“Still Untitled ‘Til This Day”

I can’t believe I’m listening to Hip-Hop. Every day? Hip-Hop, the braggadocios art form of the street has pulled me back to my twenties and I ain’t mad.  The culprits for my re-wind is Rebels Music Empire (R.ME). Heard their “Ric Flair” track before 2010 was ushered in and was hooked on this party thumper. Can we get it on? Yes! It was on repeat for a long hot minute while exclaiming my love of the track to the guys: Steph L.V., Real, Rashid Amir, and X Maximus.

Photo Credit: The Jebari Bates Collection

Here comes the New Year and the album “Still Untitled ‘Til This Day” is released.   Based on my love for the “Ric Flair” track, bought it. $5. Um. Really? Great! (I would have paid more) Being “stuck” I listened to my love over and over and danced my fool head off, by my damn self, at home, frequently and loudly. Then came the video. Why can’t I shake this “she’s gotta have it” feeling? The video is pure Brooklyn love. Rep-re-sent!

When R.ME performed at the Delancey on the Lower East side on the last Thursday of January I went and was thrilled that they had a great stage presence. Reminded me of a Hip-Hop version of New Edition because of the musicality and charm: each man with a distinctive style. R.Me was in full effect and had an army of talent with them.  For their set, R.ME injected a gradient energy by inviting additional MC’s to the stage. The crescendo was a full-fledged rock show, mosh-pit and all when the notable Warren S. Britt hit. Oh.My.God. flashback to ONYX and then some. Sick.

I was taking a trip back in the mid 80’s & 90’s when I was enjoying Hip-Hop. Sweat dripping from the frenzy of good freaking MUSIC. Young griots! “Africa” is exceptional by the way. OooWee, ya’ll got me sweating and swaying on a week day like, back in the day, when I was young, I’m not a kid any more, there’s some days I sit and wish I was a kid again, and I remember when…

It took another long minute to fully appreciate the work R.ME put in as it was at the next live show (I swear I am NOT a groupie) at Littlefield’s in Brooklyn I realized I knew the hook to “Carrie Fever”.  Dees boys are slick with this Sex in the City instructional for wooing.

Photo Credit: R.ME Promo Collection

But then R.ME threw me into a chaotic, shocked and pissed moment with the %*ck in your face line on “Hypnosis” BUT phew it’s the stage positioning thing between us/the audience and them/R.ME, ROFL, slickasses.  I am determined to NOT return to the time where I had to shake off my love for the bounce in that infamous Akinyele track. Ugh. I am a lady you know. It’s that guitar lick..India Arie uses it too…think it’s in “Video”.

So basically I am not easily unnerved by bawdy and braggadocios because to be re-intoxicated by good, quality, lyrical content, flow and MUSIC  …AND to be able to re-engage my neck snap, without skipping one single solitary track (ok maybe the skit was skipped) on an hour + of music on a new CD is a blessing. Seeing musicianship live is THE bonus.

Photo Credit: The Jebari Bates Collection

It’s July now. Since April, I‘ve retired “Ric Flair” for “Oxygen” and then re-start the CD back to the “BBQ” to a familiar 70’s basschickawangwangbasshorn groove on “Back to Business” only to get stuck in the middle of the cd/ipod from the “Gritty Rhyme Syndrome” back to “Oxygen”… all I can do now is breathe a sigh of relief that my love for the art form isn’t dead and that I don’t have hold the re-wind button on my tape deck.

R.ME! Unu “Follow Da Leader” and “Run Dem” Flatbush!

In my mind, R.Me would have done well at the lyricists lounge back in the day, when it was in the then grungy meat packing district. Yeh grungy!

Thanks Guys, for another Love in Chaos episode without even one single solitary mention of the N-word. Refreshing. *reaching for the Alleve*.

Photo: R.ME album cover

If you’re interested in hearing what I’m feeling¸ check out, http://www.rebelsmusicempire.com.

 

Who Shot Rock & Roll – Brooklyn Museum – Rewind

I was so excited to hear of this exhibition.  Drawn to the title and location I kept it on my radar. Well one rainy/snowy First Saturday in December I made it and enjoyed the conversation amongst friends and strangers alike.  The exhibition curated by Gail Buckland spans Rock & Roll images by Rock & Roll photographers from 1955 to present.

