Old Moon Yoga

“Now I know what to blog about this week” I thought to myself as the class ended. A fellow student came over to me after class.  “You should blog about OM” she said. “you never OM in class, why is that?”  Is Yoga full of people who can read my mind? Scary!

The primordial sound of OM

So why do I never OM in my classes?  During teacher training we are taught to OM. “Each of  you will OM in front of the rest of the class, by yourself”.  We sit waiting our turn as our fellow teacher trainees take a deep breath and belt out an OM to a silent room. We hear every nerve, every quake, and every tremble from our fellow students.  My turn is coming “what if I choke?” “Am I in key?” “What is the key?” “Why am I so far down the line?” “Is this 1984? Did this suddenly become room 101?”…… Here it comes, my turn, deep breath “Oooooommmmmmm.”  That was not so bad.  The whole exercise designed, of course, to get us past any qualms we might have about chanting “Om” in front of a class.

I have no doubt that if I started an OM in a class everyone would join in. It would be fine; the Yogis in my class have been doing Yoga a long time. They know how to OM. Maybe they even expect it.

When I started Yoga I enjoyed all different kinds of classes and styles. I went for the Asana though and only found the deeper practice over time. So what was this OM thing about? Universal sound of OM, for a shy introvert type, just struck terror into my heart. “We will start with three OMs.”  Why? Why can’t we start with forward fold, deep breathing, a handstand, anything that does not involve me having to open my mouth and make a sound. What if I OM out of tune, how long am I supposed to OM for, what sort of sound am I suppose to make? What if it is just me at the end OMing alone, out of key, the rest of the class wincing in pain wishing I would just shut up (mmm wincing in pain and wishing I would shut up, this is starting to sound like one of my evening classes )  What if I arrive 10 minutes late in future?

Where is the benefit in this OM thing anyway? I am sure it’s not to strike terror into the hearts of 50% of the Yogis at the start of class. There must be a benefit. 5000 years of practice have stood the test of time. Science is slowly learning the benefit of many things Yogic.  I had to find out for myself, but how to conquer this aversion and answer this question?

Party on

Riding to work one morning I am stopped at a red light. The guy to my right in the 4×4 is having no problem belting out the bohemian rhapsody guitar solo on his air guitar, looks like he is providing vocals too. I switch my focus away from Wayne’s World and look to my left. The dark haired woman, well dressed in a white blouse and white pants, is applying mascara to her left eye. Side note: Having never applied mascara I am curious why the mouth has to be open for successful application? I see all kinds of activity on my ride to work. From the higher vantage point of a bike I get to see everything. Plus the full face helmet means I am not distracted by such opportunities as applying makeup, having a shave, or munching down a bowl of cereal at each red light. Isn’t it all a little dangerous anyway? What if mascara lady pokes herself in the eye or worse drops some on the white outfit.

"This would sharpen you up"

The light changes and we pull away. A cop agrees with my thoughts and pulls the woman over. All dressed in white and one eye made up it’s like a scene from A Clockwork Orange. “I was just off to meet my drogues at the milk bar officer, look there is my bowler hat on the back seat”.

But I digress; it’s not the woman but Garth in the SUV who is my inspiration.  I can OM in the privacy of my own helmet! It’s brilliant, who would know? Even I won’t be able to hear myself. Perfect.

Over time I graduate from bike to car and practice the OM in the privacy of my own car. It’s just like singing, only easier, I begin to realize. That’s it, all the benefits of singing but little of the pain. No tune to find, no lyrics to remember. Singing is good for you, medical fact, I get it, I like it. Soon I am ready for class and belting out OM with the best of them.

“You never OM in your class, why not?” she had asked. For me, ultimately, a Yoga class is about the feeling, the journey of the mind to a calmer place. The asana are just part of the toolkit to get there. I hope most people come to my classes with the expectation of a challenging asana practice. I like to think they leave with a calm heart, calm breath and a calm mind. Like I snuck the real Yoga in when they were busy perfecting those standing poses.

“Shall we start the class with three OMs today?” No thank you, we are here to practice asana.  We don’t need wise words, chants or OMs, we have had a hard day, give us some asana to challenge us, make us sweat. Come one let’s get on with it.

The physical practice gradually gives way to the calming savasana. The body is ready to relax, the mind is receptive to the deeper levels of Yoga. For most people, especially those who do not practice mediation regularly, a guided medication is an easier way to glimpse those elusive latter limbs of Yoga.  The goal is a deep sense of calm in mind and body.

Om at the end? I can’t do it. After taking people deep into relaxation I am afraid it will ruin the moment, destroy the journey right at the close. Maybe not for all but even if my wailing causes one person discomfort it’s not worth it.

