Woke up this Morning: October 2006 Archives

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October 31, 2006

I gotta bike!!!

Today I finally took the plunge and got some wheels (bicycle) to get myself around town a bit quicker. I got it from the Pawn broker who will buy it back from me (at half price) when I leave. Sweet. Now I should be able to sleep in longer and get back from class quicker too. I've already been out to discover the one beach I was missing before today.

Yippeeee

On other news it looks like I'll only miss 1 day of Sharath in Auckland as the Monday I fly in is a moon day. Maybe I can stretch to do his class there too....

Posted by graeme at 8:55 AM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2006

Dena kicks ass

Yesterday was quite possibly the hardest led class I've been a part of. Dena had as all doing full vinyasa between postures and half vinyasas between sides, John Scott style. Man it was just so darn tough. Not only that she had as hold up dog (to stretch the front of the body and fill the lungs with air) and in down dog (to ground us with mother earth). I thought she rocked the other day leading the practice whilst counting and describing postures, but this went a step further with the full vinyasas. Makes me feel very, very small indeed.

This morning before mysore practice she had us all still our breathing and to spend 10 minutes counting our breaths. I managed what I thought was a reasonable 33 breaths until Dena marked down in sections our totals. Anyone below 50, below 40 etc. The main practitioners in the shala managed 13, and 14 respectively. Eaaaak! Must not get competitive at this !

Today most of the dorm mates from the last week left for Surfer's Paradise. Dan, Rob and Nicola packed up and left around 10am. I've been spending time with the 2 remaining Non Blondes from the quiz night. They were both out sea kyaking this morning with dolphins and one of the girls has burnt the top of her feet and hands up to the line where the wet suit started. It looks kinda funny, and kinda sore!

Tonight it's talent show night for the 3rd time. I'll be sure to take my camera along this time though!

Posted by graeme at 6:06 AM | Comments (0)

October 27, 2006

Dena - end of week 2

Dena's reverted to teaching primary without much introduction the last 2 mornings. Apparently, and I say that because I didn't even notice, but last Friday in led primary we did 5A, 3B and this Friday we did 5A, 5B. She let us off with a count of 100 again in Sirsasana but no Sirsasana B half hold or tick-tocks down and up. I'm shattered but thankfully have made it through another week un-scathed. Yesterday however, I swear I had one of those long distance road-trip micro-sleeps mid up-dog.... found myself thinking, "yeah, I gotta do down-dog from here..."

I wanted to go back a couple of days and recount what Dena gave us as an analogy for what yoga is all about. Viewing our self as a mirror, where each encounter (parents, partners, siblings, work mates, friends, strangers in the street) add an extra splodge of fuzziness to the glass. Life, as it unfolds may add cracks (failed relationships) and even holes (family deaths) over time, with repeat patterns adding layer upon layer of build up on the otherwise glistening surface that we are given when we enter this world. As the Self see's our environment through the lens of this glass, the action of yoga is to each day wipe across the pane. Dena suggested that this be a long term action, cleaning, as some smudges could take patient cleaning over many years to even lessen let alone completely remove. It was a great analogy (I'm paraphrasing here over what she said) but I'm sure you get the jist of what I'm recounting.

Today, for the second week, she led primary whilst doing the class herself. If I couldn't see her in some of the postures I would've sworn she was sitting with her feet up nice and relaxed, so even was the pace and pitch of her voice. Absolutely no strain or effort eaking in her voice. Truly remarkable.

I'm booked in for Sharath first week and discovered apparently that by some fluke I'll now be in Auckland the week Sharath is leading class there too! Maybe it's a sign !???!

Posted by graeme at 4:22 AM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2006

Byron Bay Arts Factory Backpackers

I've been here for just under 2 weeks now and I wanted to write down more for myself than anything some people I've met so far.

Lauren (from Canada). The first roomie I ever had out here and funnily enough still the best. She had to stay out of the sun due to the medication she was on which in Byron where everything is pretty much geared around surfing and the beach must've sucked big time. Still she put on a brave face and got on with life. Great soul to talk to late at night.

The Irish party animals who got so when preparing to go out to Cheeky Monkeys the local pick up place that they never actually made it out! Oh, yeah, they didnt like walking on the roads at night either.

