Momentum

I had an interesting and relevant realization in yoga last Saturday (I think it was, not that it matters). We were doing the posture where you are laying on your stomach and you bend your knees and reach back and grab your ankles (sitting bow, Dhanurasana). So, essentially only your pelvis is touching the mat, and your back is arched and your shoulder blades are coming together. This is a tough asana for me because I find that it puts a lot of pressure on my gut, which isn't pleasant if I've just eaten (which is often the case), but I also know it's very good for digestion and so I embrace nonetheless. Furthermore, I am usually quite close to the mirror, and so I obsess over the symmetry of this posture, as I find my right shoulder starts creeping upward and it drives me nuts. I've been liking the posture a lot more lately, though, which is odd because I see it as this devil-ish challenge, this asana that I just can't perfect.

It is easy to rock back and forth in this one, in a head to toe direction, and that definitely

massages the lower abdomen. However, last Saturday, my teacher suggested we rock side to side. Wow is that ever hard! I was having a ridiculous time doing this, while trying to maintain perfect symmetry. Then, as almost if my teacher was looking directly at me and reading the thought bubble that was hovering over my head, she said "let go of some of that control, and the momentum will come, and the momentum will increase naturally... use that momentum..." I did it. Screw symmetry, I let it go and rocked side to side, seemingly effortlessly. And when it was time to stop, it was no problem, I just slowed down and let the energy transfer to the next posture I was about to do. Hmm...

momentum = trust, direction, and intention

I know this is not the physics-based definition of momentum, which is essentially the product of mass and velocity. I could have fun with that one too, but this definition is mine, and it works!

Today's yoga class was so different, however. I quickly realized that my only goal was to get through it and give it my all. Of course, I thought it was going to be a typical Hot Hour Yoga class, not unlike my usual classes every day or so, but I had a different teacher today. While I know I've had yoga with Shalon Wan before, it was probably back in November, and therefore I don't think I remembered that her classes DO NOT stick to this rule:

My class was almost entirely in Cantonese! I know I've spoken of this before, but those were usually much smaller classes. This class was >60 students, and I was the only white woman. There was a white man... so just the two of us! The funny thing is that she would say a few things in English such as

1. numbers

2. inhale/exhale

I was thinking alright already, those are the words I actually know in Cantonese! I've been learning my numbers at various LUCKY DRAW at banquets and holiday parties, and I've learned "cupp-hay" 吸气 and "foo-hay" 呼气 or inhale and exhale because of yoga!

And then I lost it... laughing! The other thing she said in English during the entire hour was while we were standing at the top end of the mat, feet together, and she said right knee up (and then tons of Cantonese, probably at least 30 words) step back (and tons more Cantonese) foot at least 2 metres apart (and tons of Cantonese) .... 2 metres!!! 2 metres?????? She wanted our feet 2 metres apart??? I lost it and literally LOL laughed out loud! So, that was the start to my Saturday. I couldn't hardly stay annoyed with the class despite the lack of understanding, I made it through just fine and sweat like crazy.

Other than Friday, I'm still doing well on track with my fitness, my eating, and my water is getting a bit better. I also know that I've lost at least 7 lbs. since my body composition analysis back in November!!

5Feb11, 10am: Tai Chi and Pilates

6Feb11, 9am: Hot yoga with Bernadette Leung

7Feb11, 7am: Hot yoga with Michael Lau

8Feb11, 8:30pm: Bodypump with Anna

9Feb11, 7am: Hot yoga with Shirley Wong

10Feb11, 7pm: Anusara mixed yoga* with Michael Lau

11Feb11, stayed up too late the night before for morning yoga and busy day :-(

12Feb11, 9am: Hot yoga with Shalon Wan

*During this class, I did a few postures very well for the first time, namely side crow (Parsva Bakasana), which is one I've struggled with a few times, but I got it. Another was actually a sequence, Bakasana (regular crow) into Chataranga Dandasana (push-up position) in one move... very hard, but I got it!!