Sundays Yoga Class Canceled (February 28)
Ina is still in Florida
Tonight’s yoga class in Rhinebeck is canceled due to snow
Well, no posting or tweeting for a week now.
Everyone we know is OK from the blast, except for a friend of Vasant R’s, who is also here in Pune doing a meditation retreat out by the Osho Ashram near the German Bakery. Her friend Nadya, who was part of the intimate meditation group she is in, was the Italian who died. I spoke with Vasant the day after the blast. She had been visiting the hospitals and spoke stunned of the disaster and mess she saw there of bodies and injuiries. The thing was, although the German Bakery is an international spot, it was mostly young Indian kids who got hurt. College kids on their Saturday night out. The really horrible thing is that the bag was under a table, so most of these kids are burned very badly on their legs, or worse yet, had to have them amputated because the were so destroyed by the blast. 11 dead now. Over 50 injured. But rest of Pune goes on like nothing happened, only with slightly heightened security at sensitive areas like movie theatres. At the colleges there are candlelight memorial services for the kids who died. We at the Institute are instructed not to congregate by the coconut wala, (the man who sells coconuts from his cart) where we ususally hang out after class drinking coconut water and eating the tender malai (insides)…. lest the Institute itself becomes a “soft” target. But, it won’t, it’s “off the radar” in most guide books. The German Bakery is a famous spot, the blast was just to create a scene. Who knows who really did it and why. It’s India. All sorts of things are going on. Today’s report is that the bag was probably remotely detonated and there are 2 suspicious men spotted on the security cameras from the hotel across the street. Someone will get arrested, someone will take blame or credit, and probably nothing will change. The Bakery will rebuild, just like the Taj and Leopold’s in Mumbai.
Me, after Saturday’s disaster, I got a cold on Monday night. I hate getting sick in India. Because even the smallest illness hits me hard. Real hard. Today (Friday) is the first day I’ve been out of the room. And I’m only down one floor in our hotel where there is somewhat intermittent internet service. Being sick in India, whether it is stomach or sinus or chest is a drag. It’s hot(ish)- is it fever, hot flash, or the heat? Flipping through Hindi movies on tv w/o subtitles, endless news accounts about the blast and the Naxal (communist) violence in the North Eastern states (456 died since 2009 from terrorism, 1012 died from Naxals), and movie ads. No good movies on. Trying to sleep, feeling horrible physically, feeling horrible mentally about missing classes… etc. etc. etc.
I’ll try to make it to the Institute this evening for the Friday night class. But not sure. Do I go in the back and do the “sickie” sequence? (After a week of already doing the mensturation sequence last week, oh so boring) or sit on the stairs and watch? and what about the swine flu warning? Am I non-contagious enough to even be there? Cheryl got my cold already from either Sunday’s or Monday’s brief hello. Darn. I don’t want to give it to the Iyengars prior to the wedding party next week.
And then about the classes!! (At least the ones I have attended). They have been a combination of amazing and disappointing. Amazing in all the teaching, still disappointing in how angry Geeta is and all the shouting. Such a bummer. I mean, she has reason to be angry: retiring and still seeing the same stupid mistakes from people. How frustrating that must be. The teaching has been about working more intellingently in the asana, more than do this and do that. Which is good. And Guruji: still amazing.
OK, I need to lie down and rest. I’m hot. It’s just heat and illness flush, not fever. But still need to be horizontal. I’ll post more soon. Thanks to all for your email concerns, but connection is too slow to email you all back individually. I love you all.
For some really nice detailed updates about classes and things going on here, go to the New York Iyengar Teachers Pune Blog. Mostly written by Richard Jonas and Bobby Clennell.
http://iyagnyinpune.blogspot.com/
Yes, there was a bomb blast of some sort in Pune. At the German Bakery, which is out by the Osho Ashram… some 7 miles away from where we are. So far all yoga students are accounted for. They are not sure if it was a real bomb or just a gas cylinder explosion. News still coming in. But we are fine. No worries.
Wednesday, February 10: the 4:30pm Level I/II yoga class at Mountain
View Studio is cancelled due to snow.
who came to Mountain View Studio last week. Julie became horribly under the weather at the last minute. If you drove all the way to class and missed her, she’ll give you a free class THIS Monday. Apologies from all!
Hello Yogis.
This will be my blog account while I’m in India. Chit Chat, etc. So it doesn’t clog up the Barbara Boris Woodstock Yoga site. Check in occasionally and see what I’m up to in India. I’m also on Twitter: www.twitter.com/woodstockyoga
Hari OM!
Stuck in the new modern Domestic Terminal. Flight super delayed because of Fog. Delhi Fog in January is notorious. Had originally a 5 hour wait; now delayed by at least 2 more hours. Waiting in the Premium Lounge: $20, all you can eat, free WiFi, nice chairs, Lavazza Coffee. But bad Muzak. Ouch! And now the cricket match, which I thought I could watch ont he nice super TV has been suspended because of bad visibility.
I’ve been up for untold number of hours. Do not envy me for going to India. It’s a true travel effort. I left at 3:30 am Saturday morning… What day/time is it? I have no idea. And that was with no sleep. (!) I won’t arrive at my final “beachy” destination for at least 5 more hours. I just hope the staff wakes me for my flight as promised.
Sign in and find me at “woodstockyoga”
I will also have a personal blog. This site will be for class and yoga info only.
Boo hoo, but it’s time to get out of “Dodge.” See you this evening:
LEVEL I-II CLASS, 4:30-6
Mountain View Studio
I’m tired, so half the class will be restorative. I always restore myself teaching YOU restorative! See you then, or in March.
OM