Final Relaxation. Ommm…..
So I recently started taking yoga again (last time I did was like 5 or more years ago) to cross train a little with climbing. Mostly I want to do it for a few months to get back into better shape so I can start taking kick boxing again - not that I dislike Yoga, I like it, but I don’t love it. It takes good bit of motivation to get this downward facing dog out the door at 7:30am.
Anyhow, while I’m in a session I generally dig it - personally I prefer my yoga with more sweat and less philosophy, but whatevs, you know - I’m down with a few om’s at the end of class. The thing I dislike most about yoga is that damned “final relaxation” - where at the end of class after you’ve cooled down they dim the lights, you lie on your back unmoving, eyes closed for a whole bunch of minutes. In the program I’m in now, they’ve even got blankets and eye pillows for you if you want! For me this is a time of stressful struggle to stay awake.
Far from relaxing me, it’s quite a bit like driving a car while you’re about to fall asleep - you can’t close your eyes but damn they get heavy. Granted, you probably won’t die if you practice your narcolepsy in class but you probably also can’t slap your cheek or roll down the windows or turn up the radio. And it’s the fear… oh the fear of being that snoring guy that raises your stress levels.
I’m just saying, y’know? For realz, just end the class. Om shanti namaste peace out.
December 16th, 2007 at 2:45 am
The pose you mention is sometimes referred to as final shavasana. The pose is considered a hard pose to master because of what you’ve mentioned. In light of this, take a yoga class where they explain how to do this posture or take pilates if you don’t enjoy the meditative aspects of yoga.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:40 am
You know, I took a little matt pilates for that very reason - but I don’t know… for whatever reason I just didn’t enjoy it as much. I’ve been to yoga where they try and help you - reminding you to notice when your attention wanders and just let it happen then put the thoughts on a leaf and let them float down the river… my river got clogged up with leaves…
December 16th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Too many thought for such a small river! :p Why don’t you try leaving all this stuff to the hippies and go snowboarding again? C’mon, Howie can do it.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I can.. and do.
Why dont you just get a spot at the back of the class and slip out just as the lights go out. batman would.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:43 am
I can…. and do…. oh. shhhh.