Dynamic --> Static

While I did not go to synagogue for Yom Kippur this weekend, I did fast and abstain from work. In fact on Friday I walked to the local library and took out a bunch of books on mythology in prep for my MTC class plus a PLEASURE BOOK.

What, what?

Yes, a pleasure book. Okay, I am not really sure where that term came from, but I tend to use it to describe a non-academic book. a book I read because I WANT to and not because I HAVE to. However, looking at that term now is rather dirty.

Tee hee.

I decided to grab a Christopher Moore book because I saw "Fool" in the bookstore recently. They didn't have it at my branch, but they did have "Dirty Job." I started reading on Friday night and then continued all day on Saturday. I basically camped out on the couch all day and just read. It was delightful. The phone rang and the computer beckoned, but I just kept reading. Yesterday I did a good pit of delivery and pick up for Hugh Groman, but wound up finishing the book early this morning. Super demented and super funny. And better still it was set in San Francisco so there was additional meaning and depth.

My city.

I have been spending lots of time in the city lately and it feels more and more comfortable. I walked down Castro today before teaching a workshop with Kim and the weather was so lovely and the sky was so blue. Very comfortable.

When I got home I did a bit more work and needed to take a yoga class. My Passport to Prana will expire in 2 months and I am teaching in the morning. And honestly I don't remember the last time I took a class. Really. Not good.

So, I went to a studio on the Berkeley/Oakland border. I got there just as it started and little did I know it was a Restorative class. The teacher was an older gentleman and we did lots of static poses with just about every prop in the closet. Literally every single pose he called out more props the we needed. So he demoed first and then the 5 of us trounced off to the closet to get one (or three) more things.

Shoulder stand with a chair, a bolster, a sticky mat and three blankets. A back bend with a chair, blanket, sandbag and bolster. Another heart opener with 2 blocks. And finally we used the ropes to hang upside down - with a blanket and a wedge.

Yes, props.

I have gotten so used to flow that I forgot that yoga can be static. In fact we held most of these poses for 5 minutes. Many of them were uncomfortable, but once I relaxed in, it was okay. Or in some cases relaxing. It gave me the opportunity to breathe and allow the muscles to soften.

I am scheduled to sub again for Noga tomorrow at Vara in Albany. I plan to teach a class with more held poses. That is, if anyone shows up.

If not, I will practice on my own and work on (gasp) Funny Bone.