Well, those of you who know me, or perhaps only Ilene, will know I tend to start off my writings talking about the weather. Today is no exception. Being up here in Dutchess county, I am already experiencing a nip in the air. At the end of August for c@%& sake! Luckily I have a mummy sleeping bag. I have awoken many a morning to find myself completely zipped in and the fabric over my face, with no memory of having done so during the night. Then of course in the morning I don't want to get out of the sleeping bag. That's the kind of thing you think about when you live in a tent. Other things that become important: how far away am I from the bath house? Am I really going to get up, put on shoes, (leave the warmth of the sleeping bag) to go pee or pee in another container? (Kate what's your guess!!?) How fast can I zip the tent closed so as not to invite bugs in? Are those frogs I hear and how in god's sake did they get so loud? Will the coyotes call tonight and will it still feel eerie and wonderful? How much mold is REALLY growing underneath the tent platform? And so on...It makes life very simple and straight forward.
Last night I went to bed at 7:30 for some reason. But this made it easy for me to awaken at 3:30 am to go to my first Sadhana. Sadhana is the morning prayer/rituals/mantra done by Kundalini yoga practitioners. Since there is a big Kundalini session taking place here on campus this week, and I know little about it, I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity to attend. Let me tell you the campus was gorgeous at that time of night.
Right upon awakening I heard the coyotes a few miles away checking in with each other. I had two instances on my walk to the building where I heard growling..."Kristi you're not in Brooklyn anymore." The walk to the Main Hall was accompanied by a dark sky pierced with stars and a bright sickle moon. Upon entering the dimly lit Hall I saw about 100 people mostly wearing white clothes and turbans in various positions of repose on top of yoga mats and with back jacks (soft floor chairs). The teacher sat up on the stage with his eyes closed while beautiful Indian music played. I found a place and settled in.This, after being asked to leave a spot that another participant said she went to yesterdays-jeesh. I could go on about the intricacies of Kundalini Sadhana practice, the ardous physical kriyas, (cleansing & energetic practices), mantras and yoga; suffice it to say, the practice is not for me. But glad I went.
No comments:
Post a Comment