Pain. It really is a priceless gift.

“Without it, we would not survive.”

This was the topic for Emmy Cleaves' lecture on Tuesday.

But the fact is – when it comes to yoga we are not just surviving, we are starting to thrive. It has taken time. Sure, many of us had practiced daily before coming here and have practiced doubles. But NINE WEEKS WORTH OF DOUBLES?? No way!

We are getting stronger physically and mentally. There was one yoga class this week when the nurse’s station was completely EMPTY afterwards. All 430 of us STAYED IN THE ROOM! We have completed 32 yoga classes and we are one third of the way through our training. I believe what we were told on day one – we will walk out of here and look different, sound different and be different people!

This week we said goodbye to Bikram and hello to his wife Rajashree. She has taught evening classes and with Emmy teaching Tuesday and Thursday mornings there has been a lot more feminine energy. Bikram’s method involves a lot of entertainment and distraction, while Emmy and Rajashree focus on precision and mindfulness of movement. Classes have been very different.  

It was Rajashree’s birthday this weekend so we celebrated at the end of class Friday night with a huge red velvet cake. Great fuel for yoga!

We have started two weeks of anatomy lectures, with Dr Jim Preddy. It’s fascinating to hear some of his stories on life as an Emergency Physician and learn about the skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. Best of all, he practices yoga so it is great to hear him relate things back to the postures and to see him sweating alongside us in yoga class.

We are now in full swing with posture clinics. Each day we break into smaller groups and meet with a panel of three teachers. We take turns to deliver the dialogue for whichever posture we are working on that day and receive feedback. I find it reassuring to think these are the toughest conditions we’ll ever have to ‘perform’ in.  It’s not normal to have 50 people sitting on the floor watching as I deliver a posture (out of context) and get critiqued. This feels more like auditions for American Idol!

A hard days work

It has been a positive experience and I am receiving helpful feedback. Through this process I am meeting people who are just starting to learn the dialogue and we have been able to find some memorisation techniques that work and practice together. I have found this aspect rewarding, it is cementing my knowledge and giving me a little experience in what it is like to ‘teach.’

This week I learned that pain is a priceless gift – but so is a Shakti trunk sale when it pops up next door to your hotel.  And when we are working so hard Monday to Friday I think we all deserve a little retail therapy on the weekend!