Night surprise, Dr. Wong, Cupcakes

Friday practice and I was grateful for just primary. We are a little under the weather — The Cop had a headache last night and I heard him call in sick with “a malignant brain tumor.” So colorful, he is. Really, though, it was “just” a migraine. I went to bed early with my mild [...]

Whine, whine, ache, ache, dream

Weird achey stuff these days. Last night: Traps = ow! To the point of slathering on China Gel & wrapping up in a pashmina. Is it bad that this is how I use the beautiful pashmina someone gave me? Aw, it felt soooo good. I made artisan bread and chatted with My Gift, who was [...]

Rolling along

Whoa, I’ve been tired. Super tired. Pass out at the end of the day tired. Too much vata, I think. In part, I just realized, because I’ve been eating fruit for breakfast (smoothie!) and salad for lunch. And running full bore each day at work. Need more warm, oily food, maybe. I really try to [...]

Laghu V, More Copisms, Italianism

So I get to laghu vajrasana and think, stricken, “What if I can’t do it anymore?” Aw geez, seriously? I just laughed at myself and went on. And it was fine. Work, work, workity work that mind, Karen. Here’s the video of a jumpback that made The Cop so happy. Last night, out of the [...]

Abhinivesha

Yes, I realize I listen to Richard Freeman too much. And refer to him in my blog too much. And tell everyone else to listen to him too much. Sorry. But seriously, you should check out his podcast: Deep Avoidance and Fear of Yoga. He talks about the kleshas, and really hones in on abhinivesha. [...]

Jazz, Pyrex, Snowheart

This morning did a repeat of something I tried last Sunday. Listened to jazz during practice. Yikes! What jazz, you ask? None other than Herbie Hancock’s new River: The Joni Letters. I have no idea if any of the ashtangi.net folks even know who Joni Mitchell is. I have never been a huge fan, except [...]

Cave of Tigers, No Checking, Bon Yeon

Dharma Combat Dharma encounters (or Dharma combat or Dharma assembly) are public dialogues between master and student. These dialogues happen in the zendo or the assembly hall, in front of the entire group and have a long tradition as well, going back to the days when a monk might encounter another monk or teacher and [...]

Moonlight, sweetness

How sweet was that!? Worked until 7 PM last night, had a nice chat with My Gift, crashed at 9 PM, and slept until 6 AM. When I woke without an alarm. Ahhhhhhhh. How long has it been since I did that? Sigh. So here I am, Moon Day, no practice to be done, with [...]

More UD, Cyber bookshelf

This morning’s thought as I set up for urdhva dhanurasana: “Will the lightness elude me, now that I’ve written about it?” Answering thought: “No. That’s a supersition.” And the lightness was still there. A stake in the ground that is clear, where you can look at the current state and recognize, “Whoa, a lot has [...]

Backbending, Helping

The first urdhva dhanurasana is now similar to what used to be my fifth or ninth or twelfth. Easy, light, open. How wonderful. Not magical, but the product of patient progress. How did this happen? Finally, finally, I understand that if I keep doing this very same practice for the rest of my life, it [...]