99to1

Friday's Om was great compard toThursday's, clear booming voices, quite spirited.

Fridays's Adjustments... I really should call them assists, came in UttithaHP (side phase left leg) prasarita padotanC and paschimatan. I was beside a newcomer. Looks like he was brought in by one of the regulars (female). Tarik gave the new guy his first official intro to ashtanga.

It's interesting to hear the vocabulary used in the context of introducing a beginner... I was listenning with 2 minds... my current mind which understands some nuances of ashtanga instruction, and my beginners mind, from when I knew nothing about dong asanas or ashtanga... it was a good learning experience all over again.

Today got as far as JanuA again... kept it moving. Om was very deep all around the class... most people were out late???

Assists appeared in Padangushtashan, UttithaHP (side phase, left leg again) prasarita padotanC (Tarik haivng to hold my hands together from slipping apart, as I'm not doing the muscular palms together amature version... though am still very far away from the palms out proper version), and tiriangMP. That one today actually felt inside, a bit like what the pose is actually looks (to me at least). I typically flop to the floor with the outside elbow flying-buttressing to prop me up. Today however Tarik was right there at the right time...his shin and foot against and under the out-stretched leg and back... waking up that kidney area...

I think the pressure created against his leg, by my back expanding with my inhalation "adjusted" his leg, I'm sure I heard a small pop come from some ligament or other in his leg. Don't think that happens to him with many of the 80lb Japanese girls.

And then finishing poses... keeping an eye on the clock... boy that's hard, I just want to drift off...

I can't tell for sure which students in the shala today were at the yoga party last night, I didn't circulate that much or get to know many new people. I chatted with the people I was sitting near. A native of Tokyo who's done a few yoga workshops, and a colombian ex-pat. documentary photographer. And then later a Scottish ex-pat and his Tokyo native girlfriend.... they were very fun. Conversation with an NLP expert feels so right. And of course chatting with the performers. Christine (my first ashtanga teacher) asked me to send her love to Danny, so I offered it to him in the form of a hug, which of course he accepted. A real sweet guy...

So a couple of dance performances by Mishaal, kung-fu and asana demo by Danny Paradise, music by Danny and Paul Bruntland of course not to be forgotten the down-beatdj-ing of Patrick. And then some chatting with parts of the Japan yoga crew (got the opportunity to tell Andrew from Kyoto about Life of Pi, and Paul about Touch the Sound) , it was fun indeed.

The Go! Team playing on the iPod/speaker set up as I type this (Thunder Lightning Strike)... thanks Drew!

Ok... after a feeble attempt at self spellcheck... it's KISS 100,000 years... the iPod has indeed changed my life. This version form KISS Studio... or was it Dressed to KIll??? I can't recall... anyhow memories of KISS Alive and the phased/phlanged drum "solo".

And then more Shakuhachi...

Day 3 with Hamish tomorrow... though more like 2.5. I had to run away early from todays discussion/demo session... the office becons... even here in Tokyo...

Though I've sure he's changed my down dog for ever... much more like Sharath on the poster, with the short stance and jalandahara (sp??) bandha, and rounded back. I guess it's more ashtanga-like now... go figure... took over 6 years to get that bit...

Untill Yong-ju, not to be confused with young jew.
It's a frame of mind I tell you.
May have to treat myself to more of those chocolate truffles...

Well...
Crazy busy work schedule, and the occaisional late night out, has kept me from being able to make regular entries.

I am so grateful that this trip is turning out the way it did. Tarik has a great mysore program going on, and I get to be part of 5 days a week. And do a week with Hamish! I gifted Anna a little box of chocolates, as she and Hamish agreed to take on Dylan for the week. He'd never practiced asana before... and he gets his introduction from Hamish and Anna!! And quite a lot of personal attention as well.

Work assignment is porlonged by one week, and so is my time at Tarik's! I'm here in Tokyo for Golden Week!

On to practice notes then...
Basicly I'm having the opportunity to do my simple routine, up to tiriangMPP... or there abouts. Then finishing, so far I haven't tumbled out of sirsasana. I think it may have come close 2 weeks ago, as Anna had asked me to use open-palmed head clasp, the way most ashtangis do.

Several years ago during a workshop with Darby and Hart, I (Hart) changed my grip to a closed palm, and have been very comfoortable that way. It took about 2 weeks for me to adapt, as the contact with the surface is very different, and I had to re-learn the pose. I feared (not really) having to go through another 2 week sirsasana tumble session while re-re-adapting. I didn't want to be rude and ignore Anna's suggestion. Turns out Anna ended up practicing and I was free to close-palm with out risking being percieved as one of those students who thinks they know better.

Lately I've been having a quick coffee with Rieko after practice. I'm very happy that started happenning, as I've found out she is a massage therapist. And a superb one at that!! Merrits it's own entry indeed... as the therapy she facillitated for me last Thursday night was one of the most profound and touching healings I've ever experienced...

So my big thick cycling hamstrings, are... well... still big and thick. Though slowly slowly slowly I am being able to get closer to uttithaHPG, all phases.

I have agreed to work evening shifts for the client, which means practicing at the end of the work day, an ability to stay longer in the shala, and the hotel restaurant for breakfast. It'll certainly curb Tokyo's call to the night life. I hope my favorite standing bar serves mineral water. I'll be a killer to not be able to have some of my favorite food for the last week I'm here.