Tuesday, July 04, 2006

And Here's Where She Gets All Flaky

Just back from a yoga class a little while ago. Man alive, I love yoga. Six months ago, if someone had told me I'd say that, I woulda spit in their eye between gales of laughter. But here I am, trying to find yoga centres in DC so I don't have to go for 5 days without a class.

Even the chanting! But only because it's Jamine asking, and she's funny and kooky and she's flaky, but in a self-consciously sweet way.

I like the results too. Physically, I like being able to touch my toes again. Before starting, I could only get my fingertips down to mid-shin, and now I can touch the floor no problem. That is one big fucking difference when you're trying to tie your boots up. And I can't stop feeling my triceps. That's right, you heard me, triceps. Take that, flappy skin.

It also fits in fairly well with my masochistic tendencies. Very easy to push yourself to where the stretches hurt, where you think you can't stand it, almost to the breaking point, that point where the endorphins kick in and gag the superego.

So none of that is flaky. Triceps aren't flaky. Masochism isn't flaky. But just you hold on.

What I've enjoyed most about yoga is the inner peace. That's right, you heard me, inner peace. I heard that snort, and keep it down, motherfucker. Situations that would have freaked me out (oh, like, say a lack of sex for two months - more on that tomorrow), are now much easier to deal with.

I'm also having a much easier time listening to my gut and trusting what my gut is telling my cunt, my heart and my head. Those last three will fuck you over for their own twisted purposes, but the gut? She knows what's up. For some reason that I'm attributing to yoga, I'm much better able to pull that thread out and listen to the wisdom.

Yoga gave me the centre to break up with [ex-boyfriend]. I think that could have dragged on, and dragged us out, for months (years?) more, if I hadn't pulled out the three-part breath and said, "I can't be with you anymore". And remembered to keep breathing through the next brutal week. And remembered that after all the pain, there would still be another breath.

All in all, I love it and am happy with myself for doing it.

Last thing: ohhhhh, the floatiness. I love to just wander around after a class, looking at things and not thinking.

[edited August 27]

2 comments:

4th Dwarf said...

I've been wondering why yoga has become such a big thing with the women and just what the impact of it will be.

Now I find out that it's helping you break up with guys and go extended periods without sex.

Things are starting to fall into place.

Asteroidea Press said...

Now now, Dwarf. If you're not the kind of guy that is practically begging to be broken up with, then you have nothing to fear from the yoga calm of women.

I must point out, however, that most of my classes are at least 1/3 men. I should do a poll - maybe they're breaking up with their lovemates, too.