The Hokey Pokey from H - E - Double Toothpicks

A.K.A. The Chinese Torture Chamber

Six months ago I switched to Bikram's Hot Yoga after spending seven years of practicing Hatha style postures. I was quite delighted that Bob also joined with me and we have been practicing a minimum of three times a week. He goes more often than me!

Today I realized that this decision has taken me completely away from my 20 year relationship with my chiropractor. I quite miss Dr. Jim but I can't say that I miss the back pains. (I really do miss my doc. He's been like a therapist to me)

I often think of the hokey pokey as the instructor tells you to put your right foot in and your left foot out and to bend your knee until your leg looks like L for Linda (charmed, I'm sure). That is where the similarities stop because we do not 'shake it all about' but we hold the postures and breathe deeply until the Torturer tells you to release it.

Today I got the giggles because I had a new instructor that had a VERY thick Asian accent and to top it off he was wearing a Speedo (TMI). I kept thinking about Bethany teaching ESL in Japan and her students saying, "Oh my got." He turned out to be one of the best teachers I've had to date as he had his own way of explaining and demonstrating for us. I've gotten pretty good at interpreting accents and followed along quite nicely.

Why put myself through the 'torture'? They say that we will all pay for health care one way or another. We either pay big bucks for doctors and prescriptions or we will pay big bucks for exercise classes or p.e. equipment like good running shoes. I prefer to endeavor to stay healthy through the latter and that requires my weekly discipline and practice. Sometimes I feel like I put myself on a conveyer belt that takes me through a gauntlet but I love how I feel when I come through to the other side.

The picture is of our instructor Barb who is in Italy this summer singing her little heart out. She is an opera singer and I was able to to attend the Vancouver Opera this spring to see her in The Italian Girl in Algiers. Barb is not Italian but from the prairies. Her 80 year old grandma still can't wrap her head around the fact that her little grandaughter teaches yoga. Often Barb ends our practice with an aria (without the music of course). Her lungs are amazing because of yoga breath.

Post Script: I bought goldfish crackers at Extra Foods today and have been eating them in honor of my Sam as I typed this blog. A girl has to keep her strength up and needs to find ways to continue to feel connected to her grandson across the miles. I just don't have a spill proof bowl to eat them out of. . .