Let me begin by saying that my first impression was Love in Chaos, of course.  Loved the photography but thought some of the images presented were chaos/chaotic for me … Why? because they weren’t Rock in my thinking of what Rock music  is until seeing Chrissie Hynde’s quote recently

My pamphlet from the exhibition had not been tossed and kept floating out of bag changes, from behind reading material, and  even peeped out from the bottom of my closet. So I guess it was just time for me deal with this exhibition the best way I know how, write a little something…

There were so many people there on this particular First Saturday that we (my two traveling buddies Mike and Rusell) were unable to view each piece but made a promise to return because our snarky reactions were audible and may have been quite unnecessary as well.  You see, when observing the spectrum of the photography, that chaotic itch to start a music debate begins but when you pull back, you realize Ms. Buckland’s exhibition was about the PHOTOGRAPHERS, well then dialing down becomes a necessity.  And now the boys can stop their Team Rolling Stone Team Beatles debate …

In revisiting the exhibition as it closed January 31, 2009, I was able to achieve a better stroll early in the day and had the opportunity to absorb the mostly Rolling Stone photographers’ work.  I believe it is important to put the magazine in the forefront only because they were/are the main source of all things rock in that popular music media sense of documentation.  They’re also the innovators of the genre’s documentation.  So with that in mind, I felt that Ms. Buckland was at the mercy of the photographer’s submissions rather than the subjects of Rock themselves.   Actually I am guessing.  It was the first impression I got and am sure there was much more to effort put forth than that.

Many of the photographers were selected by the bands /artists (touring, promos, album covers etc…) as noted in the portrait section of the exhibition.  These were THE most intimate shots on display in my opinion.  You could see how relaxed the artists were in the images.  The trust factor could not be denied.

My reasoning for my thinking that the curator was  at the mercy of the photographer’s submission cames from the raised eyebrow reactions including my own from the following iconoclastic but not necessarily Rock images, including album covers of: Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, Madonna, Smoky Robinson, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Salt~n~Pepa, Biggie, Tupac, Jay-Z, Puffy, and Amy Winehouse to  name a few. The flow of traffic stopped at many of these sightings for full fledged discussions and debates. Maybe a section labeled Rock & Soul or Rock influenced behavior or Rock Star status would have lowered the brow. Run-DMC’s presence due to their commercial success with the Aerosmith collaboration of Walk This Way was right on target. Now that’s rock, to me and I remember the time and debates of that time vividly. HOT!

There were so many young people in attendance on this closing Sunday morning and afternoon that over hearing parent’s re-living their youth and views/reactions to the images, it became a priceless experience. Some had no clue who were in the images others had volumes to share. The passion music creates is endless.  Have you ever tried to engage in a best album of all time discussion? If not, try it. It can be more exhausting and or frustrating than a climax-less experience…I’m just saying.

The video installation of Grace Jones’ One Man Show had been moved from the previous visit, to the main hall of the floor from the back room.  Good move!, because the crowds were way too thick for that tiny back room. Some bump and grinds are  sometimes truly inappropriate, particularly at the museum and definitely on the 4 train.

I’m left wondering if it would have been more feasible to format the exhibition groupings on the photographers rather than the images.  I don’t necessarily need to be spoon fed but if this exhibition is about the photographers wouldn’t it have made more sense to enlarge their names on the placards?  OK, it’s not about my needs, I get it.

I am thrilled I had the opportunity to re-visit the Brooklyn Museum on the morning it was closing as this time I actually took pen and a pad to take names with me for further knowledge. First up Ed Caraeff’!  At the time of his now famous photograph of Jimi Hendrix he was 17 years old and was advised by an elder to save the roll of film he had taken of the yet unknown Hendrix.  The shot is spectacular and happened to be shot number 36 on the roll.  I love back stories that stick with me!

Jimi Hendrix - Ed Caraeff

Then there were the images from Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson that had me taken for quite some time as they mix mediums beautifully.  Click this link http://photos.thefirstpost.co.uk/assets/library/090523bigpic_2–124300870985028500.jpg to see the original shot inspiring the cover for 10cc’s How Dare You 1975-6.

How Dare You 10 cc album cover

Storm Thorgerson’s photo  was on display and spoke volumes to me due to the communications issues that are still relevant today. Because, to some degree I love seemingly chaotic scenarios.  Please notice how everyone is right next to each other yet they prefer to pick up the phone to talk. Funny, that’s how I feel about texting today…

Albert Watson’s Jagger Leopard image is stunning to me. The back story in short is Mick wanted to be shot with a leopard in the convertible he was to drive but the animal wasn’t cooperating enough to get the shot so Albert Watson decided to merge what I think was  only one of the  three full frontal shots of the leopard ‘s face with Mick’s…Love in Chaos!

