Garurasana

Class Six of Thirty

(5pm, 6th June, taught by Rachel)

Two good classes on the trot... dare I think I have turned a corner?! Yep, that's right, had another good class tonight. Was quite an odd one to be honest. Arrived early, got a nice spot in the second row then people started arriving, then more, then more... and in the spirit of being nice I thought I ought to move forward as it was getting a bit clogged up at the back but then in walks Rachel and class began so I could have got away with being where I was... oh well, so much for mister nice guy!!!

It felt like a hot one and as soon as Rachel got in she noticed that the mat from under the door in the corner had been moved and got Sharan to move it back (Just for the record that had nothing to do with me, even though it would have been welcomed!). None the less I managed to get through the whole class without the extra air... After the class I saw Sharan as I was leaving and she asked if I was OK, I said that I was and that I had enjoyed the class tonight and she said that she thought I had been in pain throughout the class... I think she had mistaken my 'I am concentrating very hard'-face for my 'Oh my God this is hell'-face... an easy mistake to make! (Mental note to self: Work on those faces!!!)

Highlights of tonight I think were some strong back bends, as I have said before that is no real surprise, but then there was tonight's Pada-Hastasana... I have also already said that I have struggled with this posture but tonight I managed to get a nice deep stretch and no hip-popping!

So tonight's posture is Garurasana, Eagle Pose. (OK, I get the palms together under the nose may, at a push, look like an eagle's beak, but beyond that, I don't get the eagle reference!) As for my experience of this posture it is one that is very much a mixed blessing. Similarly to Utkatasana this is one the postures that I could identify personal progress in from fairly early on, which is great. However, now I know where my body is meant to be in the posture it has become one that I just can't slack on!!! As this is the last of the 'warm-up' postures I can't be blamed for liking the idea of of being able to chill a little towards the end, but no! Once you have your foot hooked around, with all 5 toes showing, there is no where to go but deep into the posture. Now once you have accepted that fact there is the realisation that you will effectively have all of your body weight over and through one bent leg... and that requires one hell of a lot of concentration. Of all of the postures I think that this is one of the ones I most rely on seeing myself in the mirror. (One of the others is Padangustana - Toe stand, but more of that later!)

One of the other things about Eagle is that it is probably the first posture in the series that really feels like Yoga... it has all the elements of twisted limbs and 'just how do they do that?' about it to make you feel like you are really practicing some mystic art. This means that there is a temptation to practice this posture at home... Now that is great, and some gentle practice should surely be applauded, but one word of advice... DO NOT TRY THIS POSTURE AFTER A FEW BEERS (or whatever your tipple may be)... This posture requires concentration and balance, and after a couple bravado just doesn't cut it!!! (Think about it, when you fall sideways you have to unwrap your arms before you can put them down to stop yourself... and that takes a time , and when falling time is something you just aint got! And yes, before you ask, this is the voice of experience talking!)

You guessed it...it's the science part:

'The Eagle supplies fresh blood to the sexual organs and the kidneys, increasing sexual power and control. It helps firm calves, thighs, hips, abdomen, and upper arms. It also improves flexibility of the hip. knee, and ankle joints.' (Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, also available from the Leicester Bikram Studio) So yes folks... this is yogic Viagra!!!!

You guessed it - off to perfect Savanasa!