108 Sun salutations to Enlightenment

Well the first week at Still Point was...um...ok, it was excruciating.

I got here late on Monday morning after 30 hours of travel. I had been told via email that someone would be there to pick me up, but my flight was almost an hour late getting into sunny Nelson, and there was no one there when I landed.

Standing outside in the hot New Zealand sun I had a few thoughts: 

one: it was hot. after an interminable winter on the West Coast of Canada, I was feeling the delightful sensation of short sleeves and wind on my arms.

Two: even if I could rent a car, what was the likelihood that I could -in my sleep deprived state- figure out how to get to this remote yoga retreat, AND drive successfully on the "wrong" side of the road.

Three: would anyone care if I just napped on the sidewalk while I mulled over "one" and "two". As I was thinking these things, the sign of the man I was staring at (without actually seeing him) finally came into view, and seemed to actually have my name on it. At the same moment, I realized he was actually speaking to me and the sound coming out of his mouth was -indeed- my name.

I have had this sensation a few times in New Zealand, especially when I am tired. It is very Finding Nemo: It's like they are talking to me, I just know it. If only I knew what they were saying.

I launched into the first day, kind of see-through from exhaustion, and then made my way painfully through the next week. By day two I had already had a wobbly, all wet and teary during a painful hip adjustment.

By thursday i was quitting ashtanga forever at least once during every posture -ALL the way through my hour and a half practice. At one point as I was waiting to for john and lucy to put me into supta kormasana (bending forward with your feet behind your head, and your hands linked across your back), I actually started banging my head against the floor at the seeming futility of it all.

The result of which was that I had an epic piece of purple fluff stuck to my face for the rest of my practice. 

Friday morning was my early morning practice day with B and John Scott. Once a week we get up at 5am to practice with John and then watch the class. I had been so bloody miserable for the whole week, that my only intention during the practice was to enjoy myself. Which I did. Immensely. 

B had a big wobbly, which made me feel better, cause she is a bit of a warrior-queen, so I figured if she could have a wobbly then it was probably ok that I had been a bit of a mess for the week. 

It is worth mentioning B's wobbly. I was busy desperately trying to keep count of my breaths, and heard John Say, "B, what position is that then?" and I heard," well, actually in having a bit of a ball." which I took to mean that she was just taking a moment to curl up in a ball. And John said, " Ahh, the bit of a bawl position." 

And then I realized that having a bit of a bawl is sometimes an important asana.

Thanks B.