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October 31, 2005

Thank goodness tomorrow is a moonday. I honestly don’t think I could practice if it weren't. I am so bloody sore its not right.
Here’s the list.
Right shoulder
Right knee
Left quad
Right hamstring
Both calves along the outside edge of my leg
Lower back --but only slightly
Boo hoo for me!

Friday my yogic fires were burning bright and I watched tv for most of the night in reversed lotus while laying down, didn’t hurt at all at the time but it does today.
[I have seen quite the difference in practice tho I must admit.]
I alternated the above with supta padangustasana and I had a pretty good stretch going on, which is why my practice sucked today. I overdid it!
This over exuberance has taught me a lesson in patience, rushing progress invariably slows you down in the long run.

Almost forgot to mention that at the shala today there was a carved pumkin with an OM symbol. Very cool!!

Posted by jody at 9:31 AM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2005

New York Doll

Okay so you might be wondering why I have a picture of the New York Dolls on my blog. Well, this afternoon I went to see a documentary called New York Doll which was about Arthur Kane [far left] who was the bassist for the band. Well after the Dolls short lived moment in the limelight the band broke up because of drinking and drug problems, an all too familiar theme for that time.

Arthur who had a drinking problem fell completely into obscurity and one day hit rock bottom after seeing David Johannsen [center] on the t.v in some movie, which caused him to go berserk and beat his wife who ends up leaving him that day. Well at some point after this it wasn’t too clear in the move exactly when but he ends up calling the Mormons wanting them to send him a bible. Well they not only sent him a bible but sent missionaries to teach him the 7 basic tenants of the religion, as is their custom. This proved to be the turning point in his life, he cleaned up became SUPER active in the church and for all intent and purpose lived a somewhat normal life, although unlike the other band mates he remained pretty poor. Well it comes to pass that after thirty years Morrissey from The Smiths puts together this show and asks the Dolls to play which they do and it is of course a great show. Old wounds are healed everybody loves them. Theres a dramtic ending for those who dont know the history so I wontr ruin it.

I’m writing about it because this guy who had seen a few different sides of life had found the larger truth and it worked for him. It was so touching, to hear him pray before their big show because you could hear the sincerity in his voice; it prompted Johansson to call him a "gift from god" in his introduction on stage during the show. Such a touching documentary.

It was great for me becuase there is this current of spirituality that has began to pervade my life and while Mormonism probably isnt for me it worked for this guy. I sat in the theatre thinking about how there are so many paths that lead to the same place which is always a beautiful thing. Its sometime hard to remember that people have this tendency to screw things up regarding religion and turn them into an instrument of violence and even hatred at time. Ultimately I belive that all religions spring from the same source and only morph into these cray organizations that exist that cause so much 'stuff' in the world..anyway its a great documentary you should see it.

Posted by jody at 2:53 PM | Comments (2)

October 27, 2005

When you expect flutes it whistles

That’s a line from a song by Dead can Dance which is called "Fortune Presents Gifts not according to the Book'.
Which is my mantra for the day, I take it to mean expect the unexpected. Try not to look ahead or around or behind you and be exactly where you are at any given moment release any expectations that you might have, it makes for a happier day. I think that’s key for me today. I was thinking about yoga and its effect on me and I think I’ve come up with an analogy, my mind is like a length of thread that is all tangled up with some knots thrown in for good measure, through yoga I’ve been able to make some sense of all that stuff like being able to find the ends of the thread and lengthen it out from end to end which helps me to understand what’s going on with myself in relation to the world around me. It also makes the real bad knots easier to see and understand thus easier to untangle. Doing asana every morning (well almost) teaches me to slow it down and to sit for a second with whatever it is I’m working on and let the experience of it guide me through the realization of the asana. Which translates perfectly for me in every other area of my life, I still have my reflexive reactions and get pissed off or hurt or whatever but I’m better able to slow it down and sit with it and then thru the experience of what ever it is I understand it more clearly. It’s truly awesome, I think my favorite part of yoga is that spirituality is back in my life to stay, I love the larger truth (god) and I want to spend the rest of my life trying to understand it. Whew.. that felt good!

