AN ASHTANGA DIARY 3

I had not taken an ashtanga class, ooh, for around 18 months, as where I live there are no teachers, so I practice solo..

But, last week I stayed over in Brighton, with my daughter, and she had a free pass to her gym, and by co-incidence there was a class that morning, so... we went together.

I had forgotten how long 5 deep breaths are, I must have developed a habit of taking 2 shallow breaths, it seemed so looong, and why oh why do the teachers always hang out that last count, and go adjust someone whilst you are mentally gagging to get our of downward dog? Is it just me? Nope, it is the teacher's prerogative to torture the students, and for all you teachers of yoga out there, and those who are yet to be, revel in your power, for your time will come when you giggle silently to yourself.

The class itself actually had too many demonstrations, and it was not a counted class as such, more of a tutorial, but as a lazy man, it kinda suited me. But what did surprise me was the second series asanas that we encouraged, rather strangely, hardly anyone in the class (of about 20 students) could get even half way to doing them, and there were even a couple of students that had never done a yoga class... They must have been terrified.

One posture I have not been familiar with was the pigeon posture, and we did this 3 times each side, and I must say I loved it, a lovely warm easing into my hips, that I just wished to stay with, and one of the few asanas that I could truly relax into, but after the class... Eeek, my hips felt as if they had been nuked, and I was dreading the following day, but, funnily enough, nothing, the next day I did not even think about them... A special posture for me.

Written and published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

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