If you’ve read any past posts, you’ll know that I’ve been experiencing some trouble with flexibility. Basically it’s been non-existent. I couldn’t even approximate some of the bends and twists. But this week, things changed slightly.

I’ve been trying to focus more on myself and my own alignment than on the instructor’s. I’ve been pushing myself too hard to get right into the full pose. This, I’ve learned, does damage. So instead of trying to copy the teacher outright, I’m trying to understand what the pose is supposed to feel like and work my way into it. Since I practice Yin, which holds poses for up to five minutes, there’s plenty of time to adjust and deepen.

Empowered by a few tips from friends and blog respondents, I attended my regular Yin session eagerly. However, being stiff from two days of soccer didn’t do much for my physical prowess. Everything hurt.

The session started with some hip-opening leg exercises. I held shallow versions of the stretches and tried to concentrate on my breathing and my own physical space. It didn’t work. I got distracted again and had to keep pulling my mind back.

It was close to the end of the session when something clicked. I was tired and stiff. I really just wanted to head home and slip quietly into a coma in a cool and secluded corner. Nico, our instructor, had us assume a bizarre seated position with one leg in front (knee bent and shin parallel to the front of the mat) and one leg stretched behind us. It seemed like a softer version of the splits. I immediately had my doubts, and assumed the position reluctantly.

Once we were all seated, we were instructed to bend forward from the hips, tilting the pelvis towards the ground. I started leaning into the pose, but predictably couldn’t go far. But this time it was different. I was more comfortable than I had been in any of the other poses. I focused on my breathing and soon found I was lower to the ground.
“Now try to put your forearms on the ground” Nico instructed us. “Ha!” thought I. But I tried anyway and found that my elbows were only inches from their goal. Calmly, trying to breathe into the stretch, I spent the rest of the pose trying to get my arms acquainted with the ground. And, deepening with every exhale, it finally happened. I felt one elbow touched down firmly. The other was not so successful, but I could feel it brushing the ground closely. Then we were told to come out of the stretch for cool down.

So it’s been a victory. A minor one, but a victory nonetheless. I think I understand the whole process better after that experience, but I haven’t had the chance to try it out again. Guess we’ll see what happens next week.

Tags: yin yoga, practicing yoga, breathing, focus, yoga poses, bending

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I have just as firmly been resisting her attempts to get me to try it. I’m not stupid – I’ve read all those horrifying blogs from people who have undergone this “water torture”!

Anyone who knows Christina, however, will know that she doesn’t give up easily. So what did I find when I returned home from my vacation with my husband a couple of weeks ago? Yes – you guessed it! A Neti Pot.

That, of course, prompted an immediate call to Christina. “What the heck is this for?” was how I graciously acknowledged her gift. “Just try it,” was her response.

Well, it’s here. It’s sitting on my counter, staring at me and daring me to try it. And I’m staring right back at it while carrying on the following monologue:

“How bad can it be?”
“You know how bad it can be. You’ve read the blogs!”
“So are you going to be completely gutless?”
“Umm, yes!”

Okay, okay. I know – I’m exaggerating (again). I mean, if Christina, who’s always been afraid of water and drowning, could summon up the courage to do it, I should be able to as well. So, maybe – just maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days.

If you don’t hear from me again, it’s because I drowned in my Neti Pot…

Tags: neti pot, cleansing sinuses, relief of headache, vacation

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]]> http://www.yogahub.com/blog/first-neti-pot-users/feed/ http://www.yogahub.com/blog/concentration-camp-meditation/ http://www.yogahub.com/blog/concentration-camp-meditation/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:17:15 +0000 Allistair Santiago Yoga and Meditation Yoga and Community http://www.yogahub.com/blog/concentration-camp-meditation/ I’ve been thinking a lot recently. There’s been a good bit of upheaval and tension in my life, and lately I’m getting the impression that I’m not handling most of it altogether gracefully. I’ll not get into the sordid details, but suffice it to say that I’ve been better.

But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. I’ll deal with my issues in time. What I’ve been noticing, however, is that much of the root of my problem is mental. You see, I’m mildly crazy. I’ve lost most control over my mind and it runs away with me and gets irretrievably bogged down with thoughts I didn’t think. Or at least thoughts I didn’t think I thought.

Right. I can see this isn’t terribly illuminating, so once more, I’ll try to cut to the chase. A few months ago, I took my first Yin yoga class – and I loved it. Taught by one Nico Luce, the session opened with 15 minutes of quiet meditation. It was the first time I’d ever tried to meditate. I sat uncomfortably and listened to Nico talk about his meditation experience at a “concentration” camp – a ten-day intensive meditation course. He spoke of the silent mental space you can find by becoming an accomplished meditator.

At the time, I found my curiosity piqued. Now, however, my interest is actively engaged. I took the opportunity recently to unceremoniously corner Nico and interrogate him gently on the subject of the ten-day meditation camp. He directed me to both vipassana.org and dhamma.org.

To call the course “strict” or “intense” might be an understatement. It’s ten days of straight meditation, from wake-up at 4 am to lights-out at 9:30 pm. Vegetarian meals are provided along with Spartan accommodations. During the course, Noble Silence is to be observed at all times. That means NO TALKING. Period. Except to the instructors, and even then only when absolutely necessary. Hand signals and body gestures are also prohibited. There is also no music – playing or listening – or touching others, no reading, no writing, no drawing. No cell phones, no electronic devices, no games, nothing. Just you – your clothes and your mind. You can meditate both alone and with the group, but it’s all meditation, all the time.

I’m thinking of attending.

Having watched several videos by current master S.N. Goenka, I’ve decided that this Vipassana course is potentially massively beneficial – life-changing, in fact. I’m definitely intimidated by the code of conduct, and the prospect of being alone with my mind for 240 hours. But the more I think about it, the more determined I become to try it out. I’m thinking of attending one of the sessions in Merritt, BC at the end of the summer, so I guess we’ll see how it goes. Perhaps there’s peace to be found.

Tags: meditation, self-discipline, S.N. Goenka, concentration camp, life-changing

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