Check it -

Mick Jagger - Albert Watson

There was also a very intimate image of Elvis which has lingered.  It was a back stage kiss that made you just want to reach for your honey and… Look, I am no Elvis fan, but this was about the photographer Alfred Wertheimer. ROCK! Or is that SOUL? Hmm?

There is just  too much  to mention, I am only here to share my experience and also hope that this Brooklyn Museum pamphlet will stop following me around now.

That’s my time for now except for one last image which is still missing from the exhibition, in my mind , and that would be images or the photographers for Fishbone.  Dang these brothers can not buy a break … Still.

Yeah I am aware that the Cure and The Who weren’t represented either. I get it. Jim Marshall’s Johnny Cash’s middle finger image is though … Rock & Country?

I love life, and its artistry comes from all corners of our existence, there’s still so much to learn, observe, feel, and anticipate… Thanks Gail Buckland and Brooklyn Museum for stirring the pot that is Rock & Everything …

Check the museum’s link  – http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/rock_and_roll/index.php

And Thanks to you for stopping through today for the most recent Love in Chaos episode … that I’ve shared …

 

Love in Chaos Curiosity

Are trends pointing us downward?

PDA’s

Pants’ waists

Just curious.

Signed,

Love in Chaos

 

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Bikram Yoga 30 Day Challenge – Week 3 to End

In keeping with a personal goal of finishing what I start, I am completing my thoughts on this endeavor now.  Quite some time has passed since completing my 30 day challenge and in the time from its completion to now I have been preoccupied with life and other more pressing goals which were put in place while practicing.  I am pleased to share that yes indeed I did complete the challenge as well as an additional tiny goal which I had been speaking about to both friends & family – to totally unplug from TV.  My challenge ended on Sunday June 14^th and from there I went on to the additional reward of free yoga for 30 days and was away from writing due to travelling and reassessing how I spend time.

In any case, I discovered something I’m not.  I’m not a blogger, not in the true sense of what I thought the definition was which I thought was a term defined as someone who makes daily entries.  Phew! Glad that pressure filled idea is not so.  Once I found this to be true I sort of went off in all sorts of directions. But I am here now to complete this thought.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

The third week of my challenge was a wonderful routine, didn’t really know the day counts anymore.  I was busy with both work and a soon to be visit to see my family AND the confirmation that I was to serve as MC for the Urb Alt Festival for a couple of days, in a couple of weeks. (I love having things to look forward to) My sweat was clean and the only type of exhaustion I was truly feeling was laundry duty.

A surprising highlight was on day 22 for the studio’s Nite Sweat.  My challenge was being facilitated at the Lower East side studio where every first Friday the owner holds a class to benefit the Lower East Side Girls Club at 10pm.  As a rule I like to practice early but my adventurous side was beckoning and took the class.  When I say wall to wall yoga mats I am not exaggerating.  It was wall to wall and I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie on exhibition.  If you get a chance, I encourage you to wipe away any preconceived ideas of feeling claustrophobic and take this class  http://www.bikramyogales.com/index.cfm?section=events&fuse=events&id=45 .  Tricia Donegan and her staff create a special mood with pink lights, candles and MUSIC.  I truly appreciated it AND it’s for a good cause, the Lower East Side Girls Club is raising funds to fund or is it  to build?, their own location.  Normally bikram yoga classes are quiet and fairly serene, this particular evening we were also treated to commentary from a young lady who had something to say at every single posture…even in savasana.  I was so ready for that because I am a notorious giggler.  I giggled, sang songs (no, not in full voice ; ) smiled, winked and well let’s just say it was my most expressive class & it’s logged in the memory bank. Good Times!

Day 25 was cocky yoga day for me and before class announced “ this is going to be my BEST class”  when I said it I was met with looks of reservation and was warned not to pre-judge or try to pre-determine what  class would be like.  I laid my mat down confidently in what is considered to be the hot spot (my favorite) of this particular studio:  to the right front. and Good Lord! Was my mantra through that entire 90 minute class, (note to self: not a good look).  I truly did myself in and had what I still consider my most unfocussed class.  I (re)learned a hearty lesson though: leave expectations alone and go with the flow.  This habit of attempting to pre-determine a result minimizes the journey.  And I find (finally) it is the journey which is the best part of classes and of life. Reflection is a much better position to absorb.