Practice wise:
I’m bumming out about Garbha Pindasana its like I can rotate while rocking back and forth about half way then I fall over which is more about patience than anything else. There is always tomorrows practice I suppose.....
Oh and in Kurmasana a new thing has started to happen as Im straightening my legs my elbow digs into my hamstring and it hurts, Ive had to come out and go back in two days in a row.

Posted by jody at 9:24 AM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2005

Wednesday

No practice for me today as prescribed by the lord!!! Kidding, I just couldn't get up this morning there was no way. I even went to bed at 9:00 lastnight I got 10 hrs of sleep...way too much.

Posted by jody at 9:44 AM | Comments (2)

October 25, 2005

Third one was not a charm...

practice wise. I was just out of it, I "forgot" a few times that I was in Surya B and held downdog when I was supposed to be stepping forward, no harm in that I guess. Then I just stood there in between a couple surya b's in a haze, not sure why I was so off. Perhaps it s the 3rd day blues or the fact that Ive had a house guest for a week who has been getting home LATE and I wake up in the middle of the night. Im such a light sleeper. Anyway, I totally bungled the standing series and had to rewind a few asanas to correct myself. To top it off, my right elbow hurts like a mother from garbha pindasana...dude I have a bruise the size of a silver dollar and I really dont brusie... well I didnt before yoga anyway. Whinge much?

On the bright side, I must be doing something right! In Supta Kurmasana this morning Eddies feet were directly in front of me when I was in it but no adjustment I think I might have even gotten a "good job" or something, so that was good. And tonight my guest and roommate are both gone (to florida) so Im going to chillout in a hot tub read Namarupa and go to bed at 8:30 which means Ill be asleep 9:15 it takes me forever to fall asleep these days.

Posted by jody at 3:02 PM | Comments (0)

October 24, 2005

Day two

Today at practice I was surrounded by 2nd and 3rd series folks and for a split second I was a little nervous about practicing. You know when the person next to you is doing yoga nidrasana and the guy in front of you is doing vasisthasana (which by the way is my personal favorite asana) it makes finishing at kukutasana seem a litte JV if you know what I mean. But then I thought wait a minute they werent born doing series 2 and 3 they had to be right where I am now at some point so why feel anything just do your practice. So I did, and it was another great practice, my fingers touched on thier own in D, BOTH sides soo exciting and I didnt get any adjustments at all which for a second I felt neglected but the truth is I didnt really need any adjustments, not to imply that my practice is perfect but I felt proficient all the way thru even Uttitha Hasta Padangusthasana was passable. Im happy.

I downloaded Light on Life and I must admit its a great book. Although I think Im going to have to go out and buy a real copy. The problem with audiobooks is that its tooo easy to get distracted and lose attention so I think I want to actually you know read the words on paper.

Posted by jody at 10:49 AM | Comments (2)

October 23, 2005

Whew

Okay today was my first day back to practice after a long week of face to face client time. read: draining
Not to mention a drink filled Friday evening so not the best precusors for practice. None the less I felt good and my practice felt great! I did practice once this week on Wednesday night at a nearby studio, it was a led class 1/2 primary but it served its purpose. Im gonna break decorum here and talk about my practice for a bit.

