Category: Yoga

Madonna pretzel… No hip replacement surgery for her?

Especially stressed and exhausted after checking off one item after another on that TO-DO List, tonight’s class was super hard. Yet it was not a torture chamber as Bikram would refer to his own class. Rather, it was progression of poses I could not “perform” thus frustrating but because I still love the teacher, I stuck it out. There was one young lady who looked like a off-the-cover image of a yogini – model thin and beautiful with cool, hip tattoos. But she walked out half-way into the class. Maybe she felt too humiliated…or… ill. It’s not a reflection on the teacher – he’s wonderful. It just was not the class she wanted, and I could see that it may be frustrating or exhilarating – depending on what you are looking for. We all have those evenings… The class is quite acrobatic and very challenging – as the instructor himself said, geared for the Type A’s. Am I a Type A? Maybe a little strain of it but … NOT. Why am I here then, instead of say, fun fun la la la Zumba class?

I never did gymnastics growing up; nor ballet. Okay, there were various phases of yoga and aerobics – but that’s the extent of it …someone without ballet and gymnastics background, AND I am teaching yoga? Yes, because you don’t have to equate “bird” of paradise with a straight leg – that’s a pose – to yoga. Any styles that bring about the unity of body and mind for feeling “bliss”(ultimately to spiritual enlightenment) is yoga. For some, that bliss is possible only though what some may consider contortionists’ practice. Because that takes 100% focus where you can really live in the moment, be at present – because, darn it; otherwise, you can’t do the pose. It’s all good. I am that token non-ballet, non-gymnastics background yogi – a proof that the beauty of yoga is that it’s for everyone. It’s a remedy for all – It’s not just for gymnasts and acrobats and … Avatars:) Mere regular folks, just plain normal mortals can get so much joy and healing benefits from this practice. It’s not just for yogis:) who may practice for hours a day to levitate whereas… we may have other demands such as work or family.

It’s for anyone seeking relief and joy. It can be a secret hide-away for meditation, a retreat, or that sacred place to tune up and tune in. Or that communal gathering place with friends and loved ones to collectively… Ahhh, sigh and be allowed to find that “peace” within. It can serve many purpose. In all that it can be, I am first to admit my inabilities and imperfections. I am also reminded though… another instructor used to say – oh, it’s okay, only about 1% of, actually, not even 1% of the world population is able to do what you are trying to do – ahhh, sooo. Thus, it’s okay if you can’t do it. This instructor too allowed me to realize it’s not what’s on the outside, fashion or the looks that yoga is getting more and more about these days; it’s not about that. It’s about what’s on the inside… THE CONTENT and the process. Process or … in my case, just … effort:) Striving is so Yang – so solar – so tension building Shakti.

Not ballet, not gymnastics, in high school, what then? A little singing … surprise – Glee Club at Cal and I was in HS Varsity Volleyball team – so what am I doing in a yoga studio? (people evolve…) shouldn’t I be at the beach, chasing the ball and diving into the sand in an effort to save? I was a setter and a pretty good digger – going for the ball, diving for it was fun (yes, with knee pads – so my knees are still intact). Setting for the spikers so they can spike it down the opponent’s court was… SMASH! fun. Yes, that setter’s role is indispensable but if you are after stardom and glory, perhaps, your ego would not find shadowy background role glamorous.

Funny,I still see my role that way – I am not the acrobatic gymnast who will WOW with a super-human pose fit to be on cover of a magazine – Still, I like to try it because it’s fun. It’s also fun to see this instructor do some amazing poses as it’s simply – inspiring. (although in areas of prezeling, I am not too bad – it’s whatever requiring upper body power, I need a lot more strength! ) You imagine a 20-30-year old buffed man, right? No, he’s probably a father of grown children maybe and he does not look artificially buffed but … Okay, so He looks like a very fit athletic intellectual but no one would guess he’s a yogi – breaks out into this super-human pose. Yet anybody, even Arnold or any yogi, half his age would be humbled by what this instructor can do. While it’s not the soothing, healing yoga that I normally gravitate to, I enjoy the ridiculous hardness of this class. Yes, it’s ridiculous. It’s so hard.

Humbled and reminded – So this former-volleyball player is then reminded that in life – and in the yoga I aspire to, I am more like that “setter”. I want to feel the energy fields. I want to feel the placement. I want you to feel the glory, the victory and the high. But…

Maybe I am a SETTER still – I set things up so that the spiker can shine. I am a setter. I provide that perfectly set ball up in mid-air, at the perfect timing and place so … the offense will take place and the spiker can ace it – so she can shine. It sort of resembles motherhood… or a true caring empathetic friendship. It’s pure joy to set things up so that things happen to talented deserving people. They are on stage under the spotlight, you saw to it in your modest ways from backstage. While hoping that fame and fortune do not get to their head, always a concern, wholeheartedly happy for the success of the “spiker” jumping high up and up, reaching to grasp that stardom.

In the meantime, still trying to get that foot behind my head, then fly into side crow? Oh, first should get the crow without flattening my nose on the mat when I take a fall. I rather see the humor in this class since it’s so not for me; but the instructor must see the humor in it too. It’s pure comedy for me as I steady myself. He’s wondering why in the world I’m in HIS class but … being a yogi, he just smiles and cracks jokes. Hope he’s not laughing at me; like to think he’s laughing with me. Somewhere, even he too must realize a pose called “Bird reaching for Rainbow” is ridiculous and…funny!!???? What? All BIRD theme this week? Of course. I love how he serves the bird this Turkey week. Ridiculously tough to levitate for this mere mortal but enjoying the process and the effort, millimeter at a time.