Leanne and Dani (who I forgot from the original post), 'Pop Music' dancers from Swindon who tried for 4 mornings to see whales and jump out of a plane only to be told each morning "Come back tomorrow, weather's no good". In the end they had to get a refund for the whales though Leanne did manage to fall from a plane (strapped to someone). Spent the evening exchanging "Our Story" stories (Dani's getting married next June). I miss you guys.

Sybil the Swiss beauty who giggled and laughed at herself so much it was infectious. Had to leave the Art Factory as the place was fully booked when she wanted to extend.

The Scouser, the Fireman and his travel buddie, the Brummie and of course little Marie who party hard and long and have been rationing my sleep to 5 hours a night. If someone had said that I could do a full ashtanga primary series 5-6 days a week on 5 hours sleep I would've been, "Yeah, right!" but these guys are actually helping me achieve just that!! ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZ oops just fell asleep at the keyboard.. Actually I'm sure I flaked out in class this morning during up dog I was so like "How long have I been here???"

Marie's friends the 4 non Blondes who are just lovely (and all very blonde). Especially Tyne who last night during Cockatiel Paul's show answered her mobile with "Hello, Hello, who's this? Sorry, do I know you???? Oh, Hi dad!!!" Gotta love them for inviting me along to see the aboriginy film "10 canoes". I've never seen so many willies in one film before (I counted about 20 in one scene). And the girls slept through most of it as well!!!

Today I booked up with Wicked Campers for 3 weeks so I'll have transport for the end of my stay in Ozland. I've also booked a 3 day sail in the WhitSundays and 2 days on Fraser Island, both of which are supposed to be unbelievable.

Oh, and I'm stayin for Sharath so I'll try and take some photos and write things up during that week for you all out there in internet land.

Just been given a flyer for a Miss Wet T-Shirt competition at Mheeky Conkeys tonight. Hey, I might just enter that !!!

Posted by graeme at 3:21 AM | Comments (0)

October 24, 2006

Days like this you pray for...

Class was slightly better this morning. I got cranked again in supta kurmasana but only because I stayed in position while the adjuster went to the toilet and he probably noticed I was still there (struggling away) when he came back out!

Managed a fairly decent titthibasana as well which due to the temperature drop recently has actually become more do-able

Handstands are coming on too... only 2 tugs on the shorts today to keep me upright, and this time for a count of 10 so that's cool

After class Dena was in a very playful mood. She'd pulled out a small soccer ball and was punting it back and forward to one of the guys. I joined in and when she started throwing around a red rugby style ball I realised I was holding an Australian Rules football for the first time. "I've not enough play in my life", Dena said as she booted the ball up and over onto the roof of the studio. One of the teachers here for the cacoon got a shock as she was so immersed in the email she was writing on the studio veranda. I looked at her with a kinda "Well, it is her place" sort of apology. It was a blast, to see one of the top teachers (well I think so) letting off a little steam. I think when Sharath is here there's a good chance they might try and get him on a surf board!!! Memories like this you just can't buy.

Talking of which I've been thinking. Why am I thinking of leaving town when so many of my ashtangi colleagues are going to be descending on this place in a few weeks? I know I've said that it's due to money but hey, I might be dead tomorrow so what exactly is it I'm saving my pennies for ??? .. it's not as if it rains around here (much).

So. Hmmmn. I'm going to stay here and attend Sharath's led primary, well atleast the first week. It's what I do, I suppose, this yoga thing. No Bali, no 3 weeks in New Zealand (just 2 days or so in Auckland), no Peter Nelson, no John Scott (damn).

Looks like I've finally become a yoga-holic.

Posted by graeme at 9:21 AM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2006

Julian Rocks

Yesterday I walked out to the most easterly point of Australia at the point under the lighthouse at Byron Bay. It's quite something to stand on the edge of an island and look out across the sea and all the possibilities that lie out there. The wind sweeping in, the waves crashing on one side of the rocks and barrelling along nicely for the avid surfers on the other.

Byron Bay

As you walk back you come across a panel detailing information on the 2 rock formations someway out to sea in the distance. Julian Rocks. At the bottom it suggests one version of history is that 2 lovers from different clans, barred from seeing each other ran into the sea where they were turned to rocks by the gods to remain together forever.

