Heart Full

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 met Danielle at Yogalocal. She was one of the first instructors I took at the studio, and I’ve since been hooked. Her liquid flow, and inventive sequencing always surprises me with fresh new challenges. I recently got to catch up with after her recent penthouse class.

NYC Yogini: So how did you get started in yoga?

Danielle: I first started exploring yoga in college. I have a dance background so yoga seemed natural, I really connected to the alignment.

NYC Yogini: When did you decide to become a teacher?

Danielle: I actually really struggled with the decision to become a teacher. I thought that if I started teaching it would take away from my practice, and I enjoyed the practice *so* much! I was wrong of course (smile). It’s deepened my practice.

NYC Yogini: How would you describe your class?

Danielle: It depends. Alignment focussed, while still connected to the physical, mental, and emotional practice through the breath. Lately, I’m trying to incorporate the chakras into my class more.

NYC Yogini: Are you working on a particular pose?

Danielle: Eka Pada Galavasana.

(side comment from Ben) What is that exactly?

Danielle: It’s a kind of flying side crow. You know it’s funny, because I use to be able to do it, and then I somehow lost it (puzzled shake of her curls). I structure my classes with a pinnacle pose in mind — even if we don’t do in class, so lately I’ve been doing more hip openers for galavasana.

Metrotech — a commercial complex in Downtown Brooklyn bound by Jay St, Johnson, Flatbush and Myrtle has stood at the center of Downtown Brooklyn’s resuscitation from a rather messy dilapidated district with few residents, to signs of a real neighborhood, including my favorite — Brooklyn’s first 2 Michelin Star — Brooklyn Fare. And while the neighborhood isn’t here yet; DoBro’s early pioneers can enjoy the play of lights this Holiday season, and its periodic public art. This one is an inflated cow which was paired with what looks like an inflated couch. I think it might be missing the TV to complete the piece. I’m not sure what it all means, but it was interesting enough to inspire me to unzip my parka in the super cold, and show off my own wobbly / slightly crooked, cow face. Moo!