i moved out of my hotel couple days ago for a handful of personal reasons. mostly i desired a need to get away from the bustle close to the beach, more solitude, and mostly A POOL. i really do not like swimming in oceans and the arabian sea is no exception with it's dangerous choppy waves, unpredictable sand ground, the daily sight of dozens of deficating dogs right at the shoreline, and an outbreak of lice last year.
anyhow, i moved to what seems like a mile up lighthouse road where all the hoity toity places are, usually quite expensive, but since i'm in a place that's currently under construction, i'm getting a deal of sorts. the pool is immaculately clean and giant and gorgeous and empty (cept for me), which means i can swim after yoga and before bedtime. nothing like floating on your back in india in a pool staring into the moon and stars.
the place is not without warts. i had to have electricity installed yesterday, plumbing installed today, i need a new fan that won't keep me awake at night. but the view is spectacular, near a sri devi temple, which is SO loud, but lovely anyhow. i miss those temple speakers when i am back home.
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FOR YOGIS ONLY
spending 2 months with lino and gwendoline changed my practice dramatically, which is why i come back. however, it's definitely NOT for the lazy or prop lovers or those who like to do "research poses" like pigeon in the middle of practice, or splits after prasarita d. he is hardcore in terms of how the vinyasa is taught, each breath, each lift, each gazing poing, bandhas, and breath, doing the pose and understanding it more internally rather than externally, which is SO common.
i just keep learning and learning, last year more about bandhas, this year, dristi is my focus. if you don't even know what that means and you practice astanga, you better find out, cause it's more important than the posture. something else i've learned from maria paolo (who works very closely with tina-VERY strict) was one day she saw i was doing all my lotus poses with left leg first. she said, "NO! you do right first always in half instead of full with left." i told her i was injured, and this was the very beginning of my healing. within 3 days i was doing a comfy right first full lotus by NOT avoiding, confronting instead. no tricks, etc. it was quite magical, actually, and i'm almost back to my normal long ass practice. this after 8 months of shortened modified and avoided practices. i have to admit i was kind of hoping to complete intermediate cause i'm so close (lino makes you do all primary and second till you finish second) and it is exhausting and takes a long time. but, "whatever will be will be." i am no longer attached to my practice. having multiple injuries can be very good for you, in strange and wonderful ways.
the pranayama that lino is generously sharing with us twice a week is wonderful. i do 3-5 rounds of the first one only before starting my practice and it really kicks in the bandhas and breath. i wait till i fully understand the second part before adding it. (which involves kumbhaka with alternate nostril breathing without even sides). another reason for getting to yoga 45 minutes early is to get a mat space that is yours, or close to yours. i don't know what it is this year, but people are in there 90 minutes before their scheduled time. last year we all had our spots and it was easier for the different teachers and adjusters to get to know your practice. not this year. a girl in first row stole my spot in second row, so i whine a little to lino, who is fed up with that mess, so he just says,"so take her spot in front." this actually was where i was last year and it's good cause you face a wall and don't have to notice anyone else-pratyahara is something else i am trying real hard with-dristi dristi dristi.
bindifry
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