Yoga with an Accent
I took a class this morning with my favorite teacher. Jerome at Santa Monica Power Yoga. It’s very early and very challenging. I think the hardest part of the class is getting out of my warm bed to walk 6 blocks in the cold, because I feel guilty for driving 6 blocks. Making that decision to get out of bed and being told to move my body in ways that were not intended so early in the morning is a big one. Luckily I love this class. Jerome has a style like no one I’ve ever taken before. I am of the belief that everything sounds better with an accent. He’s creative in his sequencing, sometimes blending in Kundalini and pranayama along with asana in his instruction. Many times he will bring you out of whatever chitta or “mind stuff” talk that’s happening in your head with his humor. Making light of how serious we are being. His style is playful, fun and extremely challenging to your 7 am brain. Sometimes I think to myself, I’m a teacher I should be able to do this, right? And then I am a bit nicer to myself and decide to practice ahimsa, or nonviolence, and say that I am forever the student. If I knew how to do everything what would be left? Looking around the class, of course after because I am so focused on my own practice, I see bright shining faces basking in the post yoga glow and know why I am here. Sangha, or community, is alive and well as we all share our early morning experience and continue to come back again and again.