This morning Dena got me into handstands. She had to say it to me three times before it clicked what she was actually suggesting I try. I have to say it was quite a shock but I was even more surprised when I managed to get up first time, mainly due to Boodiba's routine that I'd followed for a couple of weeks back in Glasgow. I'd had an absolutely crap practice up until then as well, no real heat generated of any kind, but there you go. For the first couple of days I couldn't see I was soaked in the stuff and now, nada. Must be acclimatising a little.

Posted by graeme at 6:58 AM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2006

Washed out

Quite litterally.

Today was the day I went back to surfing after nearly 2 years of being out of the water either in the sea or doing laps in the pool. Naturally I sucked big time though the ego urged me into deep water where I shouldn't have been. Thought I'd bust my ankle at one point when it hit the sand bank kinda hard but it eased off really quickly.

Yoga in the morning was really good though I'm really feeling the effects of the weeks endeavours with Dena especially in the forward folds. Urgh. I'm sure it will ease of eventually over time.

Interesing thing I came across today and if you've got the time check this web site out. These are the guys who were talking/cooking on the 1 day yoga/surf/raw food camp I was at. The food was somewhat fantastic and the even managed a chocolate substitute that was just incredible. I've been looking for info on this stuff for ages so had to splurge on a book full of recipes. These guys just look so damn healthy it's un-real. Hopefully when I get to the States early next year I'll be able to try some of the more esoteric recipes out. Yummm Yummm!!

Posted by graeme at 11:39 AM | Comments (2)

October 20, 2006

Breakfast with the A-listers

End of the first week with Dena !!!! WOo WOoo!! Can't believe I actually made it through in one piece and somewhat intact. No major pains or aches to report so I'm happy as Larry, though somewhat pooped by it all.

The led primary this morning included long holds in chatauranga before the transition to up-dog, and a count in head-stand to 100. Yup. that's right. 100. OMG. I'm real glad I put in all that effort now getting up to 200 breaths in Sirsasana as it sure helped out a lot. I even managed holding at half height for 10 and the 3 flip-flops up and down. Stoked. Dena really goes for the chanting number which I really like. It was like a mother singing her kids to sleep in shivasana at the end of practice, it was sooooo nice. Soft, lullaby like tones coming from the far end of the class growing as one person took up the chant, then the next, then the next until we we're all involved. Like a musical sunrise itself, greeting the dawn. Just amazing.

Afterwards I bummed a lift into town with 2 of the girls and one of them took me to the hang out coffee place. Wow! What an eye opener that was. All these stunning women waltzing about in the lightest of summer garments, well groomed men in laid back shorts and sunnies. I half expected people to start calling each other "lovey" any minute. I even found myself sitting beside some dude who owns a resort in Sri Lanka. Wow! How's that for a nice life? What a way of living some of these people have, I sure hope they're happy underneath it all... it'd be an awful waste if they weren't. Note to self: Must change name on next trip to "Fabio" or something more exotic (and less scottish) ha haha ahahah !!!

Tomorrow I'm off with this lot....

It looks like I'll be changing plans and not going to New Zealand now for any great length of time. I'm planning on jumping on board a what's called a "surfari" here. A 2 week long
surf trip down the coast and back. Then a trip up to Fraser Island and a couple of days in Auckland before heading off to India.

Hmmmnnnn. Come to think of it, my life's kinda easy at the moment too.

Posted by graeme at 2:04 AM | Comments (1)

October 19, 2006

Pictures from earlier on in the RTW

Beach at Mallorca.

Cult bracelet

Cult headquarters at night

Some view, huh!

View from the viranda

Byron Bay, side of the Arts Factory backpackers...

Posted by graeme at 12:45 AM | Comments (1)

Happy Cat !??!

I dropped in on the local class yesterday afternoon. Some for of Satchinanda yoga, something called ISHTA which I'm sure's an acronymn for something I dont understand... Anyways, woman taking the class was very accomplished, a dancer since her teens and obviously flexible beyond the mere mortals in the class.

However, it got a bit funny when she called the two stages of the Cat posture, "Happy Cat" and "Angry Cat". I can see her point but it made me smile none the less.

This morning's class is over and I'm one day closer to finishing the first week, thankfully in one piece. I did however have the joy of practicing on a soggy yoga mat covered in little bits of sand which when mixed with my sweat was happy to scrath my sunburnt arms and back. I was surprised there was no blood on the mat at the end. Backbends coming on. Dena told me to let her know if it's getting too much.... I actually think she's aiming to get me to work to dropping by myself by the end of the month here. Now that would be something.

