Handstand 2010 Update!

Well, it's five months later, and I am proud to say that on Friday, I stood in handstand for about ten seconds (with help getting up against a wall from the teacher). It's a start! I also stood in headstand (again, with teacher's help) later that class. I'm very proud of myself. It's hard for me not to lose it while upside-down. I can't wait until I can do it myself! Stay tuned for more...

Handstand 2010!

This is the year I learn to do a handstand.

I have been avoiding this pose for the seven years that I have been practicing yoga because I am afraid of falling on my head. A natural fear, yes, but one that has prevented me from moving forward with my life.

Crazy, huh? Not really. Being upside-down changes your whole perspective. The first time I tried this was as a child, in a gymnastics class. I did the handstand against a wall, but coming out of handstand, I whapped the back of my head on the wall. The next time I attempted this move, I had my husband hold my feet while I placed my hands on the ground. Seeing everything upside-down literally sent me into a panic attack and I began screaming uncontrollably. When I got back up, my husband said, “Please don’t ever ask me to do that again.” I haven’t.

Another few years went by where my practice dropped off. First, it was because of wrist and neck/shoulders pains caused by an inadequate writing posture. Then, I got lazy. But recently, I’ve been returning to my practice after a back injury (too much writing and non-exercising) forced me to look at my physical—and mental—states of affairs. I have reached the conclusion that I am in bad shape.

This year I am devoting to returning to a regular yoga practice, but I also want to add handstand to the list of things I’d like to achieve. Not that yoga is a goal-oriented practice, because really the goal is just to move, flow, breathe, and nurture myself during asana practice. But having the goal of handstand will be a real marker for me to see how much I’ve grown by the end of the year. At one point, yoga had given me such core strength that I remember lifting a table with one arm. Now, I am so weak that just the thought of holding my entire body weight up in the air is exhausting to me. I am humbled each and every time I unroll that mat and realize I have to do the baby steps version of every pose because my muscles have atrophied.

I’m at a point in my life—my 33^rd year—when I know it’s time to reevaluate my goals and strengths and, yes, my weaknesses. Turning things on their head is what needs to be done right about now. I’ll keep you posted!

HAIKU

I taught this lesson in my adult basic ed class this morning.  The haiku that were produced were beyond my wildest dreams for students whose first language is generally not English.  Have you written a haiku lately?  You have one more day in April (National Poetry Month) to try it.  DO IT!

HAIKU

(pronounced “Hi – Koo”)

Haiku is a form of poetry that began in Japan.  People in Japan and across the world have been writing haiku for hundreds of years!

The idea behind haiku is that you say a lot, but use only a few words.

Haiku poems do not necessarily rhyme. Instead, they set a mood or portray a feeling.

 

The entire haiku is composed in 17 syllables:

The first line contains five syllables.

The second line has seven syllables.

The third and final line has five syllables.

5-7-5.

 

Here is an example:

Old tomcat sitting (5 syllables)

Watching autumn leaves blow by (7 syllables)

Wishing they were mice (5 syllables)

 

 

Here are some others, by famous haiku poets:

 

One fallen flower

Returning to the branch?  Oh, no!

A white butterfly

-Moritake

 

Here the grey cow comes

Mooing, mooing, and mooing

Out of the morning mist

-Issa

 

Ashes my burnt hut

But wonderful the cherry

Blooming on my hill

-Hokushi

 

Notice that most of them are about something in nature.

 

The best haiku have natural subjects, but are really about the nature of human behavior.

 

For example, this is a poem about fruit...

 

Oh! I ate them all

And oh! What a stomach-ache

Stolen green apples

-Shiki

 

…but also, it is about desire and remorse.

 

Can you find a second meaning in these poems?

 

What a gorgeous one

That fat sleek huge old chestnut

I could not get at

-Issa

 

___________________________

___________________________

 

 

Ah! I intended

Never never to grow old

Listen: New Year’s bell!

-Jokun

 

___________________________

___________________________

 

Angry I walk home

But standing in my garden

Calm old willow-tree

-Ryota

 

___________________________

___________________________

 

 

Now…

Are you ready to write your own haiku?

Happy 2009!

Well, the myspace blog thing just isn't working out...turns out, it's really not that easy to get people to read your blog! Better for listening to people's music. In any event, check it out (or my other myspace page that's dedicated to my book), but in any event, I'll keep you posted here as to the oh-so-exciting goingson of my my life so you needn't go any further. Hoo-fucking-ray.

I MISS YOU!!!

I'm not exactly sure who "you" is, but I sure as hell miss you.

While the connections with friends are good on myspace, I really miss this interface.

I'm torn between two worlds.

Maybe someone can convince me either way.

Sitting Here in Limbo

Yogi in L.A. is moving to (I know, I know) Myspace!

Please be patient and check back often while I figure out how everything works and how to make a blog happen there.

I decided to do it so more people can know about and enjoy the tasty goodness. Also, Brad Listi was pretty damn convincing.

Read my profile of Blue Turtle Seduction in this month's issue of Relix...on newsstands now!!!

Awesome. Thanks for hanging in.

Infinite love,

J-Ma

Countdown to Seattle

Four days until the great Northwest. I'm burnt out from school and work. The weekend of partying and obscene eating may have contributed -- but oh, was it necessary. Check out the crew at VenicePaparazzi.com (Venice Fest, June 24th photo galleries / Bondi BBQ). We earned legendary status at Scarboni's in Santa Monica; we're still not sure why. Could have been the ridiculous bill and the fact that members of our party continued to add things to the tab in the middle of the meal like, "uh, gimme one of those three-pound lobsters, a glass of port, and a cappuccino with a shot of espresso in it." This, apparently earns one several $25 coupons for future meals at the restaurant. Good to know.

Went to Govin Dass's yoga class on Friday with Sara. I felt lonely and strange in a class that used to be the highlight of my week. I have not prioritized yoga and meditation and have lost a great deal of my core strength. But I'm ready to get back into it. Om namah shivaya. Om namah shivaya. O migod I'm tired.