Other teachers can OM and chant and sing beautifully to enhance their classes. I love it, I love them and I know others do too.

Correct application requires an open mouth

I think it will take more than a few singing lesson before I start chanting in class. I’ll get a mike inside my helmet one day and record my journey to work. That should convince you, that in my classes, we are better off without the OM.

After all “SARVE JANAAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU”

“If you are having trouble balancing in Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) try going to the wall” I suggest helpfully.  The class stares back at me like I have lost my mind and continues to bob up and down like a row of those drinking bird toys that were all the rage in the 60s.

Walls are pretty ubiquitous or so I thought. Could it be my accent that is confusing them?

I point at the wall, not quite sure how to rephrase my statement.  They look back at me like I have lost my mind and continue to teeter and fall. Starting to fill with self doubt I search for the answer. Ah! got it. This is not a beginner Vinyasa class what was I thinking. “There will be no mention of wall or any other sissy props in this class thank you very much”.

Most of the time I start my classes in a seated position: “sit cross legged on a block or a blanket, trying to get your knees lower than hips. This will allow the spine to find it’s natural curve allowing you to be relaxed”.  Glancing around the room the picture varies. A couple of people are on blocks or blankets. Someone has really open hips, their knees on the floor without the aid of a block. But several battle on, knees up around chin.

What am I doing wrong? May be they can’t here my voice. I have been told on several occasions I need to be louder. But they are in the front row? I console myself “maybe there was a rock concert yesterday I missed out on “.

Perhaps it is an interruption to the feel and flow of Vinyasa to stop and adjust a prop? Pity because the practitioner is missing out in so many ways by struggling out of alignment. If you (the reader) have never tried Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) against the wall go and try it right now. You will see what I mean. Don’t worry I will wait until you get back.

Not everyone can do Hanumanasana (Monkey Pose (the splits)) all the way to the ground, in fact most of us can’t.  The class is warm, we have done lot’s of prep poses, we are ready for the big one Hanuman. Perfect time to use a block, let’s try the scare tactic this time: “Use a block in the pose to support yourself.  The hamstrings can snap in an instant and take 3 years to repair.”  People laugh but few reach for a block, preferring to teeter with a strained face somewhere between ultimate stretch and the emergency room.  Why will they not listen to me?

“Swing your leg through for pigeon (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana).” it is later in the class now, the flow is slowing down as we cool towards the finish. Plenty of time for props now no excuse.  “If your butt is floating in mid air get something for it to release into” I suggest hopefully.  “The body will release faster and more safely if it has something to relax into.”  I continue.  Some get a block, ah so they can hear me, but others prefer to continue to hover.  “Everyone let go with your hands. If you fall over you need a block”.  That’s it embarrass them into using a prop, crafty.  It’s like a tightrope act, they wobble but they don’t fall down, so we continue …….. without props.

Ah the ego, the biggest Yoga hurdle of them all, but is it mine or theirs that is most challenged here. Why can’t I get my Yogis to use props?

Savasana time.  I put a blanket under everyone’s head and eye pillows, one in each hand. I have sneaked props in without anyone noticing. The relaxation is deep. My measure of a successful class is how long it takes people to move after the final “Namaste”. They are slow to move not wanting to loose the calm the comes from a good savasana. Nice!

“Forget the anasa, the most important part of the practice enhanced through the use of props” I think to myself.  “I win.”

Oops there’s that ego raising it’s ugly head again

Deep into the class after 20 minutes or more of Sun Salutations I finally open my eyes. The beauty and calm from my reverie stopped short by the sight before me.

Most women I know would only wear things the flatter and enhance their figure. Across the mat from me is a well covered body.  The abundant “winter padding” supported by the thick winter coat of black hair. As we hold plank I can’t help notice the sweat dripping from everywhere, it’s like a one man tropical rain forest.

What is the correct attire for men in a Yoga class?

Look mum no shirt

Firstly though why should I care if a guy is wearing a shirt or not? After all shouldn’t my practice be totally inward. Everyone could be naked or wearing overcoats and hiking boots. It should not matter to me, right? …. Right, who has not, mid-practice, glanced around the room and taken in the beauty that is a full room of people enjoying their Yoga.

Politically incorrect or no, I have to say there are some fundamental differences between men and women. For a start, unlike women who get warm and glisten, men have something that parallels an office sprinkler system in efficiency.Yes me too. Why then remove the piece of clothing that helps absorb and keep us cool? Without the simple shirt the sticky mat should have that classic sign “slippery when wet!”.  Solution? don’t put a shirt on, get a toweling mat to lay on top of the sticky mat, obvious really.  While I am being politically incorrect, I might as well continue. In general women seem to take a little more care of the bodies than men too. In a female dominated practice should we men not be doing our best to represent our sex in the best light?

