I went back to City Yoga today. I like the fact that it's a different practice than the one I'm used to and I sit in class not knowing what to expect. In the past I would have felt conflicted with the alignment cues because a few of them are different than how I've been trained and how I practice. And because of that I would have passed an edict from up high: one is CORRECT and the other is WRONG. Then in class yesterday I had this revelation -- it occurred to me that there is no conflict! Both can be right -- the judge, if you will, (and I must) is how the movement feels in my body. I get to decide what works and what doesn't work. And because I teach Baptiste and love those alignment principles, I'll continue to practice that and teach that, and because I'm learning Anusara, when I want an Anusara practice I can do that too... not one or the other -- both. V. exciting.
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So I made a mistake on the meaning of Japanese Cigarette Case. Apparently it's not about drugs. Dink.
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Did I mention that when I went to Mexico there were hot springs in the ocean, or the sea, or whatever? If not, there were, and I could have stayed in the water all day, save for a nacho break. If so, well one of these days I'll stop repeating myself.
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Lastly, on the back inside cover of The Sun they always have a bunch of quotes. I usually breeze through them without much thought. This one has stuck w/ me. It's from Alice Walker.
In the Baemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he is placed in the center of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual. Then each person in the tribe speaks to the accused, one at a time, about all the good things the person in the center of the circle has done in his lifetime. Every incident, every experience that can be recalled with any detail and accuracy is recounted. All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths and kindnesses are recited carefully and at length. The tribal ceremony often lasts several days. At the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration takes place, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.