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Just noticed on the list of keywords people used to find me today:

ashtanga kapotasana tingly foot

Whoever used those words to find this blog, I have a little something to say: I imagine you got here and found out it was mostly because I keep saying kapotasana. Sorry about that. Not sure where I mentioned “tingly,” but I imagine it was in relation to The Cop. “Foot,” was probably from the time I cut my toenails too short, a mistake I’ve not made again.

Anyhow, I’ve been thinking about “kapotasana” and “tingly” together lately, and even considered writing a little about it this morning, but other things got in the way. I am not having a tingly foot in kapotasana, but I am having some significant tingles in my triceps, upper back and shoulders. Actually, the triceps sensation is more like “awful pulling pain,” but the shoulders and upper back are definitely tingly. Under the left shoulderblade there is what feels like electrical sensations and pings and tingles. And in various spots across the upper back there are all sorts of weird sensation spots.

I am very confused when I am in kapotasana, so it’s hard for me to say exactly where all the pings and tingles happen, but I get the impression that they kind of move around each day. They felt freaky at first, and a little frightening. I was brought up to fear physical sensation and anything that wasn’t “normal,” so in order to overcome my early training and actually accomplish ANYTHING, I try not to (over)react. Turns out, I am usually just fine, no matter what a particular situation (including any given asana situation) brings up.

The tingles are nerves, I’m guessing, and maybe muscles that are being asked to move in directions to which they are not accustomed. Or maybe it’s just my mind moving. Regardless. I’ve heard of people getting buzzing in their ears and going deaf (not permanently!) in difficult poses, and I’m thrilled that people share this info, because it helps me feel like all the sensations I run into are probably perfectly normal, or within bounds of whatever people who want to do kapotasana in the first place might consider normal.

So good luck, keyworder. The tingles are a-okay.

Yay, a day off. I kept putting off my day off last week, because of the last Mysore practice at the old shala on one day, then last led class at the old place the next day, then first improv class at the new one (couldn’t miss that!), and then yesterday, first Mysore practice. I was very ready to sleep in this morning. I guess Tuesday may be my new day off. Do I really have to take one?

Honestly, this backbending work is intense: I feel kind of disoriented emotionally and my back is sore! Not the lower back, but all through the upper back. Interesting stuff is even going on in the intercostals. I ordered the “rack,” which comes highly recommended by Linda. The place that makes these props is actually in the Phoenix area’s south valley (I’m in the northeast valley), so it ought to be arriving at the end of this week or beginning of next at the latest. I’m psyched! Really hoping this tool will help work out some of the upper back/shoulder stuff. Plus, if there’s one thing I love almost as much as little technology gadgets, it’s yoga stuff. I have my rope wall, my crash pad, and soon, my rack. Forget about turning Japanese; I’m turning Iyengar!

And in other object news: I have a new car. I’ve most recently owned (and deeply loved) an aqua 1996 Jeep Cherokee. It came with me on camping trips (perfect to sleep in, since I’m so little!) and climbing road trips (where even from 700 feet up, I could see its rectangular blue-green body safely ensconced on the earth I was praying I’d return to, ideally slowly, still attached to my rope and feet-first). The Cop, though, who loves to hang out in the garage and work on cars, knew that the only thing I could possibly love more than the old Cherokee was a nice Wrangler. So he procured a beautiful Sahara Wrangler, lifted it, gave it shiny wheels, and suggested I drive it. And I fell in love. Thanks, Cop!

A couple of days ago, he traded the Cherokee for an old CJ5. His new project. It was kind of sad seeing the Cherokee drive away. Funny, how we get attached to mechanical things.

One of my meetings just got cancelled because someone is sick. I now have two hours of time to actually work. Which means, time to blog! Nah. Just this little note. Now back to the grind.