On stage with Bikram with my monkey joints - and my lazy-mind triangle
This week one of my classes was the day I got called onto the podium during our evening class. Imagine… being in the yoga zone - when Boss catches your eye contact and points directly at you and says “YOU! Come up here.” Yesterday he had some lady show off her backbend. Today, I had no idea what the fuck he wanted me to do for him. Could be anything - you know what I am saying? And so I ran up the stairs to the giant podium. You see, I walked in the room and the only spots were available were smack dab in front of the podium. Good thing I felt refreshed, right? You can’t fuck up in the front or else it’s going to be hell. I mean Hell with a capitol H…
So, he had me demonstrate my freaky shoulder flexibility. I’ve always known my shoulders weren’t average. When I first started, they appeared maybe like everyone else’s. Then one day, I could touch my forearms to my cheeks during the breathing exercise. This is what he wanted to show my friends. He had me do it 3 times on the tall, tall podium. I didn’t think my arm positioning was really all that spectacular, until he had me demonstrate, you know? I was like, “oh yeah that’s only because I’m you know… weird.” Or something?
Okay, I guess it’s more than just weirdness, but maybe just a positive. You can bet Boss only brings the best expression of the form to show everyone. So crazy. It was even during the middle of half moon pose - suddenly I glanced up out of my yoga trance and he was staring straight at me. We caught eye contact and he said, “YOU! COME UP ON THE PODIUM!” I think any time Bikram is talking to you like this, your heart jumps out of your chest for half a second.
I sprinted to the super high mirror podium, figuring out where the stairs were to get up to the sky where he stands and watches over the crowd of us. I was in total disbelief, but these things happen fast so really I just moved with it. My millisecond thought was, “oh goddess… what exactly is he bringing me up here for?” I had no idea.
He of course asked me to do my breathing exercise. Then I realized. Oh, I’m a demonstrator. Seriously - I had no idea. Everyone clapped - now, I actually appreciated the clapping. Even though I’m so through with the clapping. This group claps for EVERYTHING! Digression… Bikram had me do it 3 directions so every group could see how my forearms touch my cheeks, and how high my elbows go up. It’s pretty humbling when a lot of your fellow students come up and comment later on how beautiful your pose was. Wowzers. And also being 2 feet away from Boss on a podium that is… frankly a few feet above head level. Initially I was trying to do it further away from the edge of that podium, but he said, “no, no. Go forward! It’s okay! You won’t fall.” Of course… I’m not even scared of heights.!!
Anyways, he said, “that is what we call maybe a little bit double jointed,” as he let me leave, you know - it’s the “be careful! It’s hard getting down.” I’m amazed at how caring he can sound with his voice. Even when he’s being mean, I actually find it endearing……….
So, I went back to my towel mat… but as always, I find my quads get the microshakes after any direct interaction with Bikram. And I’m not a particularly nervous type person. I have no idea what THAT is about?! Doing the next pose and a half was hard because my knees were just a little jello.
Now, being in the very front of the podium means Bikram will no doubt see every single pose you do. This is what I paid for, no? Fortunately I knew my triangle was a fucking mess. We got there and I did my best - but he noticed how jacked up it was. He has no nickname for me. My nickname is YOU!
You! Sit down! Get your ass in the grass! Why you not touching your toes?! (Because I was so busy focusing on my hips not being so far low, that I figured touching my toes was impossible). So his correction came, “Push down! Down!!” So I did, in spite of some excruciating hip pain (seriously) I pushed, and pushed and then I was able to touch my toes (he guided me to that point). “Why no one ever correct you before! Where do you practice?!??!” I told him, of course he said, when I told her who,…. Annette… “I kill her!!! You can touch your toes! You know what your problem is? Lazy mind!!!!”
I just snickered under my breath a little. Lazy mind, indeed. ;) Actually, sometimes I am kinda lazy. Maybe he’s right. I realized after a lot of introspecting (not insulted by Bikram at all for this correction - but honored, honestly). A couple of things about Boss and his corrections:
1- He corrects people he can tell can go further in a posture
2- He corrects people when he knows you can really get something out of it
3- He corrects people who are totally not trying
4- He corrects people when he knows he can make it WAY easier with a tiny tweak
I would say my triangle was 1 and 2. Because the rest of that day, my goal was to fix my damn triangle. And suddenly my next 2 classes, my triangle was suddenly working………….. see what I mean?
Listen to him, and you’ve got gold, seriously. Ass in the grass man. Pain be damned, yeah? So when I have the strength in classes, I will do my best to open up those hips. Poor, stupid, tight hips.
But that’s cool. So, I got a balanced Bikram experience.
The other ladies kissed him on the cheek when he had them come up and demonstrate. Don’t think that’s my style. Besides. I was too busy being shocked that he called me up. Literally like, “what? What planet are we on again?” You know? As I left the stage he did say, “we call those monkey joints. Like my Japanese mother. She just like her.”
Lol. Thanks, Boss. Monkey joints.
Ahhhh, anyway. I would write more but I am running out of time. And I need to study dialogue. Next posture is coming quick. This weekend I will relax in the sun with my dialogue. In my bikini. In Los Angeles. On the BEACH! I can't describe quite how happy I am here. How energized. AS a final side note. I don't think I've been this happy in ages...I can feel my life shifting. I can see the amazing tough, wonderful work ahead of me. And I'm going to savor all of it. Good and Rough - every moment so far has elated me. Enjoy everything!!!