Days 26 through 28 I continued with evening classes and much to my delight I had shed the fear of practicing directly after work, which I consider to be the rush hour crowd.  No offense but there is no time of day I detest more than rush hour anything yet here I was.  I can only say that my focus was hitting its stride and I was able to focus on the things in life that pleased me and nearing the finish line of the challenge was THE rush now. AND I was kicking out in standing-head-to knee position on BOTH sides. I found my smile, the one that is encouraged but can never quite get going if it’s not habitual. Found it.

Days 29-30, can’t even describe it in words. Early classes both with one of my favorite teachers, who became quite parental in the process, was the perfect complement to becoming intimate with my body once again. Yogis I was running into regularly were most encouraging as well:  What day are you on? Good job. How do you feel? I want to do it to. I just finished mine. I want to do it again. I love this practice. And for that I am most grateful. The camaraderie and encouragement to push on … Priceless.

 

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Bikram Yoga 30 Day Challenge – Week Two

This was the week I became punch drunk for sleep and relief.

It’s amazing, once you discover relaxation, how easily you can also find sleep.  I am a semi-retired insomniac. Burning both ends of the candle used to be a breeze.  As age and responsibilities catch up, so does the need for sleep.  I have read articles where it is said that the average number of hours adult receive in the US is 6 and for New Yorkers less, like 4 hours or something ridiculous but quite possibly true.  lol

Savanas became my best friend this week. It was a real struggle though because this week I felt my body going through a series of cleansings and at times I would feel so drained that I attempted to skip meals but once I noticed what I was doing to myself, depleting my energy, I got back on track with meals as well as vitamins. Now this is not to say that results were immediate…

It’s all a practice. It’s all a practice. It’s all a practice was my mantra for the week.

My favorite time to practice yoga is first thing in the morning and for some reason that goal went flying out the window except twice, on Wednesday and Thursday. It was the most difficult task to wake up early since I had taken the last class of the evening on Tuesday, when what I call muscle seizures began occurring (more about that later). When you factor in travel time back home and preparing for the following day I was all out of whack and spent the first half of class cussing up a storm and landed in the land of judgment, in my head.  All I kept thinking was why did I sleep so much during this long holiday weekend?  Answer! Because I obviously needed it.

So here I am in class and I’m back to my favorite mantra “lock your knee lock your knee” and for my Friday evening class Success is mine! On my left knee and not the right which is opposite of what I knew to be true! FRUSTRATION!  Luckily I still have another 2 weeks to achieve this very important goal for both legs.

This week’s task was to keep pushing forward no matter what the work schedule and no matter how much sleep was calling me…”Stay on task and focus”.

It was also during this week during a discussion with one of my friends that it was clear that no matter what the associated stereotypes attached to yoga, you are who you are. It came about while discussing serenity and being serene. I realized that while I am able to reach serenity, I am by no means a serene person as work issues also entered the discussion; the economy and what living really means.

Work issues began to seep their way into my practice and by Saturday morning’s class I was in excruciating pain. My neck was so stiff that no amount of heat was able to alleviate what was going on. During the floor series I allowed the tears to flow, mostly because no one would be able to tell the difference between them and the sweat.

There are moments of savannas while on your stomach where between postures you turn your head to either the right or the left, touching your ear to the floor for maximum extension of your neck. NOT me. So I made little movement and kept my face to the ground as a quick solution.

It wasn’t until the following day that I could really put into words the type of pain I was going through. I remember the studio owner asking me directly after class if it, the tears, was pain or something else … I unconsciously lied and said it must be something else. There was so much going on I just could get my bearings and being a lady I will not fully disclose the other issue, no matter what.

You see the neck strain had surfaced earlier in the week and the most hurried assessment was oh you probably slept funny… or something.  I knew it was stress but couldn’t/wouldn’t admit to it until Sunday’s class. I also knew it was the effects of the frigid temps in the office. I can only change what was in my control and at times my concerns are not the concern of others or quite simply they’re trumped. So the back and forth in the extreme temperatures were beginning to take its tolls and I swore no summer colds!