Im feeling really good about where Im at right now in my practice. Everything seems to be falling right into place.
The Prasaritas are becoming less and less of the splits and more of a forward bend I still have a while before I looked nicely folded over but its coming. My right shoulder is a problem in Parsvottanasana and all the others that require an extreme rotation, Im pretty sure its from the time I was hit by a car (not bad but enough to knock me off my feet.) not overcomable but sometimes uncomfortable, it really just requres that I be superconscience about how I am rotating the shoulder so as not to over do it. Purvattanasana which is an easy asana to to skim by is getting less and less un comfortable. I am super conscience of Uddiyana Bandha in this asana which makes it alot harder then just bowing your body upwards so that your feet are flat on the floor. The Janu's are all good solid wrist binds in all of them and the rotation of my heels in C is good I finally discovered that when you dont have enough rotation in the heel then your toes hurt. Imagine what Mulha Bandhasana is like, ouch!!!!
Mari -D is mine finally (deep breath) I dont have to have any body get me into the asana anymore which feels sooo good!!! I do still need help with the hand grab my fingers are like an inch apart, but this is tremendous progress for me. I started earlier in the year not even able to wrap my arm around my bent leg so Im feeling pretty good. (I was able to bind on my own last wednesday although it was a night class so I was pretty loose.) Bhuja Pindasana has come along way as well, I can visualise what I need to do and balance isnt a problem now its a matter of refining the asana to include proper dristi. Kurmasana is good Im flat with straight legs everytime Which I gotta say is a killer not for the hamstrings, actually they dont give me a problem at all, its more in the upper back. Space is a commodity at the shala so having your arms straight out to your sides can be tricky, my arms are pointed slightly behind me which means that in order to flatten out I have to squeeze my shoulder blades together which makes them sore after practice. Supta K is coming along I can actually come out of K to get my feet crossed and then pretty much get back down and underneath my legs I dont push it (head under heels) because I dont want to go to far and be out of comission but its coming along at a pace I feel comfotable with. Garbha P is a work in progress I think Im gonn have to wear shorts to really get this one. My arms go thru and this morning they went thru REALLY far but I dont think Im gonna get them far enough thru to control the rolling part.The pants I wear bunch up and create a break pad stopping my arms right after the elbow. I think you need to have your arms through to the mid bicep at least I do with the length of my arms to rest my chin in my hands and also to control the rocking part so that I can rotate clockwise.
Finishing posture are coming along too. Shoulder stand has been good since Barry adjusted me in it a few weeks ago and head stand is getting better too. I dont have the finesse of a slow leg lift I have to do one then the other but Im working on it every practice and Ill get there. My big challenge is urdvha dandasana I simply cannot do it for more than a split second working on that too actually at home as well as practice, Its not the strenght I lack I think its more a comfort factor all in good time. Baddha Pindasana is my favorite I cant do it and its gonna be a challenge as my right shoulder is the one thats kinda screwed but I love working on this and Im gonna get it. Uht plutihi what can I say about this one other than 100 breaths are you kidding me!? Shavasna is another one I need to work on Im in this for i dont know like 2 seconds....Anyway so thats where Im at.

Posted by jody at 9:54 AM | Comments (2)

October 22, 2005

Ishta Deva

Posted by jody at 1:39 AM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2005

Doh......

Hate it when you set your alarm for PM instead of AM.
Sad thing is I was half awake this morning when I should have been on my way to yoga
I kept thinking to myself gosh time is really creeping by its gotta be close to five when it was really like six. So no practice for me this morning and more than likely Ill have to practice at home for the next two days as I have client meetings. Im not usually good at home practice but thats going to have to change....

In the current New Yorker there is a brilliant article in the Talk of the town called "Game Plan" which is about the unraveling of the Republican party and a brief comment on the Dem's its so right on point . Written by George Packer it alone is worth four bucks for tha magazine.

Off to meet a client for the frist time, and as luck would have it I had a flare up of adult acne so I have a big red zit on my nose, Im sure that will help them remember me. Ha!

Posted by jody at 8:58 AM | Comments (4)

October 17, 2005

Wikipedia

The below three paragraphs were taken from Wikipedia, it really isnt the most flattering biography.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois continues to teach at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, now located in the neighborhood of Gokulum, with his daughter Saraswati and his grandson Sharath.

Jois' yoga shala attracts thousands of foreign yoga students every year. They come to practice in his presence, and to have the opportunity to kiss his feet. Female students regularly get pats on their butts and kisses on their lips from this 90-year old living legend.

Critics argue that Jois teaches gymnastics not yoga, that the shala is primarily a credential factory for aspiring Western yoga teachers, and that there is no research at the institute, rather a conservative "do-as-I-say" method of instruction.

Update: 4:42 EST

The above referenced text has since been edited from the Wikipedia page.

Posted by jody at 3:04 PM | Comments (9)

Here’s a little recap of my great long weekend!

