Two books in progess that I've had so little time for (the Bhagavad Gita and The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal), but I finished my teaching practicum yesterday and the exam today, and I wanted to indulge myself since I have nothing due tomorrow. The Bhagavad Gita is yogic philosophical discourse, Lacuna Cabal is a modern novel about a book club in Montreal recreating The Epic of Gilgamesh, both have connections to the study of yoga, although I didn't realize it with Lacuna Cabal when I started it.
I read a little more of Lacuna Cabal when I got back to the room, but then an hour or so ago, on a whim, I put it down and picked up Hot House Flowers and the 9 Plants of Desire. The jacket said something about plants (which I love), mystery (ditto), and adventure (yes). On page 46, a friend of the main character tells her to take up yoga, that it will relax her more than alprazolam:
"Yoga nidra, the yoga of sleep. Pranayama, control of the breath. Hatha yoga, O gentle yoga of service."
"O nutjob, what the hell is the yoga of sleep?"
"It's when you practice staying awake in your sleep so that your mind is awake while your body is sleeping."
I went to 2 Hatha yoga classes on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Decided to try Yoga Nidra on the very last class. Wow! What an experience. We've been learning and practicing various pranayama (breath control) techniques since we got here, along with mantras, mudras, and asanas. There are only about 2 sentences in the manual about Yoga Nidra, but our teacher advised us to try it, so on Sunday I did. I could learn to love that experience!
Tonight, I begin a new novel, and although the novel is not at all about yoga (plants, a mystery, and adventure), it is another interesting coincidence. I truly cannot seem to escape from this summer's yoga theme.
I'm yoga-ed out, and it just keeps coming.
A glass of wine and a shower, and then to bed.
Yoga Nidra is a new idea to me and one that I find rather frightening. This is probably because there are various commonly prescribed medicines that put me into a state where I appear to be sleeping but my mind is going nineteen to the dozen and my 'sleep' does nothing for me at all. I assume this is something different. I shall have to ask my yoga teacher about it.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! I just love when synchronicity happens!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing up your classes! I'm sure you feel a sense of relief and accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteLike Robin, I too just love it when synchronicity happens. It gives an extra little thrill for some reason.
"A glass of wine and a shower, and then to bed."
JenClair, every night should end thus!