I loved it when I did things unexpectedly. The decision was brief and quick, last evening. I did a very minimal Ashtanga sunday morning before work - just Sun Salutations and the first 3 standing poses and didn't feel it was enough. So I checked out my local yoga center that does Mysore style and it is open for the CNY holidays! I confirmed my participation, and got ready for the class.
Truth to be told, I was nervous about Mysore style practice. So many things I needed to know: can you make a toilet break? Are you supposed to wait for the teacher to guide you everytime even if you knew the coming pose? Can you sit and rest? What happens if you want to stop? I searched the net for questions like these and nobody wrote about them. But I figured well, it's CNY holiday, so not a lot of people are going to come anyway.
I didn't know what to think when I was driving to the center. I purposely kept my mind blank and to just accept anything that comes when it does. Got lost looking for the center - at 640 am in the morning! - and had to google it to find it. It was obscured, small and definitely not flashy. I walked up the stairs and saw already some practitioners deep in their practice.
Ganesh asked me to put my mat (borrowed their mat, brought my own mat towel) in front and left me for a while. I didn't know what to do, so I started in Tadasana, and started to do my Surya Namaskara A. He gently guided me throughout the room, telling me to inhale, lift up and exhale, jump back again and again. His counting was slower than my own, and I relished that. After I was done with A, I stood for a moment not knowing whether I should continue, then I started with Surya Namaskara B. He adjusted my feet and then let me be. He added one extra Surya Namaskara B and I thought he was punishing me for continuing on without his guidance. But then he proceeded to let me be with standing poses.
I was confused at that time whether I should wait for his instructions or continue. Didn't know whether it was rude to continue, or whether it was considered selfish if I expected him to keep guiding me. In the end whatever he could guide me I followed, and if he paused for more than a few moments I continued. No big changes to how I was doing my standing postures back home, except that it was true - you lift up by INHALING. I guess I have to secretly do it while at my Intro class. Also I thought I'd be embarrassed by the fact he was guiding me with the whole studio listening, but it wasn't like that. I AM a beginner, a first timer, they all know that, and some of them were engrossed in their own postures to even care.
Seated postures, I keep on waiting for Ganesh to stop me, considering this is my first time, and I expected him to stop me after Mary D, which I did and he let me. But he asked me to continue to Bhujapidasana and I did. Didn't manage to swivel smoothly down though. The vinyasa to titibhasana, then Bakasana. For the Kurmasana it felt good, and then he adjusted me to Supta Kurmasana, which hurt a little bit as he pulled it in place, but I managed to be bound in that position - head behind my neck!!! It felt nice.
Wondering if he'll ever stop me because I don't really memorize the pose after Kukkutasana, but continued anyway to Garbha Pindasana, which went well. So GLAD for my own home practice! Honestly. Kukkutasana was awesome. Then moved on to Cobblers Pose... onwards. Chakrasana, etc. I only skipped Setu Bhandasana and Headstand.
Doing the Wheel pose was a bit excruciating as he pressed my body up higher. Now I know my target poses - backbends. My spine is tight from the backbends, and it hurt, good hurt. Though. Didn't manage to hold it until his count. So I did the finishing sequence.
All in all, it was good. Great. Felt just like doing it at home, except you have someone to guide you. Would definitely do it again! Maybe tomorrow.
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