Yoga for the Limber

I started yoga at a new place...our apartment complex. In the building with the gym and the store is a meditation room. There are about four floors in the building but I've only ever seen people stay on the floor with the badminton courts or come up to the third floor to the gym. There is a large room on the second floor with tables and chairs that for a while I thought could have been a small restaurant if it were not for the fact that there is no kitchen attached. There is also a room for table tennis that I've never seen anyone use and a floor above the gym that is for "special events." So, I was a bit surprised when Karen said she's been going to yoga here at the apartment. But it's cheaper than what I've been paying and conveniently close so I figured I would try it.

In my experience, you can't judge a yoga place after just one visit. So I went last week and was a little thrown off by all of the "props" he had us using. On Tuesdays we only have one instructor. We'll call him the Ligament Destroyer. On Fridays, there are two instructors. The Ligament Destroyer who does the yoga with us and another guy, we'll call the Gentle One, who comes around to see if we're doing everything correctly. The Gentle One also does a relaxation/meditation thing at the end. The first time I tried it, I walked into a room buzzing with female chatter. They were all Indian women except for Karen and I, each on their mats, surrounded by a variety of torture devices (blocks, belts, blankets and bolsters - oh my). I laid out my mat and was promptly told where to get each of the props I'd need.

By the end of the hour I had tied my legs together with a belt and made loops with it to contorted my arms and stretch all four of my limbs, sometimes at the same time. I used the block but I still can't really say what real purpose it served other than something to continually remind me that I have a tough time with right and left. "No, no ma'am. The block outside your left leg." I used the blanket to help support my head although I'm sure I've been told you should not support your neck with a pillow so I pulled it out from underneath me when the Ligament Destroyer wasn't looking. And I used the bolster to cushion my hips as he made us bend and flip our legs into impossible position while lifting our chests leaving us teetering on our hips. When it's just the Ligament Destroyer in the room, watch out. He'll come around and push, very hard, to get you in the position that only Gumby could master. The women are not afraid to yell, cringe and actively protest but he seems to laugh at the winces as he kindly smiles and as he assures them, "this is good for the body." I am sure that even Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the world famous guru that died recently) would disagree. So, when he comes to me, I actively push back so that nothing goes "pop" because I was sure at one point, my knee was going to snap and never snap back. The Gentle One, as you have already guessed, is much nicer about easing you into a position and does not force knowing that some people are not made of rubber.

So, after a few sessions now, I know that I can opt out of some of the torture devices if I think they serve no purpose. And I can resist the Ligament Destroyer hearing his disapproval in the silence as he walks away, failing to tear any of my muscles, joints or ligaments. But it's not all torture and I do feel like I'm getting something out of it so, I'll continue to go until it's canceled or I break something. Besides, the Gentle One does a particularly good job with the meditation that I typically don't like. He plays this chanting music and makes us chant along which at first made me feel like some self-conscious hippie out in a field of poppies, but the more we do it, the more I think it's having the desired effect. It's very soothing and relaxing. I'm sure I'm going to reach Moksha if I just keep at it. (Moksha being the ultimate transcendental experience of reaching supreme peace.)

Tomorrow we are getting all dressed up to go to the races. It's "Race Day" at the Bangalore Turf Club. We got tickets through the OWC and it's supposed to be quite the event. Having never been to a horse race, and knowing that you can expect pretty much anything in India, I have no idea what to expect. Have a good weekend.