Yoga Sucks

"Yoga Sucks"-- Ricky Tran

I'm not certain I've ever been to a yoga class where the instructor (somewhat jokingly) said exactly what was I thinking at the moment and everyone (all 60 or so of us) laughed. Yoga at that very moment did indeed, suck. I was mid-day on day 2 of the Texas Yoga Conference. (The day before taught a 90 min yoga class and 60 minute pilates, followed by a Forest Yoga, Partner yoga, then a class with Robert Boustany. Then, got up on Saturday and repeated most of day 1....) By mid-day, wow, his "lotus" (hip opening preparations for padmasana) workshop felt both amazing and over-the-top for my tight texas hips.

He shared with us a Mantra which I had not heard before but after taking his class, was completely appropriate:

Saha navavatu

Saha nau bhunaktu

Saha virvam karavavahai

tejasvi navadhitamastu

Ma vidvisavajhai

Om santih santih santih

"May we be protected when we come together. May we study with vigor and strength. May we glow, be brilliant and lustrous from our studies. May there be no enmity, bad feelings between us."

Vigor and strength but more importantly, what I took away from his class was if you're not having fun or it hurts, you're doing it wrong. Of course, this was after he'd demonstrated a handstand in lotus on one hand! Seriously, it doesn't have to suck.