yOgA

So, I've been going to classes for a few weeks. Classes are given every day, and each one concentrates on something different. Today was the first time I'd taken a "vibration" class. Now, in real life I tend to be pretty down to earth and self-contained.  You are not going to find me dancing on tables with a lampshade on my head.  I am reserved, shy, controlled and hold things in. 

For today's class, we were to close our eyes and move, vigorously, to background music. We started out slowly and quietly, and I was fine with that, but then the tempo picked up, and suddenly, the woman in front of me started jumping back and forth and almost trampled me. Though we were supposed to keep our eyes shut, I couldn't help but take a peek to see what others were doing.  People were jumping up and down and really getting into it.  I had already decided it wasn't my cup of tea, when one of the participants began to do a primal scream sort of thing.  It became viral, and soon the majority of jumpers and movers were screaming their lungs out.

So, I am in the middle of the room, eyes shut, trying to move in a dignified, yet calorie-burning and aerobic fashion, surrounded by free spirits who were there to let it all hang out (fully clothed, thank God). It seemed very Woodstock, but somewhat more violent.  Picture Woodstock in a mosh pit, where everyone is reliving their birthing experience.

Now, let me emphasize that I really do feel the benefits of the class.  It's been extremely helpful in improving flexibility, and has gone amazingly far in alleviating annoying rotator cuff pain that's been getting worse and worse over time.  But it is a bit more than I bargained for in terms of its...well, there's no other word for it, nuttiness. 

I had a one-on-one session with the head guy a few days ago.  He gave me an exceedingly painful deep tissue massage designed to release tension and "open up the meridians." During it, he had to tell me to relax several times because my face was all squinched up from the discomfort, and I was curling up my toes. By about 2/3 of the way in, every time he told me to relax, I couldn't stop myself from laughing.  I think it was sort of a nervous reaction to the pain, along with a compelling desire - which I finally succumbed to - to tell him that it was easy for him to say;  no one was jamming a thumb into his spine, after all.

He told me that I had to learn to be both inside my body and outside my body.  (Mental yoga, I presume) In the middle of the massage session, it became apparent that he was developing some nasal congestion.  He kept sniffing and snuffling.  Later he told me that the massage must have released a lot of my pent up negative energy because whenever negative energy is released, it causes his sinuses to become congested.

That's an interesting concept that I never learned about in nursing school.   

Honestly, the program is a good and positive thing, but the weird bits make me laugh.  The head man, when I initially agreed to sign a three month contract, jumped up and down and clapped his hands and hugged me. There are plenty of students, so I don't think it was only the fact that dollar signs were ringing up in his eyes, but also that he is a person who is both happy and gay.

He always stays and chats with us after class while his assistant, a very tiny double-jointed female contortionist, serves tiny cups of green tea.  He is very knowledgeable about yoga and qi and don jong, and is very enthusiastic and energetic and good at complimenting and encouraging and I intend to try to remain open-minded so that I can learn more about Eastern health practices and exercise.

Next week:  I will attempt an "intestinal exercise" class. I can't even begin to imagine...

Comments

[Sheri]

i'm doing my own at-home yoga, using DVDs, so i don't have to endure primal screams from anyone except my parrots, who will at times let me know that even when i'm not paying attention to them they are still very much present in the moment. Great entry, Gail.

[Gail]

Thanks, Sheri.