Yoga: Underwear, Tim Miller, Krishna Das

The past week or so of yoga has been completely uncommon! It all began last Thursday when I did what we will call a "yoga performance" at a local mall to promote a new line of men's underwear. Yes, you heard that right I got paid to "prance around in my underwear with my wiener hanging out" ala Zoolander. Due to contractual obligations and the fact that I'm still unsure about the whole experience that's all I'm going to say about it. It was nice to make some extra cash doing yoga and it will help cover the cost of my upcoming adventures.

After doing this 3-hour yoga gig Thursday evening I decided to take last Friday off. I also registered to do a Saturday morning workshop with Godfrey Devereux at House of Yoga. So, with this in mind, I figured Friday off due to Saturday practice would be the way to go and I was right. Unfortunately Godfrey Devereux was unable to make it to the workshop. In his stead we were joined by one of his senior students, Sage Hopkins, who did a great job. He mixed a bit of philosophy with a light but detailed practice.

Saturday evening found me deep in the throws of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Sunday morning found me about as far away, spiritually, mentally and physically, from my mat as possible. Hedwig will do that to you! This followed through to Monday morning and, of course, Tuesday was a moon day. As Guruji would say, "Bad Man!"

It was great to get back to the mat on Wednesday and do full primary for the first time in almost a week. I had an odd little realization though: I shaved my arms, legs and chest for the Hedwig gig (check the posts from last week and you'll realize why) and it's a bit rough to practice with stubble all over your body. Guys, I've got to tell you, you need to shave everything at least once in your life so that you understand what women go through. I have a new respect and a new concern over the fact that women shave. I'm sure they get used to it after a while but really it seems very uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into hairy girls or anything I'm just saying that I have a new appreciation for women and their, ahem... "culture."

Thursday, I hit the mat with only slight resistance from "the voices" and did full primary again. Matthew has been really attentive of my Urdhva Dhanurasanas and has been inspiring me to do more than the prescribed three. I am experiencing a great deal of resistance when doing chakrasana after the Urdhvas though. I mean after five or so intense back bends a backwards somersault seems VERY counterintuitive. I asked Matthew about it and he said that Guruji began including chakrasana after Urdhva a few years ago. I'll move through the resistance and rely on the wisdom of Guruji here.

Friday morning I considered not doing morning practice because the first section of Tim Miller's weekend workshop was in the evening. After waking at my regular time I elected to head to the studio and just do the Surya Namaskaras and finishing. I also got in an extra long Savasana. Man, that's the perfect way to start the day. I wish I had the time to get that in every day. In the evening Tim's workshop was well attended. I'm glad I hit the studio in the morning, as we only had time to get through about half of the primary. He spent about an hour on the first chapter of the Sutras, Samadhi Pada. I could go on and on about how impressed I was with Tim. His presence and his presentation of both the Sutras and the asana was just plain perfect. What a great character! During our closing Savasana he read a brilliant Sufi poem. At one point while he was reading the words recalled my experience with Grandmother and caused my entire body to become electric and then the whole thing just fell away. I need to email him and get the name of the poem so I can reproduce it here.

Saturday with Tim was divided into two sessions. Before the first session began I went and bought some flowers. Matthew's Ganesh was set up in the space and I just had to bring flowers for him. I haven't seen that particular Ganesha since it was removed from the space when Yoga Shelter took over. It used to be that I would place my beads in front of him while I practiced everyday. Anyways, the first of Tim's sessions was on primary series and he put emphasis on Sadhana Pada, the second chapter of the Sutras. I haven't been in a led class since India so it was wonderful. The energy in the room was high (I think there were about 50 of us) and I was able to really get into it. I had the pleasure of practicing between D and K and really benefited from their presence. It was certainly the type of practice that left me feeling like that little spark of the divine within was workin' its mojo.

An interesting side note since I mention the Urdhva Dhanurasanas above, Tim had us do the standard three Urdhvas and then announced that since the primary was mostly forward folds it wasn't a good preparation for the Urdhvas. This being the case three was a proper warm up to actually do Urdhvas! I think I did about 8 when all was said and done. I had been feeling the Urdhvas from my daily practice in my shoulders, but I am feeling these in my upper legs. Of course, little did I know that there were more to come in the afternoon.

Between sessions I went up to a fitness place in Troy to meet the owner and finalize all the details for the class I'll be teaching there in April. It's truly a Fitness joint with weight machines all over and quasi-techno aerobic type music blasting! I'm looking forward to teaching there though as the membership has specifically requested a yoga class though none of them has done yoga before. I really enjoy working with people who are new to yoga. It's a great opportunity to open up the door to a deeper awareness of themselves and the world around them. Yeah, I'm still idealistic, so what? :)

The afternoon session was presented as an introduction to second series and after the morning session it was very intense. I'm not gung ho to do second so it was more an exercise in simple awareness for me. Non attachment was quite easy as I could hardly get even close to the "proper" form of the asana. Second is something that will come many years from now. I still have so much to learn and to purify with primary. We closed with more Urdhvas and finishing. This time around Tim came by and asissited me to stand up from my final Urdhva. I grimaced as I struggled up towards his smile and he said, "oh, very heavy" in a Guruji-style voice. Some of these little details are quite a ways off and I am pleased with their distance.

Sunday morning was a Mysore class with Tim. I attended the 9 AM as I had to work in the afternoon. Tim gave me a few leg adjustments in downward dog and assisted with my twists in Marichyasanas C and D. I took an extra long time with the practice and really let it soak in. There was a great deal of soreness in my body after Saturdays excursion so I wanted to take the opportunity to really let everything settle. After the Saturday session I went home and drew a hot bath, fell asleep in the tub, and then just went right to bed. I slept something like 12 hours straight! Let's just say that all the second stuff after an intense primary really put me out.

Many thanks to Matthew of Ashtanga Michigan for bringing Tim to Detroit. I was quite moved and inspired.

This morning, based on the way my body was feeling I decided not to go to the studio. I missed my rest day on Saturday due to the workshop and wanted to let things settle in a bit more. I have to express that it was the body that inspired me, not the voices. I even woke up and began to get ready before deciding not to go.

This evening I am observing a class at Providence Cancer Center in Southfield. In April I will be taking over the Monday evening 5:30 class and want to see what the students are used to. For those of you interested this class will be open to the public. I'll get all the info and post it here in a separate entry.

Oh yes, there is an event I want to add here as well. Krishna Das is coming to the Bharatiya Temple in Troy. Jivamukti Detroit is putting this one on. It'd be a great opportunity to check out the Temple for those of you who haven't.
There is your weekly dose of yoga babble. As stated above, it was a truly strange week in the yoga department. Weeks like this certainly teach one to take it as it comes.