RIMYI update

On Friday night Feb. 4, Geetaji taught an asana class focusing on standing poses. Abhi and Gulnaz were on stage demonstrating along side her. Although this was the advanced class, Geeta taught us from basic instructions you would instruct beginners to incrementally more complex instructions for the "experts." As instructions became more difficult to managed, we knew right there what level we were at. Geeta seemed to be enjoying teaching us. At times she wanted to make adjustments on Abhi but then would hesitate and say, no, she wasn't to do any manual adjustments and so Gulnaz or Raya would come in to do the adjusting on Abhi. Geeta taught 1 1/2 hours of the 2 hour class and then Abhi took over the Sirsasana (headstand), Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) and Savasana.

Geeta's words were precise and eyes keen. She wanted all the newcomers to come to the front of the stage so she could watch them. That meant most of the senior teachers had to move back.

Saturday's ladies class was taught by Abhi, directed by Guruji. These classes taught by Abhi (directed by Guruji) have been full of brilliant instructions by Guruji channeled thru Abhi. Before coming here, I had many second thoughts about whether this form of teaching would be satisfying to me. Well, the answer is an absolute yes. The teaching has been challenging, motivating and exciting. Every class has so much new information. Every day I try to apply some of this new information in my practice. Now I know what he means when he says our practice should not get stagnant. I believe my practice had been getting stagnant because when energy gets blocked, the mind does so too.

Although Guruji is nearing 93, it is as though he is getting younger. I swear he looks and acts younger then he did 2 years. ago. It is truly inspiring and astonishing to watch the man in action whether he is in practice, instructing Abhi, adjusting in medical classes or conversing in the library. He has been in medical classes this entire week, primarily I think because there has been this big wig who is some high mucky muck with the Dalai Lama that Guruji is working with.

I'll write more on medical classes in a future entry.