Michael in Mysore: Ashtanga Animals

by Michael on January 28, 2012 · 5 comments

Who You Callin' A Cow? Moooooove it!

Have you ever noticed how many postures are named after animals?

Gomukasana? Cow-face pose (who you calling a cow?). Vatyasana? Horse pose. Lets not forget sleeping turtle, crow, nor rooster.

My dear friends, my trip to Mysore has reminded me of the humans connection to the animal world. Truly, our animal nature. When practicing with Sharath in the main shala, a led practice is held on Friday and Sunday morning. In order to ensure a relatively decent spot (ie: not on an overlapping piece of rug, or in the bathroom of the changing room [true story, me]), everyone tries to enter the queue early by arriving anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and a half early so as to “line up” for practice.

“Line up” is a dodgey term, because in reality we sit in a cascade of bodies down from the foyer (or, if you have a 4:30am start time, outside the shala gate) and into the street.

When it arrives at the auspicious hour, and it is time for class to start, we make moves into the main floor of the shala. What you might expect/want is for the group to move kindly and smoothly from the doors and into the foyer, graciously smiling as all of the ashtangis gingerly lay down mats in the main room, ready to engage in sacred sadhana.

What you actually get is 70% the aforementioned, and about 30% Pamplona Bull-Run Style Other. The other, in other terms: monstrous little PVC Mat wielding linebackers gunning for a quarterback named Sharath. Animalistic in their enthusiasm for a “good spot” in the room, they push, shove, tear and grind their way into the shala. Honeybadgers, the lot of them. They don’t care.

It rubs me the wrong, it strikes me as a little quiet violence. I’d far rather post pictures of animals.

So, here we are:

“For the full post: http://midcityyoga.com/michael-in-mysore-ashtanga-animals/”

From Michael in Mysore: Animals!, posted by Michael Joel Hall on 1/28/2012 (25 items)