind (I'm imagining the kind of attention this would get in the streets of New York). We all stood outside of our house watching as vehicles happened to drive right next to or over the explosives just as they would go off. We laughed as the drivers spooked their cars and scooters almost off the road and into the ravine. Removing obstacles?

I'm still settling into this new routine. Is practice getting worse, is it changing, or is my body adapting? Hard to tell, but it still feels awkward. Even as I recognize these reactions, the majority of me feels incredibly grateful/blessed/honored/humbled/etc. The whole time I'm thinking one part "full power" and one part "this is amazing". I feel so lucky that my arms and legs work, that I am alive, that I am fortunate to be able to do things like this, and I only hope that I can remember that feeling the rest of the day because it makes me want to do better, think better, help more...

There are two main coconut men in the "Gok". The first is the coconut guru who runs the official coconut stand where everyone meets up and uses as a point of reference for directions. The other is the coconut man who works outside of the shala during practice hours. Yesterday in painting class, Tomasz told me that he died the previous night of a heart attack. It was so sudden. The only thing I could think of was what was going to happen to his family. So we planned a benefit dinner for them on Friday.

Back to practice: Holding supta vajrasana for a long time as I wait for Sharath or Saraswati to hold my legs down sometimes makes my arms go to sleep. It is actually quite uncomfortable. Then right after that pose I have to do bakasana which is fine but in b where I have to jump into it, I sometimes have trouble (like today for instance). Then in bharadvajrasana--oooh paining!

I feel horrible for even talking about that practice bs next to someone passing. How lucky I am to even be uncomfortable. Really, the pain is a reminder that I'm alive.

On being divided

I love that this is starting right where I left off in February--eka pada sirsasana and the second series split.

"How do you feel now that you're divided?" Ewa asks Mauricio over spilled fruit salad at Tina's. Mauricio is what I now call my "practice twin". I practiced next to him in a led primary series class a few weeks ago and it was so funny because we had all the same little nuances and practice styles. Olivia said it was like watching the boy and girl version of the same practice (nice drishtis Olivia). Afterwards we both admitted that the energy practicing next to each other was really strong. To be corny, it was like a horse being released to the wild and running with the wild pack naturally or something else really ridiculous. We vowed to practice next to each other in the led classes from that day forth but it hasn't happened. We aren't ever there at the same time so we promise each time that next class will be the day.

And even though last Friday we were practicing at different corners of the classroom, like twins, we both got "the split" the very same day. Saturday we had off to think about what was coming, and on Sunday at 6:15 am we had our first second series led class. (Search "led second series" on my MysoreMusings blog to see my thoughts last year on this event--it is funny!) I was so nervous because many people sit in the doorway to watch. I remained a little nervous and shaky for awhile and then finally started to let go and have fun. Sharath stopped both Mauricio and myself at Eka Pada Sirsasana and told us to "go back" which I learned means to take our mats to the back of the class and start finishing postures.

This is day four of second series only and it feels strange. My shoulders are tired. I feel heavy. My back muscles are sore. I'm shaky. I have bursts of energy and emotions followed by irritability, hunger, and naps. I feel really flexible some days while others I feel very tight. I think Ewa got it right--how does it feel being divided?

But I don't think it is just the yoga. I have a new practice time that I'm getting used to--4:45am. This means I'm up by about 3:15am--fun! Saturdays I get to sleep in though and Sunday's class is at 6:15 so I'm up by 5:15. Except that this Saturday I think I'm going to be up just as early as the roommates and I are planning a trip to Bandipur to go on a safari! Apparently elephant sighting are guaranteed...I'm getting used to being in India, of course, and my new apartment and roommates. I'm getting used to my boyfriend being here. I'm feeling like ladies' holiday is around the corner and that is throwing the whole mix to a new level of discomfort.

In other news, ex-evil landlady surprises yoga student with -- what's the word? -- generosity? Honestly? Non-greed? Me and the bf rode down to the old house and I rapped on the mail box while their evil little mutt glowered at me. Mrs. Bhat waddles out wrapped in her "house sari" with a surprising smile and kind eyes. I tell her I'm just here to pay for the laundry and I'm sorry I forgot and that I was giving extra for that and because the house cleaner also washed some of my "double occupancy" occupant's clothes. I gave her 350rs. She handed me 150 back and said that she (the house cleaner) had only asked for 50rs extra. I was stunned. And the package did not arrive at their house but she agreed to leave it with Anu and Ganesh (they run the internet cafe/restaurant down the road and are apparently good friends with the Bhats--go figure). But as the package was sent on the 18th and was supposed to arrive in 7-10, I'm obliged to begin some unwanted detective work. Dealing with the local Greenpoint, Brooklyn postal service is hell on earth, but this--this is being stuck in the black lodge on Twin Peaks. Wish me luck!