I ate alleve gel caps and prayed for relief.   Because my ability to communicate more effective returned the following day, I was able to take advantage of the teacher’s pre-class time, where we discussed at length what was really hurting. She was able to identify that my trapezious was what was causing me fits…and since I could recall which postures were causing me the most grief, my teacher lovingly showed me­ adjustments I to make during classes.

Maaaaan, relief was found.  If you are reading this I would only share one piece of advice, while the teachers are not doctors, many are well versed with the anatomy and if your ailments are serious enough to create tears, I would suggest talking to them before class begins.

God Bless the ability to communicate and an experienced listener to reciprocate.

More later 

 

Bikram Yoga 30 Day Challenge – Week One

To complete the challenge was an absolute pleasure. It was in my final week I really saw the toning my body was going/has gone through.

My initial goal was to write every day while doing the challenge.  Thank goodness the goal was mine alone and could be adjusted.  Instead, I took notes using my handy dandy pocket calendar,

You may have already read my entry for day one.  The following is a review to of week one

Day two I loved what I heard the teacher emphasizing:  Know what your bad habits are in order to change them, which I found applicable in both the practice as well as life in general.  I became very aware of my deltoids, front thigh muscle and tummy tightening.

Day three found me sore and a little less hydrated than I should have been.  The pace of the class was wonderful and time flew by without any concern about it. Becoming more and more aware of my stomach muscles and trying to lock it into my subconscious.  And oddly enough it occurred while in the floor series while trying to find a way to keep my hips on the ground and the knees elevated…my ankles began speaking to me as I was making adjustments.

It strikes me as odd how each day’s awareness is different when you allow your mind to relax and let the teacher take control…for 90 minutes. Each and every day of our lives is different regardless of the routine we put in place huh? As so even though I love morning classes, making it to them, no matter if they are written in ink in the planner, sleep takes over and day 4 found me at an 8:15pm class.

I’m feeling good about my flexibility in terms of both change of plans as well as my physical  body, until midday of day 5, where I have gone to the normally scheduled 6:45am class but by 2pm my body or more like my mind is a bit scattered.  I’ve had about 3 hours to sleep and find myself in bed by 8PM in order to tackle day 6 at 6:45am.

I was in desperate need of putting in a regular schedule of morning classes and fixated myself on being on task for midweek  morning classes, out of necessity.  It was the same thinking of Bengal tiger determination that allowed me to start thinking in terms of each moment  and each task instead of forecasting how I might be feeling the next moment.  I remember thinking that I had to allow myself and give myself permission to consider an alternate method. One that suits me.

Day 7 is Friday and I am thrilled because, that means for the next 3 classes I will not have to worry about my work schedule and so the evening classes have been put in place to allow for the recuperation that was missing between days 4 and 5.

This was the first time I was having this particular teacher and good Lord he was completely irreverent or maybe it’s really cheeky and I loved it! He has such a complex mix of work and play that I found myself giggling out loud and not feeling one bit self conscious about disturbing my fellow yogis. LOVELY class, my core strength was being put to the test…Again.

For the rest of the weekend, I was aware of Mercury being in retrograde and removed all expectations of having a rocking class and kindly floated through each 90 minute session.  My arms were aching the most as were my right thigh muscles but I did not leave the room and paid close attention to how my body was feeling.  “They” say you’re not supposed to get attached to particular teacher, but to the practice itself… and I admit that that is a tough one I know what I like and this weekend was no different.

He was an easy going but disciplined teacher and she is the baby of the bunch with such excellent form that it is an absolute treat to be a student with her when she is practicing.

This first weekend I discovered how sweet sleep really is.  Days 8&9 I took the evening classes 4pm and 6pm respectively and just kind of floated through the classes with the a fair amount of ease because I had nothing else on the agenda except to take my classes, nourishment and then sleep. Preparing for work wasn’t a consideration I just allowed myself to flow with no agenda and this was the best!

More later…

 

The Love Affair is over…

You know how the beginning stages of love is absolute bliss? How you’re willing to overlook the little things with no regard of the long term effects because you’re so busy being in love?  That was how I used to feel about New York City.  My family left New York right before I became a teenager and my thoughts were always to return on my own.  And I did just that!  I graduated from High School  and came straight to New York for college and  to make it!   Because “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” … Yeah OK,I’m ready for making it anywhere else ….

