Yoga

I started taking yoga classes about two months ago, but I've only really committed myself the past three weeks. Before I was going once or twice a week. The past three weeks I've been going four times a week and really trying to focus on breathing and listening to my body. In other words I really started to do yoga. I am trying not to think of yoga as only a workout. I put it in a category closer to meditation.

Yesterday at yoga was a breakthrough for me. I was able to put heels down during the downward dog pose. Actually, that wasn't the real breakthrough it was only the result. The real breakthrough was me being able to control my breathing and relaxing into the pose. Since I was able to relax my muscles I was able to put my heals on the ground.

By the way, one of the best parts of yoga is that it is dirt cheap. ONLY 5 baht a session. That is roughly 15 cents. There are three ladies that rotate throughout the week that lead the yoga sessions. The group meets at a local temple. The money is given to the temple and it is a way for the yoga teachers to make merit.

My favorite teacher is a lady of whose nickname is Apple. She is one of P Nid's former students. Apple has a very soothing voice and it is easy to feel relax and get into the "yoga mindset." The yoga group is very kind. Apple's Mom even made me a meditation pad to help me during yoga, great tool for newbies like me, and so I could use it next month while being a monk. Apple's Mom made it from small cloth scrapes she gets from a local sempstress. Making me a meditation pillow was a very kind gester and I feel very loved.