Day Ten

Day 10.
Some things are beginning to settle in. We are actually here. We are actually going to be here for another 12 weeks or so. I am actually in front of a computer in a third world country, it's almost 8pm, and it's already past my bedtime. Things have changed! I am further away from the world as I knew it, and at the same time closer to all the action without even fully realizing it. I found out today there was a verdict in Saddam's trial, and that Iraq went a little nuts. I haven't yet checked with any western sources to confirm what I heard, but it seems that this would be big news back home and I barely caught it. Same goes for a little Mysore action. I heard two days ago (then read it today) that the reason banks were closed and presumably "on strike" causing several days of financial paranoia and misery was because of the two Pakistani terrorists caught withdrawing large funds HERE IN MYSORE ! You think somebody would have told me. Well, somebody did, but my landlady was all calm about it, as though this happens daily. So what else is new, Seattle? Next time something like this goes down, somebody tell me!
But enough about my mindset. Our bodies are settling in a whole other way. What started as a nice firm futon has changed into a lumpy mass of backache. I also need new sandals. I actually threw my back out during sun salutations Thursday, limped my way through a half-primary, and took the next day off. I knew this experience was about finding humility, but did I have to find it in the front row under Guruji's chair? The practice the day earlier was right next to that spot, and one of my strongest. But Saturday we snuck up to our rooftop for some evening second series with a couple of friends. That helped put me together enough to face this morning's 5am led class. Vivian has held her practice well, despite not feeling enough time is spent on backbends. She's so used to 2-3 practices/classes a day that I think it's hard for her to have a 'vacation' of only 90 minutes to start the day and that's it. It also doesn't help that right now her body is rebelling digestively. We each have a challenge in a language our body understands. The real star of the family is Yarrow. She has caught the Ashtanga bug and has started practicing again. Vivian and I have thought about offering a youth class if enough kids show up. (There is a seven-year-old girl we just met) Yarrow begged us to buy her a mat and secretly begin her training. (My telling this doesn't count) She was going to do some kid warm-ups, I was supposed to help in my usual supportive yoga-model sort of way, but I was sacked out. Vivian led her through the primary series until she had to leave, passing on the last bit to me. She was amazing! It's hard for us adults to see her pop into 3rd & 4th series asanas. And so we hope to add this to our routine as we settle further into our new lives here.
Part of our new routine is breakfast with friends. We have spent a lot of time with one gal from London who lives upstairs. Another is from Istanbul whom we took in while she found a new apartment. We all arrived recently for the first time and have created our own "Breakfast Club" of support. We have met many wonderful people with amazing practices. It's just like the movie Guru, only real. Literally. It is so exciting to also run into people we know, and to remind ourselves that more are on the way as the season evolves. There is one glitch though. Actually two. Sharath is leaving next week to go on tour. Then in December the shala will be closed 18th-30th. We are told we will be credited next month for the time missed, but that's only a financial recompense. What about missed yoga? How can you put a price on that? We are not sure what will happen. We may stay longer, we may tour ourselves a bit, we may just do living-room-asanas. Seeing another teacher will forfeit our tuition credit and I'm told that there ARE yoga spies who will find out. I just want my time with the family. Speaking of... mine is waiting at home. It is convenient to walk two blocks to the e-cafe to write this. I almost don't need a laptop. But with the still-shifting energies in our western forms, the mind must put the body to rest. There was a time not too long ago when I would scoff at anyone who went to bed before 9pm, and I never missed seeing midnight strike my Timex. Times, they have a-changed.

aeryk