Heart Full

There are a million reasons why I envy Park Slope — most of them have to do with the charm that oozes from just about every crevice of the neighborhood, now I have another reason, Park Slope Yoga. Park Slope Yoga has been a neighborhood staple for over 10 years, and based on the turnout I saw, it has many more years ahead. My friend Yadana had worked there as a deskie, and (apparently) muralist. Just about all the paintings gracing this studio are her handiwork, and they certainly add to the lively texture of the place.

We had come on NYE hoping to catch Robin’s 4pm class. We were disappointed to learn that she wasn’t teaching her class — there was a sub. Having already traversed enormous public transportation obstacles to get there (read Blizzard) we weren’t going to turn back. The class turned out to be surprisingly good. Surprised because we weren’t sure what to expect — subs can be tricky, but she (Jessica) was very good. She took us in stride — it was a basics class and she seamlessly offered more advanced options, but kept the pace steady allowing beginners and more experienced practitioners to stay in sync. Overall it was a lovely class, a great mix, with clear direction.

Park Slope Yoga is actually comprised of 2 studios — Vinyasa Yoga Center (792 Union St.) and another just across the street called “Devi”. We only visited the VYC for this trip, but I’m looking forward to trying out Devi. What I really liked about the studio — besides the entrancing murals, and the calm whimsical feel was their use of plants and light in the main studio. I think the plants just made it breathe better, and the natural light added a rare kind of serenity. The lounge area was spacious, even the changing rooms (if you can believe it) weren’t cramped. A very positive experience for my first go, looking forward to Devi.

I’ve been looking forward to my home coming for months, especially since this time we’d be able to go on a mini getaway — Boracay Philippines. Boracay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines IMHO. Admittedly it’s become quite commericalized — as seen by the beach front Starbucks, but the white sand is still powdery soft, and the water a sparkling blue crystal. It takes your breath away.  There’s almost no better place to do yoga, and after having no luck in finding an open studio in Manila (many closed during the holidays) — I figured my yoga would be whatever I could craft up on the beach.

But my ever observant husband, actually found a yoga studio right along the beach — True Yoga. Located just about “True Food” an Indian restaurant on the main strip. They only offered classes at 9am (daily) after which the “studio” converts to a restaurant. No worries, some yoga is better than no yoga.  I was the first one to arrive at 8:50am sharp, most of the other students trickled in around 9am-9:30am in fact the instructor didn’t get there until close to 9:30. It was a casual setting, some regulars, but a few tourists (like myself). I found out that there were about ~3 instructors and they rotated yoga styles daily between Hatha, Sivananda and Anusara. Lovely.

The instructor was lively and friendly. She chatted to other students about kids — hers were apparently in college — surprising as I wouldn’t have put her a day past 35. Sensing that there was a lot of different practice styles around the room she announced that today’s class would be Hatha yoga “just the classics”. Great, I was looking forward to a non-flow class where natural music wouldn’t have to compete with the manufactured sounds.  But it didn’t turn out so great for me. Hard to believe given the view — the most jaw dropping post-card ready view any yoga studio is likely to have, or the acoustics of lapping waters, I somehow couldn’t get it together in class. And I’m not entirely sure why. I think it was a lot of different little things. I’d mildly pulled my hamstring recently, so still dealing with the frustration of not being able to be as mobile. The girl next to me was called “Mary” and the teacher’s pronunciation made it sound like it could’ve been my name — so verbal adjustments were a challenge. And I guess I just wasn’t happy with the poses. The instructor seemed like she had a specific way of doing the poses — and didn’t seem thrilled with my modifications. I’m also not a big fan of teachers who give advanced poses — and encourage their beginner students to “just try it”, without a lot of instruction or other options. So I saw a number of half lotuses achieved by rotating the knees rather than finding the opening in the hips. Scary. An injury just waiting to happen.

By the end of class I was so testy about the whole experience I left so fast — I actually walked out of the studio wearing someone elses shoes. Unbelievable.

My friend Tsam — my partner and cheerleader for trying out new activities, noticed a great discount for Aerial Yoga on Lifebooker. Intrigued we booked. And it kicked our ass. Seriously. I guess I got use to yoga’s more mindful approach to new things, like new poses or poses that just scare us. In aerial yoga, our instructor Cody demos the sequence she wants you to try (while hanging upside down), smiles and lets you have at it. In our first class there was about 3 of sharing the same “silk” so you couldn’t dilly dally too long, wrestling with your fear to hoist yourself up and over, you had to go about getting it done. But once you’ve conquered it the world is your oyster. Your body sighs in relieved joy as it’s finally not supporting you, gravity and this enormous silk drape is. You can actually feel your spine expand as you just let go and hang out. But it’s not all rest and relaxation. No. The silk is about 25 or so feet high, and you’re expected to gracefully climb it. You see, you don’t just swing around at the bottom, you actually have to climb up the silk, pose/ dangle, fall down the silk a little more and dangle. I looked something like a lose branch from a tree, just about to fall but somehow not. Still, it’s fun, it’s exhilarating, the silks will make you feel graceful even if you have a ratty tank and just realized there are holes in unspeakable places. Trust me. Plus, your abs, they’ve never worked like this before, and they’ll never want to again. But you will. Promise.

I had featured sonic yoga back in 2008. Back then I had thought it was a little too focussed on the asana, and not enough on the mediative qualities of yoga. Recently, I went back for an inversion workshop with Lori, and noticed they’ve been busy. First are the obvious changes, they’ve added a whole new floor to their studio. This means not only another studio but also another changing area. They’ve also updated their decor, the eastern (primarily Buddhist) influence is prominent. But don’t worry, they still have the cushy couches. And still, no first timers special, just discounts on membership if you do sign up.

The new space is well done, it looks pretty similar to the original space in terms of flooring, size, and layout, in fact had I not known I would have thought I was in the same studio. Second, and the most important part, the practice. Last time I had come, I was not expecting as many inversions as I got, as I recall it was a bit overwhelming for me. Practically two years later here I was, LOOKING for inversions, figuring this was possibly the best place to learn. And it was. This time around the class was not overwhelming, it was equal parts asana, bandha and inversion. Instead we explored our internal energies and how to engage them, and how their engagement is essential to finding the plumb line. The delicious equilibrium you feel when everything is aligned the way it should be, and it happens rare enough for me that I still get fearfully ecstatic every time I accidentally stumble upon it.

The workshop added a whole new dimension to my practice. And it seems like every class since then has built off of its foundation. And no while I did not master the handstand, forearm stand, or my wobbly headstand, I feel like both my mind and body got just that little bit better.