No wonder I need to re-train my nervous system so they are soothed and balanced – back to healing yoga and quiet meditation that does not require exertions, effort and striving – that produces more tensions and stress, the good kind of stress is good… but the bad kind can really be toxic… It’s a balancing act of yang and yin elements, in organic dozes, for that wholeness, the oneness.

I will be teaching Thanksgiving Day and Friday, the day after, at Bay Club, Redwood Shores
(formerly Pacific Athletic Club).

So I joked with the students about the theme.

Usually the Bhavana(development/cultivation) of gratitude comes to mind since …
it’s after all a day dedicated to giving thanks.
Actually, it’s a day that I regularly teach anyway, not especially because it’s a holiday so I can just do the usual class OR ?
While the student’s reminder got me to thinking about the theme of giving THANKS and the whole idea of “gratitude” to whoever showing up,
I think I will go along with the joke. It’s a good one.:

We are grateful for the abundance and the choices of foods most us are blessed with.
We are so lucky that we have the choice – even within Vegetarians, there are so many choices:

– Ovo vegetarianism includes eggs but not dairy products.

– Lacto vegetarianism includes dairy products but not eggs.

– Ovo-lacto vegetarianism (or lacto-ovo vegetarianism) includes animal/dairy products such as eggs, milk, and honey.

– Veganism excludes all animal flesh and products, such as milk, honey, and eggs, as well as items refined or manufactured through any such product, such as bone-char refined white sugar or animal-tested baking soda.
– Raw veganism includes only fresh and uncooked fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. Vegetables can only be cooked up to a certain temperature.

– Fruitarianism permits only fruit, nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant.

– Sattvic diet (also known as yogic diet), a plant based diet which may also include dairy (not eggs) and honey, but excludes anything from the onion or leek family, red lentils, durian fruit, mushrooms, blue cheeses, fermented foods or sauces, alcoholic drinks and often also excludes coffee, black or green tea, chocolate, nutmeg or any other type of stimulant such as excess sharp spices.

– Buddhist vegetarianism. Different Buddhist traditions have differing teachings on diet, which may also vary for ordained monks and nuns compared to others. Many interpret the precept ‘not to kill’ to require abstinence from meat, but not all. In Taiwan, vegetarianism excludes not only all animal products but also vegetables in the allium family (which have the characteristic aroma of onion and garlic): onion, garlic, scallions, leeks, chives, or shallots.

– Jain vegetarianism includes dairy but excludes eggs and honey, as well as root vegetables.

– Macrobiotic diets consist mostly of whole grains and beans.

(cited from wikipedia)

Then there are meat-eaters but not red meat; or only meat they hunted; AND TURKEY EATERS! Or some of us may just categorize food choice in terms of Italian or non-Italian,LOL.
SO the fact that we are afforded the smorgasbord of choices to begin with …THAT is abundance – we are SO fortunate to be blessed with.

***
Yet, it is ironic that while we enjoy the abundance of foods,
many of us do not enjoy
abundance of energy.
Why do we feel so depleted?
How is it possible that we can get up in the morning and we already feel… tired?
We need some Ojas !

(Taking it further – how is it possible that there be still people going hungry in this world – can we fix that? With some Ojas, we can.)

In fact, overeating or eating what does not really agree with your constitution, means that the body does not absorb those foods efficiently.
The foods we eat are calories, yes, but not necessarily “nourishing”. Why are all this good food we consume not necessarily nourishing us?
This is because all people have issues with Digestion. That’s a blanket statement so maybe you are an exception. Then you are one of the few lucky ones.

In the modern world of 24/7 availability of fast foods, it is not uncommon for many people to suffer from some kinds of gastronomic disorder such as poor digestion or bowel problems.
Additionally, stress and fatigue tends to wreak havoc on your nervous system and your gut responds to all such stimuli in less than ideal ways.
Yet we tend to ignore the signals and keep eating …

We know that in order for the body to be healthy, the whole digestive, absorption and eliminating function of the body has to be regular.
Only when the foods we consume are turned into body’s nourishment, only then, we know we can be at our optimal health.

It is also interesting to note that, in Chinese/Japanese Medicine, digestion and skin problems are closely related. Healthy skin also means strong digestion.
My interest in therapeutic applications of yoga practice led me to study this so why not share – what I do for myself with others.

For our Thanksgiving Day practice, we will focus on internal organs and meridians that dictate our digestion.
We will improve our metabolism, digestion, absorption and elimination function.
We will focus on meridian channels that affects our digestion so that we can truly be at our best when we face that Thanksgiving table.
Without having to deprive ourselves, we will prepare our body to eat in moderation while still getting the full satisfaction.

See you on Thanksgiving Day at 9:30 am !
In gratitude:)

By the way, it will be a Yin yoga class Thanksgiving Day and lovely Myra will be teaching Vinyasa Flow at 8:00 am so if you can afford the time, it will be practically a semi-retreat of a morning. Amenities are already provided.

On Black Friday, the day after, I will be teaching Fusion Yoga at 9:00am at Bay Club again.
What’s Fusion Yoga you ask? Not quite the sweaty power yoga you think you need to burn off calories from the prior night’s excesses – rather, 50% Yin of stretching and loading fascia and connective tissues & 50% Yang that’s flowy vinyasa to get the heart rate up and body heated; it’s a blended integrated yoga, Hot & Cool, a hybrid of styles is how I might explain it.
Beginners are welcome – it’s open to all levels.

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities,
but in the expert’s there are few.”

― Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice