(chaht-tour-ANG-ah don-DAHS-anna)
chaturanga = four limbs (chatur = four anga = limb)
danda = staff (refers to the spine, the central "staff" or support of the body)
I've become one of those people, a yoga aficionado. Last Friday, I committed to Hot Yoga at Southern Om, Greenville. This before knowing that a yoga session is something that lasts 95 minutes. Before fully comprehending how hot 95 is. We were 70, crammed into one room for the $5 Friday session. Everyone else seemed to know what was going on. Towels were placed over mats, shirts were thrown aside, a spray bottle of water(?) was passed around. In short, everyone was prepping but me. I was more into enjoying the warmth after months of winter, laying back, relaxing, pondering what the packed room would smell like after an hour.
It started nicely. Child's pose. Relaxing. But then the Chaturanga started. Melt your heart to the floor, hands to the mat, high plank, chaturanga dandasana, upward dog, downward dog. Over and over again. At first, I was strong. Strong arms, strong back. But after the umpteenth repetition, my arms began to fail. Flopping, falling, failing. That was the progression.
But then, we ended. The last minutes spent in dimmed lights, in silence, in a cool lavender scented towel covering face then belly. I was hooked. Before I made it home, I called my aunt, an avid Bikram Yoga enthusiast, and my SO, begging for a membership. He agreed and now I'm a member of Zen Garden Yoga.
My first experience there was yesterday. I was definitely much more distracted, comparing myself to everyone else in the room, unable to focus on breathing, unable to get my mind off the project I 'm working on. But afterwards... After I felt wonderful. Relaxed, sipping on tea.
Here's to hoping I improve, that I can calm myself, and that extravagant yoga positions are in my future.
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