-Angela
PS... sorry if some of this repeats itself. I wrote it 2 different times and was so hurried I didn't have time to really fix it!
So, he had me demonstrate my freaky shoulder flexibility. I’ve always known my shoulders weren’t average. When I first started, they appeared maybe like everyone else’s. Then one day, I could touch my forearms to my cheeks during the breathing exercise. This is what he wanted to show my friends. He had me do it 3 times on the tall, tall podium. I didn’t think my arm positioning was really all that spectacular, until he had me demonstrate, you know? I was like, “oh yeah that’s only because I’m you know… weird.” Or something?
Okay, I guess it’s more than just weirdness, but maybe just a positive. You can bet Boss only brings the best expression of the form to show everyone. So crazy. It was even during the middle of half moon pose - suddenly I glanced up out of my yoga trance and he was staring straight at me. We caught eye contact and he said, “YOU! COME UP ON THE PODIUM!” I think any time Bikram is talking to you like this, your heart jumps out of your chest for half a second.
I sprinted to the super high mirror podium, figuring out where the stairs were to get up to the sky where he stands and watches over the crowd of us. I was in total disbelief, but these things happen fast so really I just moved with it. My millisecond thought was, “oh goddess… what exactly is he bringing me up here for?” I had no idea.
He of course asked me to do my breathing exercise. Then I realized. Oh, I’m a demonstrator. Seriously - I had no idea. Everyone clapped - now, I actually appreciated the clapping. Even though I’m so through with the clapping. This group claps for EVERYTHING! Digression… Bikram had me do it 3 directions so every group could see how my forearms touch my cheeks, and how high my elbows go up. It’s pretty humbling when a lot of your fellow students come up and comment later on how beautiful your pose was. Wowzers. And also being 2 feet away from Boss on a podium that is… frankly a few feet above head level. Initially I was trying to do it further away from the edge of that podium, but he said, “no, no. Go forward! It’s okay! You won’t fall.” Of course… I’m not even scared of heights.!!
Anyways, he said, “that is what we call maybe a little bit double jointed,” as he let me leave, you know - it’s the “be careful! It’s hard getting down.” I’m amazed at how caring he can sound with his voice. Even when he’s being mean, I actually find it endearing……….
So, I went back to my towel mat… but as always, I find my quads get the microshakes after any direct interaction with Bikram. And I’m not a particularly nervous type person. I have no idea what THAT is about?! Doing the next pose and a half was hard because my knees were just a little jello.
Now, being in the very front of the podium means Bikram will no doubt see every single pose you do. This is what I paid for, no? Fortunately I knew my triangle was a fucking mess. We got there and I did my best - but he noticed how jacked up it was. He has no nickname for me. My nickname is YOU!
You! Sit down! Get your ass in the grass! Why you not touching your toes?! (Because I was so busy focusing on my hips not being so far low, that I figured touching my toes was impossible). So his correction came, “Push down! Down!!” So I did, in spite of some excruciating hip pain (seriously) I pushed, and pushed and then I was able to touch my toes (he guided me to that point). “Why no one ever correct you before! Where do you practice?!??!” I told him, of course he said, when I told her who,…. Annette… “I kill her!!! You can touch your toes! You know what your problem is? Lazy mind!!!!”
I just snickered under my breath a little. Lazy mind, indeed. ;) Actually, sometimes I am kinda lazy. Maybe he’s right. I realized after a lot of introspecting (not insulted by Bikram at all for this correction - but honored, honestly). A couple of things about Boss and his corrections:
1- He corrects people he can tell can go further in a posture
2- He corrects people when he knows you can really get something out of it
3- He corrects people who are totally not trying
4- He corrects people when he knows he can make it WAY easier with a tiny tweak
I would say my triangle was 1 and 2. Because the rest of that day, my goal was to fix my damn triangle. And suddenly my next 2 classes, my triangle was suddenly working………….. see what I mean?
Listen to him, and you’ve got gold, seriously. Ass in the grass man. Pain be damned, yeah? So when I have the strength in classes, I will do my best to open up those hips. Poor, stupid, tight hips.
But that’s cool. So, I got a balanced Bikram experience.
The other ladies kissed him on the cheek when he had them come up and demonstrate. Don’t think that’s my style. Besides. I was too busy being shocked that he called me up. Literally like, “what? What planet are we on again?” You know? As I left the stage he did say, “we call those monkey joints. Like my Japanese mother. She just like her.”
Lol. Thanks, Boss. Monkey joints.
Ahhhh, anyway. I would write more but I am running out of time. And I need to study dialogue. Next posture is coming quick. This weekend I will relax in the sun with my dialogue. In my bikini. In Los Angeles. On the BEACH! I can't describe quite how happy I am here. How energized. AS a final side note. I don't think I've been this happy in ages...I can feel my life shifting. I can see the amazing tough, wonderful work ahead of me. And I'm going to savor all of it. Good and Rough - every moment so far has elated me. Enjoy everything!!!
-Angela
PS... sorry if some of this repeats itself. I wrote it 2 different times and was so hurried I didn't have time to really fix it!