Yoga and Me

          Namaste.  It is the first yoga word I learned.  When I first heard it, I thought the yoga instructor said Kubla Khan.  It is said at the end of a yoga session.  There are variations as to its meaning.  I heard it described as from my spirit to your spirit. 

          It is my second favorite yoga term.  My favorite is modification.  I do many modifications.  When the teacher says, in a calm, soothing voice, “Now place your feet behind your head,” I laugh to myself.  For some serious yoga classes, laughing out loud is discouraged.   Place my feet behind my head?  In my dreams, maybe, and a kinky dream at that.  Then everything turns blissful when she adds, “or, you can do this modification, just lay there.” 

          There is a whole new wonderful language which comes with yoga.  Savasana is the corpse position used for deep relaxation.  Use your imagination for that pose.  Then you run into this one:  Uttihita Hasta Padangusthasana.  Except for Hasta, I can’t even pronounce it much less do it. 

          There are simpler terms, such as the bridge or table.  One position that I am trying to embrace and not say, “Damn,” every time we do it is: Upward Facing Dog.  You get in a push up position and raise your core, or your butt, whichever comes first. 

          We do sun salutations.  I like to moon the sun.  There is the sleeping pigeon.  I go from sitting pigeon to dead pigeon.  One of my goals is to be happy when I do the happy baby pose.  Now when I try to do it, I am a crying, unhappy baby. 

          Yoga, with all its little difficulties and challenges, takes you beyond a simple workout.  It depends, though, on the place and teacher.  Most teachers I have had have been wonderful.  One especially, Karoline, is always extremely positive and pays attention to all the students, no matter how many there are.  And she laughs at my jokes. 

          The setting is an important part of the experience offering soft lights, soothing music, candles.  If it all comes together, you are left with a positive, hopeful feeling and outlook. 

          I don’t know if I will ever be a tried and true yogi.  But the path to true yoginess is fun and fulfilling.

Namaste