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July 31, 2007
Where'd that come from?
I was sitting in the living room last night just having finished eating my tea when it dawned on me my right elbow felt tight. It felt a little tender to touch but it was in that spot on the body which no matter which way you turn it you simply can't see it without the aid of a mirror. When I got to the bathroom it was like "Jeez, where'd that come from?" I've a small carpet burn on the very end of my elbow. oowwweeee ! Thing is I've absolutely no recollection of how it got there!
Today in class I missed out purvottanasana, again. It's funny how I can get several postures beyond this and my head goes "hmmnn, something's not right" then it dawns on me that I've missed something out. So I skipped it this morning. Yeah, yeah, should've gone back to redo it but as my friend said once "Should've, would've, could've" whatever that means. It used to bother me that I'd miss out postures like this. Nowadays I'm a bit more laid back about it I guess cause I know I'll get to it again tomorrow all being well.
This afternoon I'm off to the Customer to install the new software I've been working on for the last 2 months. It's an early alpha release and it rocks!
Posted by graeme at 9:49 AM | Comments (0)
July 29, 2007
Home comforts
The cool thing about house sitting just now is I get to hang out in a living room where there's no noise, no people, no music and no T.V. I've been surfing the net for like 2-3 hours catching up on all the stuff I've been putting off as non-important, and even had time for a wee snooze. And the best thing is the room's west facing so I'm lying here on the floor as I type with the sun streaming through the windows. If it clouds over or gets windy I don't even notice. If only the carpet was a little bit cleaner! Why, oh, why did they invent chairs and sofas when it's soooo much more comfortable down here!
I kinda thought I'd slept in for class this morning but managed to snag the last spot inside the main room of the shala right up against the wall. Funnily enough I had a good practice, finding my lift through my wrists in the sun salutes. It's taken as long to recover handstanding as it took to lose it in the first place (3 weeks). Sun salutes haven't felt this good in a couple of months. It was nice.
I was so looking forward to getting bound in Mari-D this morning too. It's still such a shock to feel my fingers touch each other without my elbow popping off the top of my knee and, more importantly, without any pain or anxiety from my knees. I'm beginning to really enjoy this posture now.
Here's a funny thought. Class was 1 hour 15 minutes. Coffee afterwards and a good natter with friends from the shala, 1 hour 10. As my teacher said up in Glasgow "You practicing chat-asana?" Sometime I miss the 2-people practices at the old place where you could stop mid posture and go "Is this right?"
Right, I'm off to look at YouTube some more...
Posted by graeme at 4:58 PM | Comments (0)
July 26, 2007
Cooking
It seems like ages since I last cooked for myself. Last night was the first time I've cooked since moving here. There's something real nice and grounding about cooking your own food. I'm not talking about the art of throwing pre-packaged, pre-washed, pre-cut, pre-coated-in-all-the-chemicals-under-the-sun sort of food that comes on too many of the shelves at the supermarkets these days, but rather the making of a decent sauce from raw, fresh and local ingredients. Mind you, I'm not so sure on the localness of the potatoes but what the heck.
So it was good to get stuck in and get some pots and pans dirty rather than the inside of the microwave. For sure it took a lot longer but there was the added bonus of the satisfaction of it all. Hey, I did this! Wonderful. Shame it didn't taste so good. I'll put that down to the salt I couldn't find.
This morning was the first commute in from almost 'out of town'. This city's so big it's hard to tell the difference these days. The 60 minute commute, so the bus shelter told me, actually on lasted just over 1/2 an hour so I was in class a little over 15 minutes later than usual. Good thing was that the extra time being upright cleared my nose a lot more and I felt more open as well. Hmmmn. Maybe my preconceived notion of commuting being a bad thing was a bit unjustified.
I've almost signed off on full time accomodation. Once I get a means of being able to pay the deposit I'll be sorted out. Hopefully there'll be some sense of summer left to appreciate the garden.
Posted by graeme at 7:44 AM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2007
Bed hopping
This morning I checked out of the hostel for what will hopefully be the last time. My friend from work is going on holiday for 2.5 weeks and he's asked me to house sit for him. Ahhhh, a decent living space to sprawl out in for a while.
But it brings up the funny feelings I get about sleeping in other people's beds.
