Comments on: More Mysore, Kapo time, Asantosha

By: Terra

Terra — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:06:09 +0000

You: It’s really interesting to try to sort out what’s mine and what’s someone else’s. In the end, I wonder if that’s even possible…

Me: Ya, I don’t know if it is- maybe to a certain degree, but there will always be fuzziness. We are all flawed AND inherently good. Not everyone will make a good match.

Also, I wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog! I found it through Autumn Lotus Yoga and have added you to my blog roll which I hope is okay. If it isn’t please just let me know!

All the best!

By: (0v0)

(0v0) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:05:36 +0000

Hi Katherine; great to see you in these parts.

By: karen

karen — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:30:17 +0000

Hi Terra. Yes, I think about this a lot. Was just talking with my husband last night about my relationship with a past teacher — a situation that I have lots of feelings about but can’t quite clearly articulate.

I’m trying to resist turning it into a simple black-and-white story of “he did this” and “I did that” because I *know* a lot of what’s in my mind is my projections. And the fact that I was at a tough point — physically and emotionally — in my practice… well, surely that *has* to factor in, somehow.

It’s really interesting to try to sort out what’s mine and what’s someone else’s. In the end, I wonder if that’s even possible…

By: Terra

Terra — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:15:27 +0000

You: “I wonder if it isn’t more about a loss of faith in one’s self that then gets projected on the teacher. I wonder if that isn’t the root of teacher discontent.”

Me: Though I’ve never articulated it as such, that is exactly the case for me. Thank you for putting words to something that often comes up for me.

By: karen

karen — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:43:44 +0000

Hi Katherine, the candy cane is the bend in the thoracic area, and the triangle is the shape described by the body in kapotasana — the base being the lower legs and forearms, the sides being the upper and the lower body, respectively. When the backbend is really deep, the triangle is high, versus being collapsed. This is all just playful language shared by some of my fellow bloggers. I imagine my answer is exactly what you imagined?

Welcome!

By: katherine shriver

katherine shriver — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:15:11 +0000

Hi Karen, I was visiting Owl’s site and followed a link to yours. “Hi!” I’ve not poked about here yet, but I already have two questions for you. What is the ‘candycane’ in kapo? And what is the triangle? I’ve got some guesses but would rather learn what you mean. Thank you. Ah, and I like what you say about inner fortitude and feelings…. I find that distinction very comforting. peace

By: karen

karen — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:31:06 +0000

Improvement in supta vajrasana is the candy cane! So if SV is developing, so!s the candy cane.

And I just realized that a lot of my yesses — which marvelously transcend the physical — come from the cybershala. No one says much about it, but I’d vote yes to “Has computer-mediated communication transformed Ashtanga?”

By: patrick

patrick — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:19:07 +0000

To be perfectly honest, I’m stealing doses of yes from the weird fact that my cat-paw Kapo dropbacks are building my Supta Vajrasana hand-bind and yet do not seem to be building my Kapo

Love the mutual illusions (not/progress). Yes, ever good to keep an eye on this.

By: karen

karen — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:23:29 +0000

Hey Patrick, obviously I was thinking about your situation as I mulled this over during my drive. I get an illusion of progress that you don’t. And you get an illusion of not-progress (or severely limited progress). But really it’s the same thing either way. Practice & all is coming. The yes or no is entirely immaterial.

And, yes, I know it’s easier to accept that when there’s a teacher to dole out regular doses of yes.

By: patrick

patrick — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:59:52 +0000

This is the best description of my Kapo ever written by human hands. Thanks, Karen.