Heart Full

By now everyone has heard of the Great Lawn Yoga from Flavorpill that never was. It was a good idea. Nearly every part-time / semi-interested yogini turned out for Flavorpill’s Great Lawn Yoga. And it produced the longest line I’ve ever seen. This thing stretched out for miles, true story. I heard figures of around 10,000+ yoginis turning out, and I believed it. I called my friend Yadana who I was planning on practicing with, “I’m sorry I don’t think I can go” I said disappointed, “the line is way too long, I’ll never make it.”  Yadana, always the one with all the solutions recommended, “Don’t worry. Just skip ahead to the front and come all the way up to the VIP tent, we have a ticket for you here.” I stared at my phone in disbelief, sure that finally my hearing loss was finally kicking in, “NO WAY! “, “YES.” She assured me, “just skip to the front and walk all the way up to the VIP tent, it’s got a white top, right next to the stage.” Knowing she is exceedingly reliable (aren’t all teachers?), I did as she told me. I easily walked in front of 3+ miles of forlorn yoginis looking hopelessly to the front of the line. Most of me was wracked with guilt, another angry on their behalf — how long had they been waiting, and were some of them even going to make it? And another part that I kept pushing to the dark corners of my heart, relieved I knew someone “on the inside” so I wouldn’t have to wait.

Every time I pass Lululemon I feel this inexplicable primal magnetism that causes me to go in and “just look”. For the most part, I really do just go in and look. It’s almost as if my curiosity is satisfied and now I can continue. But a seed is planted, I had noticed one or two cute things, and now I wanted them. Maybe I wouldn’t buy it today. But some time. And each time I visit, the seed grows. In fact I’d have caved and bought something for myself on my last visit if my husband hadn’t raised a dubious brow and wisely asked, “do you need a skirt that’s also running shorts? how often do you run?” The answer – hardly ever. But it was so cute, and marked down (at last!) to 50% off. Bringing the item into my sphere of affordability. Instead, I bought it as a gift for a friend, who does run, and she loved it.  And why wouldn’t she? They mix the right kind of colors and design to convey, pep, spunk and a workout. The materials aren’t like anything I’ve seen before, light weight and fast drying (so long weird sweat patches) and most importantly, they’re flattering. Even their skimpiest skirts elongate your legs, priceless.

But is it really? Even with the uncannily friendly staff, free yoga classes (usually taught by well known local teachers), a community board, and the eco-friendly packaging — is it worth $100 a pants? I know my husband would say no, but every core in my being says “YES!”. And now I know the seed has full on blossomed, they’ve got me now, and I really shouldn’t go back.

When I first started yoga — about 3 years ago, I fell in love instantly. I loved how I felt afterwards, the challenging poses,the bite size spirituality, and the joy of an expansive ohm. But slowly, it occurred to me that there was an undisclosed subculture to yoga. A culture very much aligned to eco-friendly greenness. It made sense — being mindful of our environment is a natural partnership for yoga, it embodies the very ideas of ahimsa, doing no harm. I quickly noticed that I was mindlessly consuming water bottles. I often bought a small bottle before a rigorous class, and always a very large bottle for hot yoga. I started feeling guilty about this practice, it really didn’t take much effort to switch to a bottle — I would just have to be less lazy about remembering to bring it. I noticed how everyone seemed to have a Sigg water bottle, it was clearly the brand of choice (at the time). And no wonder it’s so playfully cute compared to it’s then competitors (kleen kanteen).But at ~$25 it was pretty pricey, and my yoga was expensive enough — so I opted to just go thirsty or drink from the water fountain after class. Then I hit verifiable gold, a cute $10 water bottle that matched my Koi Mat. A red Koi Gaiam water bottle on sale at Barnes and Noble for $10. How could I not buy it?
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I couldn’t wait to try out Anti-Gravity yoga at Om Yoga Factory. After reading the rave reviews from NYMag, Timeout NY I imagined myself dancing through the air, emerging from the cocoon in a butterfly like manner. This was not the case. Not only because I’m not a butterfly but the “hammock” is more like a womb that you have to push yourself out from. But once you manage, oh boy! There’s nothing like hanging upside down. And we did let it all hang out, upside down. I could actually feel my spine decompress, after a few more minutes the blood rushing to my face felt more soothing than uncomfortable. It was as if I could feel my neck elongating, and my lungs enlarging with every breath. It’s not the same kind upside down feeling as in head stand, or other inversions, half the time I’m concentrating fully on balancing, and in headstand the neck isn’t fully liberated. Inversion with no effort, is like a dream that I didn’t realize I wanted to come true.

Still, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Perhaps because there were so many first timers in today’s open class, it was pretty slow almost restorative, and there wasn’t much of a “workout” despite what all the reviews say. The pace did allow for very detailed instruction which I appreciated. Still, I missed the flow and  I would’ve liked more “swing”.  The hammocks mainly serve as giant straps when you’re not inverting, and even when you are you’re hovering only an inch or two from the floor, so it doesn’t quite have the impact of height, as say an Aerial Silks class. In fact in a lot of ways it’s like an Aerial Silks class lite. Fair, given there were ~ 20 people in class, and an Aerial Silks class is often limited to 8 or less. There’s too much potential for injury.

I did enjoy the class, it has undeniable benefits, and now that I’m on the $30 unlimited for a week diet, I’ll come for seconds possibly thirds or .. just leave all of you hanging.