Three Jewels 2 - A Spiritual Infusion and Complex Poses

Last Wednesday I made my way over to 4th Ave. To my current Yoga home base, Three Jewels. I had a wonderful conversation with the young lady working behind the counter, Laura. As usual, everyone there was open, kind and attentive-in the moment.

Our instructor Lisa shows up a bit late. She radiates Earth Motherliness and has long, Rasta-ey hair-something I really love.

The class consisted of 3 women and myself and we began with a 15 minute meditation, receiving from an important teacher in our lives, dedicating our Yoga to the healing of a specific individual.

The physical part of the session was nice and intense. I was able to do the Crow asana, which is achieved by putting your hands flat on the floor, hooking your thighs into your arms, lifting legs and feet above the floor-and I was able to do it

Surprised the heck out of me! I also did a shoulder stand (kind of easy for me) and a head stand which I held for a minute.

Now, dear readers, I am not trying for Beijing here, as I've said before, Yoga is not a competitive sport. Its about finding your own integrity in each pose and also finding your edge, that point that makes you try a little harder and grow while feeling comfortable in your pose.

The instructor, Lisa, is a true healer. She assisted in helping us extend our poses and actually laid hands on us if we needed or so desired.

It took me a while to "come back" after the class. When I finally did, I was all blissed out, beaming like a roadside bodhisatva, one with the tree behind him.

Then I was off to a drag queen art show in Soho. Such is the life of a New Yorker.

Yoga To The People

Referred by my very talented dancer/choreographer friend Angela Harriell (www.theloveshownyc.com), I made my way to St. Marks place to the most moderately priced "Yoga To The People" (yogatothepeople.com) for a Vinyasa style class.

I arrived 20 minutes early at YTTP which was a good thing for the space soon filled up with 36 people - young and trendy at that! I was definitely the oldest guy in the room, but not out of place. I was also very happy that all the guys took their shirts off, not just to look at, but more to have permission to take mine off. Ahhh.

The session is led by Nikki, very nice and accomodating. The temperature outside was a very humid 87 degrees and I was sweating like a melting ice pop - there was diminishing Romanian Jewdrops all over my body, shorts and mat. My mat becomes so slippery that I am doing the Downward Dog asana (which means "pose"), my feet are sliding and sloshing around and I'm gripping the front of the mat, with my butt pointed in the air, for dear life. I feel like I'm at a water park ride gone awry.

Luckily, Nikki is checking our poses and I eek out my mat complaint. She gets me a non slip one and all is well. Yay, Nikki!

The class turns out to be not only trendy, but a rigorous workout, the toughest thus far and I loved it!

I did find a slight bit of competitive attitude. I heard a little "Ooh, your poses are so graceful," a Yoga no-no,but all in all a wonderfully crafted session and I will be back.

Baron Baptiste's Power Vinyasa Yoga

So where to start my practice? Good ol' faithful eBay seems to always have the answer!

I found Baron Baptiste's beginner DVD "Journey Into Power." Apologies, Baron. I am currently unemployed and want to test run Yoga without breaking the bank. But, I strongly suggest you buy direct from his site, baronbaptiste.com.

Baron has a gentle, soothing voice that lacks the condescencion of other "gurus" that I have had the displeasure to deal with. You just know he is not an a-hole and really cares that you live your own yoga practice, make it your own.

I recommend in your first approach to not worry about doing perfect poses, ease into it, even pausing constantly or returning to Baby Pose whenever its too much.

Baron talks about always being mindful of your breath and maintaining a soft gaze on one spot to calm your nervous system. Everything he says really works.

I also recommend his companion book of the same title (which I payed full price for at Barnes and Noble). There are great, simple tips for diet, detox and meditation.

Although not in order of exploration, I have recently purchased the Level 2 DVD +more difficult, but approachable after only a month and a half into my practice.

And please, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me!