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Someone wrote recently on ezBoard about how genius it is, that once you get to the very end of your practice, there are backbends. You can’t totally exhaust yourself, because you’re going to need a little oomph to get through the backbending. I experienced the wonder of the sequence today. At the end of practice, I was sweaty and pretty empty, and then I looked over and saw that Volleyball Guy had built a little backbending prop out of blocks and sandbags against the wall. A little slope to practice on.

My first thought was “I’m going to fall on my head.” (As an aside, in artistic circles, “first thought, best thought” is often the rule of thumb. When it comes to physical challenges, though, first thought can often involve panic and a hypervigilant self-preservation instinct that might actually steer you to be more conservative than necessary.) Anyhow, my second thought, borne of the relaxation (or, perhaps, exhaustion) of the preceding series, was, “Eh, who cares?” So I gave it a go and did three dropbacks on my own. Not to the floor, but it was a nice start.

Practice was with another person. As I was walking in, Sanskrit Scholar was greeting a new person who apparently had just finished Volleyball Guy’s Intro to Ashtanga series of classes. Sanskrit Scholar asked if I’d practice next to the new gal to remind her of the sequence.

It’s kind of nice to practice that way occasionally. As noted before, I am not a touchy-feely natural teacher. But if someone wants to watch and work along with me, that’s fine. It’s kind of nice to slow down and split my consciousness a bit, so I can be aware of what the other person is doing and if they’re okay with the pace, etc.

A ways into seated poses, she started skipping the vinyasas between sides. It suddenly struck me how intense the series is. I forget. I think of third series practitioners and am awed, and I think of primary and assume it’s easy street. But of course it’s not. We’re just used to it.

A few Freeman thoughts during practice: what I am most remembering from practice to practice is the business about relaxing my mouth (not to suggest my mouth is actually relaxed — I am, however, at various points, realizing how unrelaxed it is, which is a kind of improvement), keeping my T12 area wide and relaxed, and rotating my shoulders. Also exaggerating the traction effect of the feet pulling on the mat during upward dog.

In Janusirsasana A, Volleyball Guy came over and adjusted me a bit. I have a very deep Janu A, especially on the first side, and he said, “I’m happy someone learned something this weekend!”

“You mean, the wings of my kidneys are open?” I asked, my face smooshed against my shin.

He started laughing and said, “The eyes of your buttocks are rotated back.”

“I can see you! I can see you” I exclaimed. Everyone who’d been in Tucson laughed hysterically. The new gal looked bemused.

She’ll find out soon enough.