Question 8

do you believe in rock and roll, can music save your mortal soul?



A question Tattoo'd Daisy and I have been asking since 7th grade and revisited (a bit off key) after an evening of indulgent French food and heartfelt conversation.

Arguh.

Monday this week I made my triuphant return to AYC.

Primary felt great - deep twists, forward folds, and smooth back bends.

The plan, move all asana back to Ashtanga. How I've missed it. Approach the practice with honesty and humility, only practicing primary until I could hold urdhva dandasana with some fidelity.

Monday night continued waking to take asthma meds and I haven't gotten a full nights sleep since. At work until 9pm last night, still waking a couple times for meds, breathing still sounds like an accordion and my cough and congestion is getting deeper, but still really not productive. 

Why am I thwarted at every attempted return?

Confluence of Passions.

Due to a confluence of articles, ideas and conversation flying about with friends - I realize my prose has been short and images slightly more bountiful when I do get around to posting. I'm coming to terms with the idea that this whole yoga thing - specifically Ashtanga - is what one could call a passion project for me.

Why though?
Why Ashtanga?

Why haven't I been able to channel this into something like juggling, music or at an even more base level, Art?

Art. Something that I have vivid memories of - sitting in a RISD Saturday morning art class, sun streaming through the windows of the Market Building at the age of 7 and proclaiming emphatically to the teacher: I'll be an Artist.

Of course, over time my idea of Art has morphed some. But if something is going to endure, doesn't it have to evolve over time? I've come to realize that working with my hands is something I truly enjoy, creating something tangible. After all, I am the daughter of my parents, who with the help of their parents, built the house that they still live in. Even today, with his photography, the Artist stretches the canvas himself and the frames are assembled by the Mathematician.

There's some fear in taking those steps to create.
Devoting what limited time remains in my day or weekends to pencils, paper, fabric, metal, photography or however this would manifest itself - doesn't leave much time for the normal pursuits of your typical 30 y/o female. That being said, I recognize, I'm not your typical 30 y/o female.

Over dinner a couple weekends ago with Aikidōka at the apartment of another of his childhood friends, Banjo Pilgrim, along with Conservation Sprite, I silently marveled at their collective energy and freedom. Not only the diversity of each of their creative pursuits, but more the seemingly fearlessness with which they approach them.

Something I have also always seen in the Mathematician and the Artist.



Something I want to cultivate further within myself.

Question 7: Coincidence?

Pseudonyms aside for the moment, if the next tropical depression/hurricane to hit the area is named Kevin - I think I might have to seriously examine the whole Universe concept...

When the "hurricanes" that have hit DC, two weekends in a row, are 2 for 2 in terms of chronological ex-multiple-date namesakes - one can't help but to begin to wonder.

Class# 388; AYC DC Mysore Class # 203: Question 6.

How'd I'd get there?!

Finished primary and realized all of a sudden that D was assisting my bind on the first side of pasasana. I had intended to stop at primary as my last practice was Saturday and had a really late night Monday night. Why did I do second through bhekasana? How did I get there? Oh well.

After bhekasana, played with urdhva dhanurasana and drop backs and D brought me straight into chakra bandasana - no quick trip to the floor and walk in - right to the lower calves, just above the ankles. Let me tell you, I was quite surprised to find myself there.


I am about ready to head back to bed.

* * *

I'm finding that I have the hip flexor flexibility with bheakasana - just really lacking the flexibility in the upper part of my sternum and the front of my shoulders to really lift the chest. Salabhasana a/b don't nearly feel that tight in that area. I'm pretty sure my difficulty with bhekasana is not stemming from the lack of length in my arms.

Any thoughts on opening in the upper part of the chest and into the front of the shoulders?

Question 5.

Don't they understand there are those of us who like their sleep? Find great pleasure in going to bed around 9 pm? Enjoy waking before the sun even speculates to rise and be productive?


Wait, the answer to those is probably not.
Silly young neighbors and their midweek late night loud parties.

Question 4.

If I'm going to be stuck on hold with D.C. Superior Court for over 25 minutes now, why can't they play at least a palatable or vaguely tolerable version of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - II Romance (Andante)?

Class# 192; AYC DC Mysore Class # 41: Question 3

Why am I doing this?

Class# 156; AYC DC Mysore Class # 10: Question 2

My main doppelganger, in my various practices from Baptiste to Jivamukti to Acro and now Ashtanga are the transitions through seated to standing or vice versa. In an effort to gain knowledge, I have always scoured the internet and literature and practiced... Then, if through my own attempts or research I'm still not satisfied I'll go to a higher authority.

So, at 10:15 Email to Teacher:
I have a quick question for you regarding transitions - any and all during the series. What am I missing? Is it a question strength? attempting to engage mula bhanda more than I have been? or some combination thereof that I haven't I haven't quite found yet?

90 Minutes Later, I receive a response:
What you are missing is patience!


To be honest, deep down I knew this - was I able to admit this to myself? No.
There are somethings that are only truly heard and comprehended when coming from a teacher.
This was certainly one of them.

Class# 149; AYC DC Mysore Class # 5: Question 1.

So this morning, while being pulled and twisted into Marichyasana-D, I was on my third inhale, and a question bust into my consciousness - completely and utterly shattering any semblance of composure I might have had in that moment.

How is tying myself into knots going to help me find enlightenment?!


Promptly after class I regaled the Artist and the Mathematician with this question. The Artist calmly provided a reasonable enough conclusion, certainly in the spirit of Mr. Miyagi:

Concentration & Discipline.