It's one thing to be in a hostel where for sure the bed you're allocated has seen hundreds if not thousands of souls sleep in it over the years. With friends its different. For one thing it's most likely only them and their partner (you'd hope) that've been sleeping in it, and for another, well, I'll not go there.
So while it's good to get out of the "space ship" hostel, there's the ooooooh factor to deal with at the friend's house. Ach, maybe's I'm just being to sensitive.
This morning in class teacher got me bound in Mari-D as if I'd been doing it every day of my life. Didn't even have to struggle to hard to get me in (only 2 tries worse side). Hmmmmn. There's another problem... maybe it was the chicken I had for tea last night!!
;>
Posted by graeme at 8:55 AM | Comments (0)
July 23, 2007
Boring
I've been thinking over the last weekend how boring I think my blog's become. I've gotten into this rut where I've been blogging about things that have been going on without really passing comment on them or without giving a little bit of me into the equation. This might've stemed out of the teacher's words of wisdom when she said it was a bad idea to blog about personal stuff, that it could come back to haunt me, and I guess in many ways she's perfectly correct. In these days of facebook, myspace and countless blog pages, it's not hard to imagine how someone would piece together enough information about someone from the internet to steal their identity. I just can't imaging anyone wanting to be me! Ok, I know the theft would be so they can rack up loads of debt on my cards, or should I say more debt on my cards. Still, it seems a ridiculous thing to think. Which of course it isn't.
So here's what I've been thinking lately. About moving within this big city. I moved here to be with the teacher, to be near the shala, and to be near work. To go without a car, and to be able to meet and make new friends, both at the shala and away from it. The flat I've seen is really, really nice. I'm just not sure if my heart's in it. It' be like wanting to live in Glasgow but staying in Stepps. Or wanting to be in Edinburgh but living in Musselburgh, or New York but staying on Staten Island, or Coconut grove instead of South Beach in Miami, or out at Middlesex when in London. Not that there's anything wrong with staying in any of these places, I should know I've lived in most of them, but, y'know, it just didn't feel the same as being in the city. And it's the same thing here. RRRRRrrrrr.
And just when I thought I'd got my head round about it all, and decided that I had decided, that I realised I hadn't at all.
Posted by graeme at 7:33 AM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2007
7 48am
I think my body's trying to tell me something. I've been waking up for class bang on 5am four days this week but this morning it was nearer 10 to 8. Needless to say I missed class though with the teacher training this weekend there's plenty of yoga for me to catch up on.
Choices on the flat front are fast running out so I think after this weekend I'll pretty much have decided on where I'm going to be for at least the next 6 months. Beyond that who knows.
Posted by graeme at 8:15 AM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2007
Lot of fuss about nothing
Seems I got myself all wound up when I should've worked out that the potential new flat sits on a railway line that routes TWO ways into town. The one, which I took to get there for the viewing, takes 45 minutes. The other which runs pretty much straight into town only takes 14. I could make it from there into class for just a little after 6am all being well.
As for the flat itself, well it was HUGE. You could quite easily have 4 people living in the place. It has a wonderfully full garden, nice airy rooms, and is super clean. As for the flatmate, she was equally as nice. Things are looking pretty good.
This morning I found out I'll be helping out with the led primary class as part of the teacher training module this weekend. Teacher has come down with a bit of a cold and has lost her voice. I'm finally getting a chance to put some of the training I had in Miami to good use. It will be the first time my teacher's seen me teach, though!
Posted by graeme at 9:38 AM | Comments (1)
July 17, 2007
Commute or not ?
The question on the mind this morning, that rattled around my head during savasana was how it would all feel if I had a 40-45 minute commute to get here every morning. The shala's a lot busier by then and my finishing time would be nearer 9am as a consequence which would mean leaving work around 5 and hitting rush hour for the, more than likely, longer trek back out to the 'burbs.
I used to commute 70 minutes one way to work before I moved through to Glasgow and the thought of going back to that sort of a day doesn't really appeak. Ok, for sure I wouldn't be driving, and because it's the pre-6am train into London I'd imagine that it'd still be pretty quiet. All the same, I've grown to like having buckets of spare time on my hand. When I moved to Glasgow I gained nearly 2 hours each day back into my life and it made a heck of a difference to me. What did I fill my time with ? Guess what? Yoga. And I know where that decision's lead me. So I'm not so sure I really want to give it up. We'll see. I've to make the commute tonight to go see the place and meet my possibly new flatmate. We'll see how it goes.
Posted by graeme at 7:35 AM | Comments (1)
July 16, 2007
Back into the swing of things
Practice is getting back there now. The extra day's rest over the weekend has helped and I felt for the first time since my 3 week break that I felt I could work in my practice rather than just try and survive it. It felt good.
However, I've started to notice that during the opening invocation that I get really out of breath. I'm like panting away standing there trying to get the sanskrit out. My oms are pretty weak and I'm real glad when everything's over. By the time teacher stands at the front of the class I'm lucky if I'm into Sun B salutations so I've not gotten very far, maybe 10 minutes at most. Hmnnnn. Something to work at, maybe the breathing's not in full swing by then.
Tomorrow I'm off to visit a flat and the place I was hoping would get in touch finally did. I also plugged myself back into the network - I got a simm card for the mobile. Yeuch. I really didn't miss it in the 9 months the phone was out of use !
Posted by graeme at 9:14 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2007
First week down
That's the end of the first week. 4 days straight practice to Mari D done and dusted. I didn't expect much more than this though I've been presently surprised that I haven't ached as much as what I thought I would. Most improvement over the short week has been in my padmasana where my heels feel like they're sitting in a better position. All together it just feels a lot more comfortable.
What came as a shock was the fact that I noticed I hadn't been doing the seated ardha baddha for the first 2 days, though I'd been doing the standing version. 2 days to notice! Jeez.
My left hip's been feeling the work it's been getting. Feels like there's a pop about to happen when I know it will ease off considerably. Help in Mari-C in particular is really getting in there.
I have to say I've been missing getting squished in the kurmasanas but I did say I wanted to start my practice here in the right way so when teacher stopped me at Mari-D I had to kiss them a long goodbye. There's no Led classes here that I sneak them back in so I'm going to miss them for a while. I know that they were really helping to get into my hips and open up my shoulders and back. I guess I've got all that fun to come once I get through D.
Shala was real quiet this morning. 3 people there for opening invocation. Maybe 15 people there by the end. Still, this place has a great energy even when it is quiet. Peaceful.
Posted by graeme at 8:26 AM | Comments (0)
July 11, 2007
All fingers and thumbs
I got back to the hostel last night and pulled out the meal I had to microwave. It's bad enough having to zap the food I'm eating these days without discovering that I had no cutlery to hand. Nada. Picture the scene. Steaming hot Mac and Cheese straight out the incinerator, fingers and thumbs to pick up the pasta and a big dollop of bread to soak up the goop. Jeez. Not really how I imagined my life to be turning out. Least I managed to avoid burning my fingers.
Top of the list for today will be to locate some implements and a good bowl. Hostel life sucks.
Posted by graeme at 7:52 AM | Comments (1)
July 10, 2007
First day at school
Well that's how it felt. Admittedly I didn't have the new shoes or the new bag or anything, though I do sport some niffty trousers that I had to buy for work, but starting at any new shala always gives me first day nerves. I had a quick chat with the teacher to get their view on what's what, said that I was a bit uncertain about where I should stop and then got cracking.
Teacher had said he'd watch practice for a couple of days then go from there which was fair enough. I said I'd missed a few practices recently and was feeling it a bit so he'd already suggested not to go too far anyway. A poor attempt at Mari-D was about the limit of it though I was glad I was allowed into navasana as it was murder to get back into this posture when I'd stopped earlier on in the year.
All in a nice slow introduction. Nothing to fancy, nothing to out of place. I'm happy where I am, both physically and geographically. I also ran into some well keant faces, which I was real happy to see. And the odd face or two I hadn't seen since Mysore.
It was especially nice this morning when the teaching assistant remembered I'd gone off to America and asked how the trip had been. I'm really gonna like it here.
Now if I can only find somewhere affordable to live!
Posted by graeme at 8:25 AM | Comments (2)
July 8, 2007
Shoe on the other foot
It's been a while since I've been on a train and had so much fun. This afternoon I sat beside a young married India couple. The girl was taking pictures out of the carriage window and hooting at everything that went past the window
hoot hoot!
(err that'll be the cement works)
hoot hoot!
(and the Nuclear Power Station)
hoot hoot!
(and some cows in a field).
Yikes. It's actually what I was like when I first took the Express train from Bangalore down to Mysore in India. It was funny, seeing how this felt being on the other side.