Friday – No alarm clock just nice restful sleep until 7:3o did the 11:00 o’clock with Jocelyn for the first time and it was pretty amazing.
Jocelyn is Eddie’s wife and she is a very strong lady! At first glance you wouldn’t think so but whew can I just tell you she gives some serious adjustment.
Prasarita C Shoulders were taken to their limit, which I might add she was absolutely conscience of, great adjustment. Not to mention that she held me stable inspite of the amount of pressure she applied to my arms, I usually want to somersault with this adjustment.
Utthita Hasta Pandangustasana - leg was WAY up there further than Randy even, with no discomfort at all.
Supta Kurmasana – hands about an inch from binding and feet behind head, uh..yeah. In past posts I mentioned that I thought I was totally ready to have the feet behind the head but the actual experience was different than what I had imagined, there was no pain or discomfort but I felt bunched up, curled up spine which doesn’t feel right kind felt like all the length from kurmasana was taken away, is that how its supposed to feel?
Mari D- no adjustments, I have hit a serious milestone in this asana without going to deep into it my body has begun to understand the mechanics of this asana.
Garbha Pindasan – Good progress but my left arms look uglier and uglier from the brusing this asana causes.
Its amazing what practicing a little later in the day does, I was so open and flexible.

Friday night some friendsof mine met up with me at a local bar for drinks, thanks guys it was a blast. I drank way too much I felt like the living dead all day Saturday but it was worth it. Funny story, IVDP came and handed me a box of Ginger Altoids which I thought how sweet what a thoughtful gift…wait does this mean I have bad breath. Well I put it away and didn’t think much of it until laterin the evening when somebody asked me for a mint. So I fished around for the box opened it up and only then did I realize what it actually was. Inside the altoids box was a beautiful sandalwood carving. Its in the shape of a hands in prayer that open up to display carving in the palms one of Ganesha and the other of Shiva ( I think). Of course it smells great! I also got a really great hand made journal that has Ganesha on front. I bought for myself instead of the new mat and bag, bronze statues of Ganesha and a small Hanuman for my little altar at home. I will try and post pics of them later. The rest of the weekend was just some good ol’ R&R with a led class thrown in on Sunday (not a fan of the led anymore)

Posted by jody at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2005

Thursday

Today is my 36th birthday so I took the day off work, actually I took tomorrow off as well.
No practice due to Yom Kippur, but there was Ganesha Puja this morning at 7:30.
I could think of no better way of starting my day then going to puja. I love puja and I loved that it was on my bday.
It was a little chilly and my legs cramped up something fierce from having sat in half lotus for hours the night before. Still it was very nice to spend the morning with Eddie and fellow ashtangi's

The rain had me wanting to spend the entire day to myself doing absolutely nothing luckily I had made plans with my friend Michelle to have brunch and then go to the musuem, we only went to the museum as I had decided lastnight
to fast. Which has been interesting. Im didnt go hardcore I drank water and I even had a chai latte at the museum but I was STARVING. I didnt think I was going to make it this afternoon any food I saw looked good and darn it it was my birthday why was I fasting anyway. Which in truth Im not altogether sure why I fasted, yes it is Yom Kippur but that wasnt really the reason although it was the catalyst. For me having made the decision to fast was in a way a reminder that my will or spirit is independant of my body, and it certianly was a test of will.
I broke fast with friends at Soho Cantina on Prince street, yum it was delicious. I had the vegetarian combo plate which had a cheese quesadilla, a taco and tostada with beans etc...and this was the best part a raisin and corn ( I think) tamale that was delicious! I didnt think I was gonna like which is why I ordered the combo plate (it comes as an entree of 2) but it was by far the best thing. I wondered and was going to ask about the beans and whether or not they were vegetarian but decided that I didnt want to know becuause they were too good. Thanks for dinner guys!

I feel such gratitude today! So thanks to God my family, my teachers and my friends.

