News from India
Feb 4, 2006
"A-U-M," the sound rolls around the room as our class repeats the sounds chanted by the teacher. Geeta has not yet come into the asana room, and a senior teacher here at the Institute has begun the class. It is the Wednesday Morning Ladies' Class, and the room is full of students from around the world filling in around the regular Indian students. Not everyone who is traveling here for classes in February has arrived yet, so it is a "small" class, probably around 100. There are also observers sitting at the back of the room and on the spiral stair case to the left that leads up to the smaller asana room above. Beginning classes are held there.
Geeta arrives as the chant finishes, and she quickly puts on a wireless microphone and begins giving instructions. The class is to be in adho mukha virasana, and those on periods are told to go to one side of the back and those not feeling well to the other side. Then we come to adho mukha svanasana, then uttanasana, and the class is off and running. The first week of the month is standing poses, so we quickly turn to face the person on our left. There is not enough space in these big classes to efficiently rearrange the mats to face the front platform. Geeta walks around the room giving instructions for us to be in Tadasana, assessing the new students to see where we lack understanding, seeing that those on their periods or are not well are beginning the proper sequence, and supervising the 2-3 students and their helpers who are working on special issues. She can switch from English to Maharate in an instant when the instruction is intended for one of these India students working independantly.
We are told to move our thighs back and roll down the trapezius, and these become the theme for the class --- and the next few. She especially zeros in on shoulders and the lack of awareness most of us have there. Later I chance a glance at the clock and 15 minutes have gone by and my legs are already tired. I try to make an mental excuse, "jet lag", but then smile and mentally shake myself. There are no excuses, just do what is called for at the moment, which I can do, and the future will take care of itself. Sure enough I get through each standing asana, learning with each and going deeper and deeper, and then suddenly we are sitting. It is no easier, but at least different muscles can complain. I find though that slowly all the muscles are beginning to work together and, even if things aren't any easier, an understanding has begun to come that makes my mind more in touch with the pose, so that I feel less like I am imposing some shape or some specific instruction on the muscles and bones, and more like I am acting as a whole, the parts coordinated and therefore less effort is needed and my mind flicks around less, rebels less.
And almost suddenly we are finished with sarvangasana and taking savasana with our heads and shoulders on the mat where we have come down, hips on the floor with legs crossed. The two hour class is done.
Today I have moved into a flat and the woman I have hired to cook and clean will have left me lunch. It feels good to come back to my quiet place, warm the food, and eat in peace and quiet, reflect on the class and then nap. Even in early February( It is the end of winter here) the sun is intense and hot at midday, and it is better not to be out in it. It will cool down at night, thankfully.