Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Day 21 (Sept 3): Last Full Day
Bhastrika. I love it.
21 Days. It takes 21 days for things to happen. Planned perfectly without trying.
I did my Pranayama at the beach shala. There was a light breeze and it was a beautiful morning. I also did a light practice. After that, I had my last infrared steam. Crepes for breakfast and fantastic curry and noodles for lunch. I finally had my coconut ice cream, a massage and one last steam room session.
Now done packing...
Thank you Yoga Thailand. See you in a few months.
Let me remember these moments if the photos are not enough.
Now to sleep...
21 Days. It takes 21 days for things to happen. Planned perfectly without trying.
I did my Pranayama at the beach shala. There was a light breeze and it was a beautiful morning. I also did a light practice. After that, I had my last infrared steam. Crepes for breakfast and fantastic curry and noodles for lunch. I finally had my coconut ice cream, a massage and one last steam room session.
Now done packing...
Thank you Yoga Thailand. See you in a few months.
Let me remember these moments if the photos are not enough.
Day 20 (Sept 2): Drawing Near
I got my new Pranayama prescription with a renewed commitment to practice everyday. I did not go light for the asana practice. This is the last one with Paul for this round too. I went slowly. Tomorrow, I will practice as well.
Day 19 (Sept 1): Thank you, Birthday (Elephant) Boy!
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!
First day of September. The waters are higher.
It's my turn to be in front of the class today. Paul has asked me to keep my left leg on top in my seated pose while doing Pranayama. He says my Pitta is coming up. Oh dear. It sounds bad.
For asana practice, I was able to come up by myself in Kapotasana (because I thought Paul was supporting me when he said "Come up, Nature")
And like Lazarus, I did only I felt like I almost died again...
I am now coming up and twisted more than ever.
* * *
Food Inc. was showing but I only watched from the pool under a Starry night smelling like citronella and aroma steam and sipping coconut juice.
Thank you, my dear Ganesh! Thank you. Om Gam Ganapataye Namo Nama....
First day of September. The waters are higher.
It's my turn to be in front of the class today. Paul has asked me to keep my left leg on top in my seated pose while doing Pranayama. He says my Pitta is coming up. Oh dear. It sounds bad.
For asana practice, I was able to come up by myself in Kapotasana (because I thought Paul was supporting me when he said "Come up, Nature")
And like Lazarus, I did only I felt like I almost died again...
I am now coming up and twisted more than ever.
* * *
Food Inc. was showing but I only watched from the pool under a Starry night smelling like citronella and aroma steam and sipping coconut juice.
Thank you, my dear Ganesh! Thank you. Om Gam Ganapataye Namo Nama....
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Day 18 (Aug 31): When in SYT...
I had an awful dream last night and woke up at 2 am crying. I slept close to 4am...These dreams come so vividly here.
The staff love that I "look like Thai people" and for the 3 years I've been coming here, I find this is wonderful compliment. They have such beautiful faces with generous smiles.
The Bartender
Question: What if we retain (Khumbaka) more than the prescribed count?
Paul: Is it because you're spacing out or expanding more because you feel like it? Think of it this way, when the Bartender pours a drink in the glass, he doesn't just keep pouring more of something because he feels like it. The glass will overflow. There is a level of precision required...
The Tamer
On hastening advancement in the Pranayama practice, Go gradually in the practice, if you had to tame a wild tiger, you wouldn't do so by stepping straight away in its cage...
* * *
While I'm here, I am learning some very interesting Thai phrases thanks to Kosta's thai flash cards online site. I get funny random phrases like "I got my diploma from the Internet. It's cheaper" and more Magic 8 ball ones like "Don't worry, it will all work out fine"
The staff love that I "look like Thai people" and for the 3 years I've been coming here, I find this is wonderful compliment. They have such beautiful faces with generous smiles.
And since I'm here, below are some recollections of metaphors from Paul. I call this set the occupation metaphors...
The Archer
In Agni Sara, pull back the lower portion of the belly, flick and expand. Much like an archer pulling the string of the bow, flick and release the arrow and expand...let it fly. But don't kill anyone. Make it like... cupid's arrows of love...
The Chef
On mantra repition - No matter how great a chef you are, one teaspoon of sugar will not be enough if the sweetness requires twelve....
Question: What if we retain (Khumbaka) more than the prescribed count?
Paul: Is it because you're spacing out or expanding more because you feel like it? Think of it this way, when the Bartender pours a drink in the glass, he doesn't just keep pouring more of something because he feels like it. The glass will overflow. There is a level of precision required...
The Tamer
On hastening advancement in the Pranayama practice, Go gradually in the practice, if you had to tame a wild tiger, you wouldn't do so by stepping straight away in its cage...
And speaking of Pranayama, it's a gift that we have a more intense work on Pranayama. I am loving our longer Pranayama mornings. I feel so blessed thinking about how this will be part of my daily routine starting next week, in the comfort of my own home or in our shala.
* * *
My asana practice has taken on more lightness despite my healing hamstring. Paul would like to add two more poses and so I relish all these. In the evening, we had Tratak. I forgot to take a photo but I will need to add this to my regimen for good eyesight and colorful dreams. May they be beautiful happy ones.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Day 17 (Aug 30): Stand on your sit bones and breathe...
Full practice today. I am loving my daily asana practice and double dosage Pranayama.
After class, I was able to catch Paul doing his asanas. He caught me taking photos but he must stay focused on the infinite...Afterall, Prayatna-saithilya-ananta-samapattibhyam (YS 2.47)...
In the afternoons, we sit.
Standing on the two sit-bones gives a natural tilt to the pelvis of about 30 degrees. If you roll off of them and the spine collapses, the pelvis loses tone and disturbs the internal pressures and abdominal organs are compromised. ~ Paul Dallaghan, Pranayama and the Energetic Body