Posted by jody at 3:44 PM | Comments (4)

October 12, 2005

Pouring

I just got to work and my jeans are soaked from the knee down, what a drag. It has been raining all morning so of course I took the subway...well actually a cab to the shala but the subway home and to work. The subway during the morning commute is not a fun thing its cramped and crowded and generally unpleasant. Add to that grumpier wet commuters and it doesn’t make for an enjoyable ride. Luckily, I have been floating the past couple of days which is directly related to Navaratri and I found this website that has links to all this cool stuff like an mp3 recording of a Ganesha Astottara which I listened to on the way in so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

I think winter at the shala is going to be kinda nice provided that the heat works... this morning it was dark for a while into practice which felt kinda cozy, I liked it.

As I was changing I noticed there was a 20 dollar bill on the floor and each person who came into the same area asked if it was mine. None of us knew exactly what to do. Thought of leaving it with Eddie but didn’t want to move it, so basically jut left it there I hope who ever dropped it found it or perhaps it decided it belonged to the shala.

So with all the festivities at the shala there has been left over fruit by the door in the morning so for the past two day Ive had a blessed piece of fruit for breakfast, maybe that’s why Ive felt so durn happy.

SMN really summed it up very nicely with this line here
"I am at peace with my practice right now, it feels stable, the foundation to my day....and that is so sweet."

Posted by jody at 9:18 AM | Comments (4)

October 11, 2005

Om Sam Sarasvati Namaha

My left elbow HURTS and its bruised I had no idea what the hell it was from I couldn’t figure out what was happening.
Well, its called Garba Pindasana my ankle and elbow "kiss' if you will as I’m getting my left arm thru it doesnt hurt at the time but it sure does later in the day. Happy to say that I almost rested my chin in my hands this am.

I also did something else this morning on the way to work I started saying (chanting ) the mantra we did last night to Saraswati, silently of course. It was strange because it felt so not strange and I figured out that as I was doing it my mind was clear of all the normal annoyances of the daily commute. Perhaps in addition to a new mat, yeah I just dont think I can take much more of the Eco Mat. I literally have little black flakes of latex all over me after practice; I’m getting a Manduka black mat and a new bag for myself for the bday. I also want to get one of the bead things, I know there is a name for them but I don’t know what it is that is used for counting
mantras.

Anyway, off to earn a living.

Posted by jody at 9:56 AM | Comments (13)

October 10, 2005

Fall

NYC is getting cold quickly! This morning it was freezing on the way to yoga and even colder on the way home.
Im going to have to start wearing some outer wear from now on. It just such a pain to change as the bathrooms are on the opposite side of the main floor, but at the same time I dont want to catch a cold.

This week is a short work week for me I took Thursday and Friday off for my birthday.
Im turning 18 ... for the second time!

Okay so this is all Im gonna say but today I got 2 "very goods" I was very happy about that.

Posted by jody at 9:57 AM | Comments (12)

October 8, 2005

DCD

I saw Dead Can Dance lastnight at Radio City Music hall. It was awesome!!!! If your not familiar with them dont let the name fool you. They are amazing.Their music draws inspiration from music all over the world and thru the ages. Apparently they are doing different sets in each city and lastnight they did more stuff off their later albums which was good, although I wish they would have done more of their older stuff. Check em out on Itunes they are the best Fall music!

Posted by jody at 11:27 PM | Comments (1)

Chapter 1 Verse 11

The science of Hatha Yoga should be kept an extreme secret by a Yogi who wants to obtain siddhi (the fruit of Yoga, Kaivalya). For (the science of Hatha Yoga only) is potent (capable of producing its fruits) when kept secret. But when disclosed (in public) it loses its capability (to produce fruit, i.e. it becomes ineffective). (11)

Hatha-vidya = The science of Hatha Yoga
param = extremely
gopya = should be kept a secret
yogina = by a Yogi
siddhim = siddhi (Kaivalya) in fact siddhi just means "obtainment, accomplishment".
icchata = who wants to obtain
bhavet = would become
viryavati = potent, capable of giving Kaivalya
gupta = when kept secret
nirvirya = ineffective
tu = but
prakashita = disclosed, revealed in public

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika Swatmarama has noted down the guidelines of Asana, Pranayama etc. to obtain the fruit of Yoga. He outlined the correct methods of practice so that the science of Hatha Yoga will be preserved for humanity.