Madam, madam, you have pen for school project?
No I didn't think so.
Posted by graeme at 8:39 PM | Comments (0)
July 6, 2007
Last one out turn off the lights..
Class was a bit of a hotch-potch last night what with the teacher turning up late due to traffic. Funnily enough it turns out that my ex ended up starting the class. I haven't seen her for almost a year and it was actually kinda nice to see her again. Hold on a minute, did I just say that?
Practice was a bit harder than wednesday. My hamstrings are beginning to complain again so I'm happy that I'm getting in to the edge of that area of my practice. Still a good bit wobbly but on the whole, a happy, contented practice.
Here's some news....
It's the end of the line, well, as far as Glasgow goes anyway. Yup. I'm leaving!
Last night was my last led primary series with my first ashtanga teacher. From Sunday I'm off to pastures new. I've had some fantastic times in this shala. I got started here on the path I'm on after all. Met some brilliant friends, seen many a practitioner come and go, and shed the odd tear now and again, but I'm happy that I'm leaving now I guess on a bit of a high note from the trip and all. Practice has improved beyond recognition so I've certainly that to be thankful for.
Here are some memories.
What's this ashtanga thing then?
The anticipation of the first day of teacher training
Getting to know R, S, M and all the other trainees
Meeting the T'ai Chi teacher and have her stare at my face (she reads them)
Joining the friday night mysore group. What's Mysore?
Becoming friends with the French girl who I later became flatmates with
Meeting Her and all that She later brought into my life
Seeing B run through his 4 postures to 'Sex Bomb' by Tom Jones
The great 108
Teaching my first 1 to 1
Practicing with the French flatmate on our own on Fridays for like 4 months
The OA
Starting my own Mysore group
Covering for the vinyasa flow teacher and people actually enjoying the class!
The Vinyasa flow teachers birthday
Assisting in class and getting slapped and knocked, and even kicked in the balls
The visiting teachers and their ability to be so humble
The love and support from the 2 best teachers anyone could hope to meet
...
It's a bit sad to leave this place, but, as they say, all good things come to an end.
Let's see what happens next....
Posted by graeme at 9:21 AM | Comments (0)
July 5, 2007
This ain't right
After a day off on Tuesday I went back to my Vinyasa Flow teacher's class only to find that her 'summer practice' flow was - ashtanga! So I ended up with an extra class in this week, but at 6.30pm it gave me the chance to check in to how my body feels with a good strong evening practice.
Heck, this can't be right. Should I really be this open after so long off? Apparently so.
Yippee!
I'd have thought that the iyengar flow class on monday would've taken more out of me than it did and last night's class tightened me up for this morning, but no, things appear to be in the right place, and the aches are only in the places where I was shaking like mad on Monday. Led primary this evening might prove interesting though I'm hoping to gain a bit more composure in the balances.
Today I emailed the prospective new teacher asking if I could come to their class.
Posted by graeme at 1:50 PM | Comments (0)
July 3, 2007
Oh, so this is how it feels
3 weeks off? maybe not a good idea, especially when it comes to getting back into a practice. Ok, so I took the easy option and opted for an Iyengar class to get me back into the swing of things, 90 minutes of easy-ish bliss, or so I thought.
Big mistake.
A simple backbending class, working on core strength and working on opening up the spine. Only 2 lifts in Urdhva Dhanurasana at the end. Easy peasy lemo squeezy. So how comes my arms were shaking and my legs wobbling like jelly in the forward fold? errr, oh yeah, 3 weeks off.
I asked for it, for sure. And I got it in spades this morning. Sore arms, sore abs, sore shoulders. Eeeeeh. but I enjoyed myself none the less. The teacher's class is always well structured, though he could do with a haircut.
Ah friends, what are they for? Well, to tell you it's a bad idea to blog about dating. Y'see I got myself winked at. ha! How fun is that. Someone out there on matchdotcomland actually thought my portrait was interesting enough. Ha. Mug. One born every minute. So we'll let this one run, she's actually kinda cute, which helps (I'm vane).
Posted by graeme at 5:54 PM | Comments (0)
July 2, 2007
Back to the coal face
Back at work and already its driving me up the wall. It's taken me 1.5 hours and I've every machine online here other than the one I actually need.
Arrrggghhhh!
Posted by graeme at 8:31 AM | Comments (1)