Hatha Flow/Yin Yoga Day 1

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yoga instructor (YI): grab a blanket and a bolster and lay down on your mat.
my brain: a blanket?

YI: breathe in, breathe out, feel the day leaving your body, relax your shoulders, relax your mind. clear your thoughts. inhale, exhale
my brain: move motorcycle, call Justin, my stomach feels flat, does Amelia have a DVD player? wait what did she say? why can't i empty my head of thoughts? how could i ever do ten days of this? it's really dark in here. i like the candles. i could fall asleep. that girl next to me is buff. i wonder what her face looks like.


YI: let your mind go. let go of your problems. let go of your stress. let go of the day. think about why you came here. think about what you want from today. thank yourself for coming. thank yourself for practicing. if you want, honor someone with your practice today.
my brain: how can it be so warm in Tahoe? i wonder what Ben's doing today. i'll honor Andrea with my practice. wait, she practices all the time, maybe I should honor someone who doesn't? but i'm already thinking i have to remember these thoughts to write down later and then i'd have to admit that I switched my choice so I'll stick with Andrea. wait, what did i miss? what is she saying now?

YI: are you...
my brain: experienced? ha, ha, i'll have to write that one down. for Jimi.

YI: ...on task?
my brain: wait what? on task with what? am i at work? who says that outside of work? focus. ok, on task with breathing i suppose. oh wait, she just said "are you on task with why you're here." what am i here for? stretching. should it be something deeper? something cleansing? Ken said he liked Yin Yoga. but we're just laying here in the dark. like a bunch of adults taking a nap together.

YI: breathe in, exhale, pause. always come back to the breath. has your question been answered? it's okay if not. sit with it. let it be. maybe it will come to you, maybe it won't.
my brain: what question? was i supposed to ask myself a question? i can't think of a deep life question. do i really want to put my motorcycle in a garage for 2 months? what if it's a gorgeous day and i want to ride? i need to find a home. what's my plan for tomorrow? i can't believe the Jets won. i'm so wasting this time - why can't i focus? how long have we been laying here?

YI: Right leg in the air, big step forward on right leg, left heel locked down, right arm on right hip, left harm straight up, belly twists towards the sky, warrior...
my brain: wait what? why is this going so fast? what's warrior? i'm losing my balance. how do they start this by having you lay down for 30 minutes practically falling asleep. oooh, i'm tight. is anyone else not bending their leg as much as me?

YI: right leg step back, inhale plank, lower yourself down, exhale, downward dog, throat open, keep coming back to the breath.
my brain: does she mean push up? what's happening? that guy in front of me is as clueless as me. when do we lay down again? why am i wearing a watch in class? i'm obsessed with wearing a watch. what does that say about me? what does my being here say about me? why did i decide i had to do yoga this weekend? i seriously need a date.

YI: (silence)
my brain: what's happening? is class already over? this yoga music never ends. just when i think it's about to fade out, another chant lays in and it goes on and on and on. i'm checking my watch. it's dark, no one will know. i need to go move my motorcycle. i can lay down in the dark back home. is someone leaving? could they be any louder. ok, my eyes are wide open now. i'm ready to go. how long does this go on for? patience. patience.

Comments

Andrea said…
funny sam. that why bikram works the body inside out bones to skin because most of us have difficulty "quieting the mind"!
2:40 PM
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