This Shloka is typical of any yogic text expounding higher knowledge saying the science should be kept secret to oneself. It shows clearly that not everything has been revealed, that the deeper secrets have to be learned at the feet of a Master, a Guru, while living with him. The practice without a Master will bring great harm. To learn from a competent Master a Student, a Sadhaka, should have the following qualifications like: "A clean life, an open mind, a pure heart, an eager intellect, an unveiled spiritual perception, a brotherliness for one’s co-disciples, a readiness to give and receive advice and instruction, a loyal sense of duty to the Teacher, the Master."

Whatever a Sadhaka gains or achieves during the period of Sadhana should be a private matter. It is between you and your master. Whatever you have managed to perfect is your own attainment and what the Master has enabled you to become. So why to bring anyone else into the picture?

When you have a small light burning in your room at night, the whole room is illumined. If you take your little light outside into the vast open space, the light is engulfed by the night and absorbed in the darkness. The same applies to the experience gained through Sadhana. It may enlighten your own consciousness, but displayed and dissipated in the magnitude of the outside world, it loses its strength. Keeping the experiences under cover has a powerful psychological effect also. In these days Sadhakas sit together for hours talking about the attainments and display them. The sense of "I" or ego becomes very strong. "I" have achieved, "I" had this experience or "I" can do this etc.

If you want to experience the fruit of Yoga, ego is the greatest barrier. In spiritual life it is very important to keep the ego under control.

Most of the great Saints and Masters who had realized themselves, rarely talked about their achievements, only the people who lived very close to them knew their greatness.

- Usha Devi

Obviously , I dont live with my "master" who is actually my "teacher". But the point is pretty clear, keep it to yourself.
When I first read this a few months ago I didnt see the importance of it I thought it was outdated and not really relevant to my practice.

I think once I was given new asanas I began to feel awkward about blogging about them. It felt as if somehow they didnt belong to me. As I was doing them a flash every now and again would present itself...Am I doing this asana as well or the same as I have described it in my blog. Once that happend my practice belonged to others and I was caught up in the analysis of it and not the expereince of it.

So I dont know where this leaves my blog, I think what Im going to try and do is share things that I discover about practice related stuff, be it readings from Upanishads or current product reviews. (I think my relationship with my Eco-Mat is coming to an end). What I dont want to do is blog about things that arent some how Ashtanga related.

Its going to be difficult....

Posted by jody at 8:15 AM | Comments (5)

October 7, 2005

Friday

This mornings led class was somewhat sparse which was either due to the weather or the moonday calendar. today there is an Annular Solar Eclipse but by just looking at the calendar it looks like a moonday, who knows, all I know is that it wasn’t very full.

Only thing exciting to report is that on the first side of D the adjustment that I received was basically a little tug to get the bind. Dude that’s HUGE!!! SO I was excited about that. Bhuja P was good, and this might be the beginner in me but, I think that this asana would be easier if you didn’t have to start by lowering to your head. I can imagine that the hovering option would just wipe me out but still. Kurmasana was good too Im flat on the floor chin on the ground well I go back and forth really from forehead on the floor to chin on the floor but I feel pretty flat. The key for me is the legs and arms. I naturally want to keep the insides of my elbows facing in which feels like they are going to break if I apply pressure but Ji adjusted them (not today) so that they were facing the floor which flattens out my arms and then allows me to apply the pressure with my legs and viola I get really flat it also feels amazing its like you can feel the torso and the spine really lengthening. Garba P is EHHH arms thru but I I cant seem to get them to my chin, I love this pose people look cute in it( if people only knew how friggin hard it is). My neighbor and I smacked heads on the rolling part which in truth was about all I could handle it wasn’t hard at all but I had hit my energy limit and went to the back. I planned on watching the rest of the class and then jumping in for closing but I didn’t I just watched and then right before closing asanas I left. Basically a few of the 2nd series folks had filed in and I was embarrassed to do closing in the back room on my own with them there to watch, yeah yeah I know ...

