It's strange how the weather could shift so drastically. A few days ago, we had a heat wave. This morning, it was cool again. My practice the last two days have been great. I love that heat. The room this morning was much cooler but easily heated up when it filled up. It's also been unusually full in class this morning. Most of the time 1/3 of the space is reserved for the closing sequence. Today, the whole room was filled. Notice some new faces and old faces I haven't seen for awhile.
Yesterday, I got the news that the LA Yoga Center in Westwood was closing down and was being bought by coporate-owned Yoga Works. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing but for the moment nothing will change. Our ashtanga teacher will still keep his schedule. The good thing is that I can go to other locations now, not that I really want to. They're turning into a Starbucks or even worst a McDonalds. They now have 5 locations (Montana, Main, Westwood, Beverly Hills and Costa Mesa). I also found out that the 2 founders of Yoga Works are no longer owners and may be moving to Hawaii. It will be interesting to see what will happen in the next few years. Yoga going corporate in LA – where else!!!
I am seriously considering moving my target travel date from mid July to mid September. Here are my reasons for postponing my travel date:
1. I still haven't heard from the INS regarding the status of my citizenship. I would really prefer travel with a US passport. My Philippine passport expires in the first week of August, so if don't wait for my citizenship, I would have to leave by then. I just want to get it over with. I need to be patient. I'm worried though that I may keep postponing and find other reasons to delay my trip.
2. I can save a lot in 2 months and since I have no intentions on going through another tax season, it doesn't matter when I'll leave. Originally, I was thinking of being in the Philippines in July and August and the staying in India until the end of December or mid-January. I know I'll always have a job in January because that's when tax season starts to kick in. If I leave in September, then I won't get to Mysore until October and will end up staying until March or even later since I'll have more money saved up. I think it will all boil down to when I get my US citizenship. I didn't expect the process to be this long. They say it normally takes one year or less. I sent my paperwork in March last year, had my finger prints in May, had my interview in October and should have had my oath taking in last February. Well it's almost May and I haven't heard from them. I'm afraid if I keep postponing, I'll eventually change my mind. On the other hand, I need to be patient and know that it will happen when it's ready to happen.
Today I finally decided to just do it. I've been feeling so sluggish with the extra weight I've put on the last few months. I decided to do my yearly detox at the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego. I always feel better when I leave that place. Any it's not only a physical detox but and emotional one too. I think I'll take some of Tim's classes while I'm there. I'm booked from the week of May 23 to 29. I'm looking forward to this week coz I need it really badly.
Comments (3)
I've been practicing at YogaPlace in Costa Mesa since 2000. They had several locations prior to merging with YogaWorks. Yogaplace never struck me as "corporate" before or after the merger. The classes are led by knowledgable and respectable teachers and their staff is top notch and friendly. I'm only familiar with the Yogaplace studios in Orange County and I have only been to a LA Yogaworks studio (Main St.) once. Its not as if there is a YogaWorks on every block (or two on every block for that matter). While its true that "mom & pop" studios or shalas are nice and quaint, it doesn't mean that they are any better (in terms of quality of instruction and services) than studios owned and operated by corporations. I live in Long Beach, sometimes I drive 26 miles to the Costa Mesa YogaWorks because its worth it. There are three or four small studios in LB, but none fit my needs. So I would hesitate to categorize YogaWorks as the Starbucks of Yoga.
Posted by idoru | July 2, 2004 9:01 PM
Posted on July 2, 2004 21:01
Consider yourself lucky that you live in Long Beach and practice in Costa Mesa. If you lived in the Westside you'll know what I mean. There is a lot of yoga politics that goes around in this side of town which I don't plan to go into details. This is only my opinion and my experience with yoga works. A little over four years ago I moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles specifically to practice yoga at yoga works. I was actually very disappointed. The whole westside energy is another issue. If your happy with your experience with yoga works than you should stay there and I'm sorry if I've offended you. But mark my words, 10 years from now, yoga works will be in every major corner. They have that Walmart mentality.
Posted by Joey | July 2, 2004 11:03 PM
Posted on July 2, 2004 23:03
No offense taken. And if it ever comes to pass that there is a yoga works on every corner (which I doubt), then I'll continue to judge them on the basis of their teaching quality rather than their alleged yoga politics. If teaching quality suffers, I have no attachment to yoga works. I'll simply take my practice elsewhere. Anyway, if you are truly present in the moment, why are you so concerned about what happens 10 years down the line? That is simply of no concern to me. I'm sorry that you moved all the way from Florida to practice in SoCal. Surely you must know that you can cultivate a deep and rewarding practice on your own without chasing teachers all over the world.
Posted by idoru | July 2, 2004 11:29 PM
Posted on July 2, 2004 23:29