fajrdrako | Imperfect yoga....

Over the last few days I've been doing yoga at the theatre at lunchtime. I like doing it then: it doesn't interfere with the rest of the day, it's a relaxing way to unwind during the work day, and I have plenty of space in the Green Room.

Privacy is another matter. On Monday I wanted somewhere relatively quiet to meditate but there were people talking in the Green Room - people who aren't usually in the building in the daytime at all. There were things happening in every room I checked, so finally I ended up in the darkened auditorium, sitting at the back. The stage was lit, but that was it. When the cleaner walked in I said "hello," thinking it was only fair to let him know he wasn't alone in the room. He did a double-take. People don't usually sit alone in darkened theatres.

Yesterday, there was someone around helping out with wardrobe work, who has studied yoga himself. I'm not sure how much. When he saw me doing utthita trikonasana he nodded approval. After I'd done my entire routine and my session of meditation (in kneeling pose), I went to have lunch and he was in the kitchen. "I wasn't sure you'd still be doing that when I came back in," he said. "You were. It looks good on you."

I'm not sure what that means, but I'll take it as a compliment.

Today, while I was in the middle of garudasana (a balancing pose), another staff member stormed in, upset by something that had happened in her office. When I assured her she wasn't bothering me (and it wasn't her fault I fell off my left foot) she grumped about her office problems, and asked me questions about yoga, and then elected to meditate when I did, though she did it in her chair. Afterwards, we discussed technique and breathing exercises. I hope it all calmed her down and cheered her up - I think it did. She said she was glad to see that other people (meaning me) didn't do yoga perfectly. Right. I would if I could.