Managed to locate an internet cafe where I can upload some photos so done that today...

Posted by graeme at 12:36 AM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2006

Day 4 - cranked

This morning I met Jack, or rather Jack's hands and feet as that's all I really saw of him as he cranked me in supta kurmasana.... so far that he managed to get my fingers to touch. "it's good they touch" he said from behind my back. Man, he had a good grip of my elbows to do that and as it's the first time they've come that close it was a fair bit of a surprise....

Backdrops provided an impressive "pop" on the way down today which caused me to lose my concentration on the way up so I came up squint. Dena quite rigthly gave me a bit of a telling off for not being mindful of what I was doing. "Your back's at it's most open when you're down there so you have to stay focussed". It's a good way yo get hurt apparently.

Oh. Yeah, I'm good at that. Not a good day to find out that Byron Bay sits right under a hole in the Ozone. Eaak. I look like a tomato.

Posted by graeme at 8:28 AM | Comments (0)

October 17, 2006

Dena... Days 2-3

Slipped on the mat yesterday and dropped myself on the head nearly bringing Dena down on top of me. She's helping me find the 'knife' point as she calls it where my back would bend up and over to help the arch form in my back. It's hard going as everything is so damned hot but there you go. Nice and open.

Today we worked it again (with thankfully less sweat) by trying to breath up and over into the top of my back where it's stiffest and not the lower part where it's relatively free (but still kinda tight). It's working though I'm knackered by the end of it all.

Last 2 days you could've rung out my sticky mat with all the persperation dripping on to it.!!!

Posted by graeme at 3:08 AM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2006

Dont worry, be happy

Day 1 of Dena's workshop started this morning. An interesting affair.. everyone introduced themselves (26 in all) then we did some breathing exercises focussing on pulling the front opf the stomach towards the back of the spine, spreading and 'intensifying' as she puts it. It all kinda washed over me, first day and all, so I'll try and pay more attention to whats happening later on in the week.

Led practice was tough. All 2.5 hrs of it. She's very good at letting you have time for between postures but cranks the pace along very swiftly. I got the impression there's some deviations from the AYRI version of the practice but she was fair to point these out as we got to them. Long breaths all round, concentrating on what we'd done in the breathing practice to start with. Talks incessantly and very punctuated but none of what she says you want to miss so itss very good at focussing your attention.

In the afternoon I went with my hosts up to Nimbin "hippies-ville", even ventured into the hemp cafe (now that was a fun experience!). ;>

Shattered again though with a happier perspective now class has started. Settling in has truly begun so happy as the proverbial pig in shit (other than being eaten alive by the bugs here).

Posted by graeme at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2006

Sat 14th. Byron Bay

leaving in the next few minutes to go off to Byron Bay. My friends were looking for accomodation but apparently you need to spend a minimum of 2 nights down there (unless you've got friends who will let you crash) so they may not be able to stay now.

Looking forward to getting myself into the sea!!!

Ciao!

Posted by graeme at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)

Friday? Must be Oz....

I've finally arrived in Ozland. I've been up for 34 of the last 40 odd hours, managed a 4 hour sleep stop in Dubai (it was 30 degrees at midnight when we landed) then about 2 lots of micro-sleeps running around Cleveland (just north of Brisbane) today.\

I'm running on empty but met up with the Yoga Flow's parents and sister who's being my host for the short stay. They've been very hospitable which I'm very grateful for.\

Will get back to writing more when I get down to Byron Bay sometime after tomorrow!

Yoga hours so far.. zero!

Ta ra the noo.

Posted by graeme at 8:34 AM | Comments (0)

October 5, 2006

Singing in the rain......

I ventured out past the cult compound this morning only to find that there are other better cults just next door. The hotel there has a bus that runs down to the beach (I use the term lightly its a little rocky down there) and provides their guests with a deck level swimming pool looking out over the Med. Oh, and they have no wrists bands. Funny this cult thing, countrolled by food having its little effect on me.

No only that, this last few days I've been waiting for my mobile to ring even though its been switched off now for 3 days. I don't expect anyone to call but my head's still scanning the airwaves for the ring tone. Hmmmn. Giving up is hard to do.

