Brahmacarya - Nonexcess or the Cultivation & Preservation of Prana

Thanks to those who made the little study session yesterday. In brief, we opened with Siva Mantra, did some kapala-bhati, then - split between working on Sanskrit names and sequencing - went through the whole Hot Flow Fusion without verbal adjustments and only with the Sanskrit.

It was harder than my rear thigh in virabhadrasana 2.

Study group is on for Wednesday morning at 11:30am, but since the Wade Morissette workshop begins Friday evening, I'm not going to make it Friday at 4-5:30p. The small studio is still booked for us during that time, but picking things back up on Monday might make more sense. I'll let you know times for next week when I know.

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I think I'm getting sick for the first time in over a year, but I'm not sure. Within hours of class being done this weekend - which was at the end of the stretch when I completed the 30-day - my body/mind started shutting down. Achy bones, fuzzy brainpan, tired, tired, tired. Not the usual response to our weekends together.

Here's my self-reflective diagnosis: See, I'm one of those yogis who's guilty of anticipating the countdown in certain poses (it's true...blush). And it always irks me a little when Katey plays with the count - - -

3.........4........4 and a half........4 annnndddd soooommmme moooooorrrre........FIVE!

Well, I think my brain made some secret deal with my body in the bliss time which in essence was "listen, body, you get me through these 30 days of hell yoga and I'll give you 3 days of jelly roll donuts and single malt scotch."

Who's to judge the bliss time?

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For those of you having trouble identifying the rhomboids, go see Black Swan (like I did tonight). Ballerina rhomboids all over the freakin' place.

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Cassandra - yep, 5 yamas (social ethics) and 5 niyamas (personal ethics). not sure what notes got you confused, but the book is a good reference. we're all looking forward to having you back in class...we need a little chi to balance the prana. ;-)

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Brahmacarya - Nonexcess or the Cultivation & Preservation of Prana

Speaking of Black Swan, I have something quick to say about Brahmacarya. Frankly, there's too much rattling around in my noodle (mixed metaphor, sorry) to address this yama with any modicum of respect. But a little goes a long way, to stay true to a theme.

The road to nonexcess leads, naturally, to repression. If we were to continue to temper our desires (misaligned, though they may be), if we were to continue to take in one less strawberry than our mouth demands, or to stay our hand from reaching out to a fading lover, we would soon find ourselves bereft of the deepest expression of animal/human/earthbody nature...which is the full experience of desire. Angels don't feel love or hate, buddhas are kinda boring. People, on the other hand, can be fascinating and passionate and wild.

My challenge as a spiritual animal is to cultivate deep desire - desire aligned with my divine purpose - and to take action on that desire toward the highest good of all.

That's all I'm sayin'. Don't forget to cultivate that which you intend to trim.


Peace and potatoes.
k