What Lies Beneath
Prashant reminded us this week that most of “yoga” cannot be seen. As teachers, we are able to give direction and instruction to the body, hope that the mind catches, but the rest is unseen. It is our duty as students of yoga to educate ourselves more than just “getting” the education of external points. The vastness of the subject lies within the vastness of our entire inner universe. It is why his approach can sometimes sound “out there”, when in reality, it is absolutely all “in-there”.
During class, Prashant guided us on how we may not be able to predict the trajectory of any one pose. We commence an asana with some purpose. During that commencement, there might be some motivation. But what movement transpires may not be within our expectation. We have to be ready to adapt and change our executions of posture or practice at any time – things pleasant or unpleasant, expected or completely out of the blue might arise! As I wrote in the earlier blog, Thursday brought a wall of aggravation, but Saturday class proved just as likely to open us up to the very needed things lying under the surface.
A trip to Pune and RIMYI needs similar awareness, attention, and sensitivity. So much can lie under the surface of the intensity of this place and the practice we undertake, that we must be prepared for anything. At the end of week three, whatever we might have thought our purpose was for a month’s visit has usually transformed into something else. What our motivation might have been, might also have shifted toward something new. I am now in a strange limbo of settling into a rhythm here, but also missing home; of wanting MORE of learning here, but knowing the reality of this experience is temporary and unique. We have taken in our schedule and the teachings, but what lies beneath has really just begun to surface.
Friday afternoon “visitor special” was all about Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana – building up to dropping-over from Sirsasana and straightening legs in the middle of the room. We used some new props and set-ups I had not used before and will try again, and got some insight from a friend on some work I need to do on my shins. Needless to say, I think the chest opening broke open a few of our emotional centers and set us up for some “interesting” future results.
Saturday morning I hit a different state – not of aggravation, but a deeper sadness. Not to get into personal details here, but a lot has needed to be let go of for me, and I knew that this trip might be challenging yet cathartic on some level. With this idea of maybe having to change course within a pose or a whole practice, Friday morning set loose some of the deeper sadness lying under all the excitement of being here, and I had to adjust my executions accordingly. In continuation of back-bend week, more ropes and more Dwi Pada on the chair pushed forth some tears, but the long holds allowed for whatever was to happen to happen. The trajectory was made for me, and I used the applications of different breaths and sound forms as suggested to find ease upon the bumpy road. It helps that Prashant absolutely demands you be in your own experience – no one is attending to you aside from making sure you are in a pose and working on “you and yours”.
In observing Sunita’s class, though, it was clear that back bends were not just effecting me. Another one of our visitor group had a reaction in Dwi Pada on the chair as well, but unfortunately (or fortunately?) nothing gets by the eagle eyes of an Iyengar woman! Sunita asked questions in front of the whole class and then helped her into more recovery postures. But, what an experience that can be – shedding emotions in a fish bowl!
The rest of the weekend was full of other fun. Friday I had lunch with a practitioner that Chris introduced me to and we hit it off immensely – lots of laughs and great stories to tell! We went on some errands that we have not been running due to my roommate being sick now for weeks. She goes in spurts and wants to get out, so we went to see Guruji’s statue dedicated in the Defense area of Pune, shopped at the 200+ year old scent and incense shop, and took the requisite FabIndia visit.
Sunday brings a morning with Gulnaaz that is a treasure beyond words. Last week she helped my knees with simple straps on the head of the shin bones. This week she repeated some things we have done online, but took it a step further with hands-on adjustments that transform my practice every time. Ustrasana with knees and feet together has been fear filled and just unapproachable for me by myself – my knee has gone out doing it before, and the memory lingers. But, with the right opening in the upper upper chest, plus the knee belt to more easily kneel and feel secure, not to mention the firm, direct and purposeful support of the buttock and pull of the arms, IT IS POSSIBLE!!!!! Now this new memory will linger, and I will try my best to hold onto that progress.
All in all, it was a good end to the week, and tomorrow morning we start again. I feel such gratitude for being here, sad to have to be leaving in 10 days, leaving behind some folks I absolutely LOVE to be around. But, I know that everything I soak in will always be with me, and all I need to do is tap in to all that will continue to lie beneath!
