Sunday, October 13, 2013

YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THE AUTORICKSHAW

...is what Prashant told us in Monday's class.  The experience of those rickshaw rides creates a strong memory.  The point he then made was that we have no memory in the asanas (postures) because we have not really experienced the asana,  He then guided us to first use the breath (inhale, take an "exceptional exhalation", retain and do uddiyana bandha) to experience the asana.  Then in a study of Utthita Trikonasana, still breathing as above in another pose (eg. Utthita Parsvakonasana) to awaken a specific area we went into Trikonasana.  We were to compare how that awakening carried over to Trikonasana.  He encouraged us to let the asana be done on you, rather than doing the asana.

Coincidentally, that afternoon we did some shopping errands which required us to bump around in a rickshaw.  So we strengthened our rickshaw memory by once again experiencing the weaving in and out among scooters, cars, trucks, dogs, people, cows; breathing the fumes and exhaust (face mask is absolutely required!); and marveling at the expertise of our driver to stop or swerve just in time to avoid a collision.  The saving grace is traffic speed is slow enough that this all can happen. Everyone is in close quarters.  During a stop at a traffic signal you could easily reach over to touch a rickshaw or scooter next to you.  Often you are face to face with smiling children who are wedged, on what I would consider a one-person scooter, between their parents. One day this week I saw a rickshaw drive past crammed full of boys in their school uniforms.  It reminded me of the contest at WVU when students try to pack as many people into the PRT car.  

Once back from our rickshaw journey, we were grimy and exhausted.  We vowed to avoid rickshaws for a few days and made it all the way to Sunday.  Fortunately, we are able to walk to the Institute (about a block) and buy our veggies and fruit from the pushcart vendor on the way back to our flat.  We have a cook who prepares our main meal after our morning class and/or practice and there are leftovers for dinner.  It's great to stay in the neighborhood!




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