Maybe I am way off base here because of my modest up bringing ! Looking at all the Yoga books, Yogis never have their shirts on in the pictures. I have no idea what Iyengar looks like with clothes on.  So, no shirt is how it should be done, those of us with shirts on are missing a fundamental piece of the practice.

From an instructor perspective there is something way less appealing about offering an adjustment to a dripping back. Apart from the obvious dangers of a hand slipping unexpectedly, getting your fingers caught in the long back hair can be very awkward for teacher and student alike, especially if you are wearing a ring. “Um everyone else take down dog……  now hold still and try not to scream.”

Yoga sculpts great bodies over time. Why not be proud of the body and show it off a little in class. Maybe that is it. Who knows what that body looked like last year. Maybe it is something to be proud of now. That’s it, it is the natural instinct for the male of the species to “strut his stuff” in the presence of so many beautiful women.  I am not sure that it is really necessary or that appealing to share ones religious affiliations with the room though, guys

After work one evening I was practicing at home. In a rush to start, I was wearing my work t-shirt. It has a collar; I dress up for work. The night is rather hot and after a few vinyasas I give in and strip off my top. Oh boy it feels sooo good. It’s so good to do Yoga without a shirt on, I had no idea.

I was about to go on to talk about the equivalent for Yoginis but whoa, PC, religion, feminism, …. now nudity I better stop this blog entry right now.

Semi-naked Yoga anyone?

Never predict Twisted Warriors

The light turned red in front of me quicker than I expected.  Slipping the bike into neutral I reach back for my Yoga mat with my right hand.  One of the advantages of riding a bike, you can get in a little Yoga at the stop light.  It’s then it hits me! We only did twisted warrior on the right side!

The class had been an expected surprise, a high point in a day of Yoga surprises. The opportunity to sub a class I was familiar with. There were just three in the class (word got out about the sub  )  so it was very interactive. “We will do something a little different, may be some poses you have not done before” I claim boldly.  Anyone who has been to one of my classes will know I like to string a series of standing poses together on one side before repeating on the other. Today we get distracted with a question about Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose) with Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) arms. “Don’t worry I have not forgotten Parivrtta Virabhadrasana I (Twisted Warrior I Pose), we will come back to it” (ah never predict!).

We never came back to it. My mind, distracted and wandering completely forgot until the ride home. I visualize three students walking home slightly crooked, each wondering why things do not feel quite balanced. May be they remembered but did not say anything in class. They leave feeling cheated out of the twist, or relieved I never got back to it perhaps . How many times have I done this in the past, missed a pose on one side? I know it’s happened before but this time it feels worse. I said we would come back to it.

I resolve to fix the problem at the next class. Two of them are regulars in my Thursday class. We will just have the two of them out front, quick twist and we done, nagging feeling gone, everything is balanced once more.  The third student will have to remain crooked until I see her again   Thursday comes, disaster, only one of the two Yogis turn up for class, the other probably visiting a chiropractor in an attempt to get straight again. Now what? Untwist one, keep mental note of other two. My memory not good, that’s how I got in this mess. Keep a log book?  “People I have twisted one way but not the other” dates times, length of hold….. It could be done.  May be I just don’t mention it. Perhaps they did not notice?  Was she looking at me funny, thinking “Where is my left twist?

My class at a local studio had been growing steadily through the summer. Seemingly unable to say no to any opportunity to teach I agreed to sub a whole series of morning classes to help out a fellow Yogi at the said studio. Imagine, then, my surprise when my email inquiry to the studio earlier in the day about the Labor Day schedule resulted in the news that I was no longer needed as a teacher or sub. Also my class, which was just starting to find its grove, was being replaced with another format.

Was this the modus operandi of the Yoga world I had so recently joined, a quick email, and its all over.  My thoughts return to my mentor, was this not his story from 2 weeks ago mirrored now in me.  I feel his pain once again. My final class at the studio is the Wednesday. The pained and confused looks on the faces of the Yogi regulars is hard describe. I try to explain the future plans for the class in a professional manner. “I bought a series” more than one person tells me. My thoughts return to my words from just two weeks ago. “Yes we can do this kind of class for the next month or two and see how it goes”.  It was going well, but now there is a twist. Never predict!

My mentor comes to the rescue in more ways that one this week.  His experience, thought and support are appreciated of course. Then in class this morning something quite special.  “It’s ok to do a pose on one side and not the other” he said as we wrestled with a variation on one side.  “You won’t walk out crooked”.  Uncanny, can he read minds too?

So lesson learned, in the world of Yoga, never predict.

But is there one final twist to this tale?  Why am I feeling the desperate need for toppling tree on the left side……..”John”