Friday is Primary Series for everyone and it is busy. \u00a0There are just two groups so the 4:30 am is now packed and you are ready at the gate when Prakash opens. \u00a0You have to remain like a yogi, no pushing, and just shuffle along and wait for your turn to slide on in to get your space. \u00a0I have not been sliding out of my shoes so easily and in the brief hesitation I get further back from entering. \u00a0A brief panic can set in if you let it. \u00a0 No fearing as it doesn’t matter. \u00a0Everyone is going to practice and you will find the comfort level that you need. \u00a0It’s all part of the experience and if you have any preconceived notions of where you would like to practice, you had better let it go now. \u00a0You see, it is all a practice from the moment you wake up to when you retire for the night. \u00a0On the mat we just get to have the time to really center and focus and practice being a yogi.<\/p>\n
In the led classes you are taught not to hurry and not to worry. \u00a0Sarath’s led class is solid, intense and calming at the same time. \u00a0 He is doing the counting, he is setting the pace and our job is to do the practice with the proper vinyasa. \u00a0You are reminded to breathe at each count. \u00a0 As you tune in and let yourself be taught and led it makes sense to focus on what you can control which is really only your breathing. \u00a0You want to balance when that comes, you want to stay in headstand till \u00a0you are told to come down and you want to lift when you are told to lift. \u00a0The mind plays the funny trick of wanting you to think about something other than your breath. \u00a0So you play the little game with it and just like in meditation, have the thought, let it go and come back to the breath. \u00a0Otherwise you come down or out of the asana that requires holding. \u00a0 Today we held. \u00a0We did not come down.<\/p>\n
It’s nice to finish and feel the prana pulsing through the body. \u00a0I have heard this before but when you come to the final three it is really put there as a gift so you can have a time to just breath and loose yourself. \u00a0It really is what you have worked to get to. Then comes Utpluthih and you are ready because you know the mind is going to try to win but you don’t come down, something keeps you up and you just don’t come down. \u00a0Sometimes the only way to loose yourself is to push yourself and let go of the chatter that says you can’t. \u00a0You do!<\/p>\n
Om Shanti!<\/p>\n
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Friday is Primary Series for everyone and it is busy. \u00a0There are just two groups so the 4:30 am is now packed and you are ready at the gate when Prakash opens. \u00a0You have to remain like a yogi, no pushing, and just shuffle along and wait for your turn to slide on in to … Continue reading TGIF<\/span>