A few years ago, quite a few years ago I started feeling myself turning into that grump or rather that  jaded New Yorker and would deny it whenever the typecasting was bestowed upon me. Who me? Nooooo! Never! But yes me and here’s the short list as to the why’s:

the MOST prevalent — I’ve developed a serious need of boundaries and space. (But I love to hug)

I no longer think it’s charming to be surrounded by filth, particularly with so many trash cans available.

I think it’s rude to NOT acknowledge when accidentally bumping into another person.

I think smelly pee smell on the older subway cars and in the stations, regularly, is gross.

Being served attitude with my food when I didn’t see it or order it from the menu, just WRONG.

I do not enjoy picking the wrong seat on the subway and ending up with a stranger’s rear end on my shoulder.

It’s strange to me that no one walks on the right but then again if you’ve never HAD to drive you’re completely unaware of this courtesy.

I think attempting to read the NY Times in close quarters is ridiculous. You’re gonna flick some one with its pages and why are you surprised when they then roll their eyes at you? ugh.

Seriously! seeing a homeless person drop their pants in front of your JUST parked vehicle and POOP with the headlights still shining on their butt is uncalled for…

The long lines at the Union Square Trader Joe’s are silly to me.

The tunnels at Grand Central and Port Authority have been avoided for many many years due to being squished by the suits making the mad dash to the train they’re about to miss.

The small to midsized  music venues I used to enjoy are long gone…

Scaffolding!  It’s everywhere and you barely ever notice the repairs.

I have become painfully aware that unless you are from a wealthy family how difficult it is to save  for anything and I work hard so it just doesn’t add up.

I think its kinda gross that the SAME sandwich I pay $3 for in Brooklyn cost $6.50 in Manhattan

I’m sad that whenever I leave the city for little vacays, the return is such a chore. The trip from the 3 major airports in the metroplitan area are insane!

I know that it is just a sign of maturing and that MY need for a better daily visual is more prevelant now than in my teens or twenties…Many of my friends are artists and when they start speaking to me about wanting to live here, let’s just say the tourist board would not be happy with me and I know it’ s because my love affair is over and ya know what bitter taste like at the end dontcha?

It’s just that everything I found charming is now alarming. I’m just sorry I didn’t follow the wisdom that was imparted to me many years ago which is once you’ve lived in New York for more than 10 years it is very difficult to leave. Good Lord this is true but not a deterrent.  I recognize my mistake  and I held on too long. No one likes to admit their failures with relationships but I will learn from mine…

I have an exodus plan and in the mean time, I will stick close to my loved ones, hear their counsel and continue to take yoga until I become the big city’s tourist. Yeah I would come back to visit, not all of my friends have desserted the island, just the sane ones

More later…

 

Day One – Bikram Yoga 30 Day Challange

Mission accomplished although it was a warbly one. My first day of the 30 day challenge was today, May 16th at 6pm.

I laugh at the most awkward situations and found myself giggling in my head intermittently. The Bikram yoga practice begins in a standing series and I kept repeating lock your knee, lock your knee, lock your knee and it just didn’t work. My left knee has not yet fully received that transmission while standing. And good lord once we got to the floor series, the effort it takes to lock both knees and keep them off the floor was an exhausting exercise.

I managed to keep the grimace in my head because our teacher had the most interesting cadence in keeping us focused. She has a bit of a growl when stressing a point within a pose. It was as if she were speaking through clenched teeth for us. I found it charming because that was what I wanted to do but would have sucked out whatever energy I had left from concentrating on the locking my knees.

Once I realized I was “white top”, I was pleased to have an honorable mention for both half moon and to my surprise during triangle as well. For a moment, when she said “good job Lisa” during the standing head to knee pose I was thrilled and then the light bulb went off, “there must be another Lisa in the class because we’ve never met and I was still in the first part of the pose, without the leg extension, trying to lock the knee, lock the knee and find my balance. It wasn’t me. But that didn’t stop me from trying. It actually made me do better every time I heard Lisa’s name. We giggled about it in the changing room later.

All in all I was pleased because I made it through class without taking a knee. Giggled at myself when I fell out of both eagle and bow pose and lead the class in raising our arms above our heads ahead of schedule before standing separate leg stretch, when the instruction was only “deep breath in deep breath out”…we all laughed, teacher included as we all followed me…

I managed to multi tasked and envisioned the future when my body parts would be able to get outta the way for standing separate leg head to knee pose and my most dreaded pose, Locust pose…I’m not worried, for me it’s a practice, not a competition.

Looking forward to 10am class tomorrow.