Saturday, November 19, 2011

Fallen Angels, Fallen Leaves

...had a series of dreams in which I was trying to get into or out of L.A...which is weird since, though I’ve been there a few times, it’s not a city I’ve ever felt much connection to...except through movies and T.V....and Joni Mitchell singing so evocatively about the city of the fallen angels, with its specific dance of dreams and disillusionment, opportunity and loss, sunny skies and air pollution....and, now thatcha mention it, Mr. Dreams, that might just be where I am right now...


...started teaching yoga semi-regularly at a shelter for homeless families....the first time, last week, thought I was just sitting in, checking out the scene, until the teacher introduced me...said this is Jay; he’ll be teaching with me tonight, and I thought okay......this week, a lot of noise was coming down the hall at the beginning of class, and one of the students said we can’t do yoga with all that noise....I said, actually, yes we can, that learning to be still with all the noise and chaos around us is part of the practice...


...as it turned out there were also a bunch of people in the room, who weren’t practicing yoga...it’s a busy shelter, and I guess there aren’t a lot of spaces to hang out....I kept having to avoid bumping into a woman reading a magazine, sitting on a couch just behind my mat while I was teaching...and remind myself, this, too, is part of the practice...

8 comments:

Brooks Hall said...

Woo-oo. Go Jay!

Kate said...

Yes, we can....so much noise and chaos sometimes, but it's good for our practice. I'm with you on LA...don't love it. Like it as a casual acquaintance.

earthtoholly said...

A good reminder, though I would do well to be still with all the noise and chaos within. That's what I have a hard time with...obsessing and seething over stuff I have no control over. I know, join the club. Ack.

Hey, those don't look like bicycle tracks...

It's A Yoga Thang said...

Most of yoga is off the mat anyway. Real life stuff, that's yoga. My studio is beside a hospital, fire station, and biker hang out. We often say," Noises in the environment are only distracting if we label them such, otherwise, it's just part of the environment." :~)

Meredith LeBlanc said...

I have a recurring yoga nightmare that I'm trying to teach class in a very disorganized, multi-level room with a lot of students and I'm not wearing pants. When I try to begin class no one listens, then I start yelling. They look at me then go about their business chit chatting.

I'd trade my nightmare for teaching in your busy space any day.

Sam said...

Simply think that if you don't know about Yoga and on the other hand I know a little bit about yoga than I can simply show you what little I know. We will do this by sharing our knowledge and if simple that if you know more about yoga than you are also a yoga teacher. When we give training for Yoga Teachers at our place than it’s totally with complete focus on you without any type of disturbance and daily distractions. If you are deeply interested in yoga than this is a great way to learn how to become a Yoga teacher.

- Sam

Melissa said...

Amazing! I would think that the people and the experience will not only touch some of the people you are teaching, but yourself as well.

On the note of dreams, three that I've had were on the topics of:

1- a waffle iron that was half flat
2- undercooked rice pilaf
3- Harry Connick, Jr. having a crush on me

I blame pregnancy on my wonky dreams.

Omniscient said...

Thanks for a great blog
Yoga Postures