Today I walked the length of Palma Beach, all 15 stations of it in gorgeous sunshine only to start the walk back and be greeted by a flash down pour so good it could pass for Scottish weather!! I got drenched but once you're wet, you're wet so to speak so I just struck out for home and got on with it.

Tomorrow starts the retreat proper. I've to navigate across town and get the taxi up to the small village. I'm actualy looking forward to people I can talk too and some company. Travelling on your own can sure suck sometimes....

Ooops almost forgot. On a practice note this morning I did something I've never done before. I got up, did 5 sun salutes, then promptly went back to bed !!!! Well I am on vacation after all :>

Posted by graeme at 6:57 PM | Comments (1)

October 4, 2006

Things you see at 5am in the morning

Like the hotel workers all coming together for a bit of a chin-wag and a smoke... the taxi drivers ferrying their somewhat drunken passengers back from the city and the odd soul walking around the parking lot looking completely lost. Then there's the dude kissing his evening's date goodbye as he pays for her taxi home.... oh and me on my balcony struggling through another supta kurmasana. A wee slice of life, mallorca style.

Practice went well though it felt strange to be missing out the twists in standing and coming back to samasthiti between Utkatasana and Vira A/B in warrior sequence. I did as many full vinyasas as I could but was soon knackered enough to give it a miss. I toyed with the idea of doing this for finishing but the sun was coming up and I just hung out in the postures longer. I finished Yoga Mala this afternoon too and inadvertently found the sea that the germans were looking for yesterday. Dare I say I'm getting a little bored. Getting used to having very little to do is actually harder than I thought. Still, got another 7 months to sort that out!

Tina Turner last night was actually kinda good though the pre-requisite game of BIN-GO had to be played first. She this hair piece that made her look like she had Dougal from the Magic Roundabout on her head, kept nodding the thing so hard it was a miracle it didn't fall off!!

One more day to go then a quick transfer across the other side of the Island for the retreat that I'm here for. Tan's coming along nicely too!

Posted by graeme at 4:09 PM | Comments (0)

October 3, 2006

I've joined a cult!

Well it could be. .. when I arrived at the hotel here I was dutily imprisoned with a red bracelet ala Lance Armstrong. This, apparently, will get me in to the restaurant for all my earthly food requirements. There are, however, some retrictions I need to adhere to.... I must endure the comper of the nights entertainment repeating everything in 4 languages (trying to pick out his English is quite a task ;>), avoiding like the plague a party piece called the CON-GA, and typing my blog using a German keyboard - which aint qwerty btw. Mine Got! Still its fun noticing the people out walking wearing the bracelets as it breeds a sense of common ground, of belonging somehow. With funny results....

Woman (in German) - Where is the sea?
Me (in english) - sorry, I dont speak spanish
Man (in German) - Where is the sea?
Me (in english) - sorry, no spanish, English, speak english?
Women (In english) ah, yes, the sea, where is the sea?
Me (in eglizsch) - Sorry, I dont know!

well there you go!

I kept my promise to myself this morning to get up at 5am (thats 4am UK time which shows you how nuts I am) to do asana practice under what turned out to be Orion's belt. It moved about 60 degrees across the sky before sunrise taking my practice to over 3.5 hours. I did chuck in some of the asanas from the Iyengar teacher to work on my hips and spent ages in forward bents - puraka and rechaka as the good book says.

Ive already finished the book the Flatmate gave me on the Sutras, took a 2 hour siesta where I fell asleep face down with my hands above my head (interesting feeling that one) and completed 5 sidokhu puzzles in little over 2 hours. Work, whats that all about I ask you!

Tomorrow Im gonna try to do primary ala Yoga Mala as Ive just discovered some of the asanas are different and the order in what we call Warrior Sequence (Utkatasana/Virabhadrasana) seems to be different too. Oh and the suryas inbetween too. hah! what bliss. Oh I also chucked in 45 minutes of restorative this evening before eats and an hour soak in the tub - i now smell like the coconut stall outside the shala in Gokulam!

I'm off to see the Tina Turner impersonator now!!!

Posted by graeme at 7:08 PM | Comments (0)

October 2, 2006

RTW D5 Mallorca

Well I've arrived albeit a bit hot and sticky...

I'm on an expensive internet line so I'm just posting to let the folks know I'm ok more than anything.... I'll update more when I get the time and find a cheaper internet cafe..

Woke up this Morning