"If you don't have a point to make
Don't sweat it
You'll make a sharp one being so kind
And I'd sure appreciate it "

Posted by jody at 9:32 AM | Comments (0)

October 6, 2005

Thursday

Om
Svasti praja bhyaha pari pala yantam
Nya yena margena mahi mahishaha
Go brahmanebhyaha shubamastu nityam
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
Om shanti shanti shanti

Posted by jody at 9:08 AM | Comments (9)

October 5, 2005

Wednesday

I have not been eating meat for a while I think I might have been into it for a couple of months. That is until last night. We went to City Crab in NYC which is pretty good as far as seafood goes(not quite Mary's Fish camp) so I thought why not go for the pound of Alaskan King Crab legs which I did and they were pretty damn good. But afterwards and of course for this mornings practice I wasn't feeling so great. Which is a good thing, in a way, now I know what's in store when I give into the cravings. I haven't really noticed any change in my energy level either. Being that that was part of the reason I went with the carnivorous mood in the first place I guess Ill just pay more attention the choices Im making in my diet and boost the B's.

Practice today wasn’t terrible, there were a few moments during some twists that were less than comfy I still felt full! But otherwise it was okay. I started Garbha Pindasana today so Instead of the 3/4 length pants that I usually wear I wore shorts, I was able to get my arms all the way thru and grab my head however it was at the expense of the Marichyasana's somehow having to worry or think about getting the towel on the knee for traction seems to make it all more difficult even C was more difficult and its usually no problem. I wish I had more knowledge of anatomy, I think I might not be so mystified at how some asanas are so easy and other are so hard but then I might not actually experience them with out analyzing them. Tomorrow I am going to wear the pants and see how that works out.

I'm noticing that that as I progress further in the series (listen to me you'd think I had gotten the new asanas ages ago, its been ummm.... two weeks; ) that I'm able to refine some of the earlier asanas. For instance Kurmasana has helped me in the Prasarita's the lengthening in my spine from K has really allowed me to get my head closer to being inline with my hands and feet. It all works so nicely its kinda like my life...nothing is linear.

Posted by jody at 3:09 PM | Comments (2)

October 4, 2005

Garba pindasana

I was given it today hows that for a New Years day treat!
I was on my way out of the main room and Ji asked me, as he usually does,
"Did so and so help you with kurmasana?" Uhhh...no. "Okay try it again."
I think he is trying to tell me to wait for someone on the final asanas that Im working on. I will tomorrow.

I did it again for him then he moved me into supta, Im not bound yet but the feet are crossed and my hands are about an inch or so away ,from what it feels like, from binding. My head wants to go under my legs and I can almost wiggle underneath them. Ji hasnt pushed it so Im not going to either but I swear its like right there... I got a really good on the bhakasana too, its easy after kurmasana because your legs are so high up. Im sore but its not too bad. Im sure by Friday Ill be french toast.

Lastnight, Navaratri was really beautiful it was a very small affair that consisted of a puja to Ganesha then a washing of Durga we did two sets of 108 sholkas to Durga which was AMAZING seriously which was followed by a reading from the Devi Mahatmyam.afterwards Ji gave a brief talk, it was really very special, if you can make it down at leat once please do you will be happy that you did.

Posted by jody at 11:10 AM | Comments (0)

October 3, 2005

Navaratri: The 9 Divine Nights

So for the next nine days (nights) there will be mini pujas at the shala in celebration of Navarati.
I found this breakdown on About.com it's a pretty good explanation. There is also some info on
Sri Ganesha Tea and Bookstall

Navaratri: The 9 Divine Nights
5 Things You Need To Know About
By Shri Gyan Rajhans

"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.

What's the Significance of Navratri?
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.

Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.

Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.

Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

Why Do You Need the Power?
Thus, I suggest you join your parents in worshipping "Ma Durga" during the Navaratri. She will bestow on you wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge, and other potent powers to cross every hurdle of life. Remember, everyone in this world worships power, i.e., Durga, because there is no one who does not love and long for power in some form or the other.

Posted by jody at 8:43 AM | Comments (1)

October 2, 2005

Pic html

Posted by jody at 10:27 AM | Comments (0)

Sunday

Saturday evening wedding+crazy co wokers +champaigne = no practice and headache!

Posted by jody at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)