Zubin on Zoom

Zubin is an inspired and gifted teacher. I've enjoyed my intensives with him over the years (2012, 2015, 2016) Usually in person at Yoga Centre Toronto, this time over Zoom.

Two classes, each two hours. He was teaching in Mumbai to one hundred students across the world. Time zones in Japan, India, Germany, Canada and the US had to be accommodated. I was skeptical when the opportunity came up, but signed up anyway as my past experiences have been so enlightening.

This was definitely not a 'gym-yoga' class, but a deeper experience of going inward and tasting the asanas in new ways, with the encouragement to develop mind-body-spirit awareness. Zubin invited everyone to really focus on the feelings and sensations arising through the sequence of asanas. 

How does your side body feel now... can you imprint this memory to recreate the upward lift in sirsana? How can you create a sensation of heaviness in your back leg to balance in Virabhadrasana III? When you lay your torso on your thigh, how does that make your spine feel?

Each session ended with a challenging pose. I've never tackled danurasana sirsana or sirsana padmasana at home, but after two hours of effort and focus was ready to try with the wonderful surprise that I was able to take on each posture. Intense and motivating.

danurasana sirsana

sirsana padmasana

This online class was different in many ways. I felt far less crowded than I would have in a room with one hundred other students, but also comparing myself less with others because I couldn't see them in my peripheral vision. I started the classes with less confidence about whether I was doing this or that pose with the 'right' alignment, but as time went on felt more trust in myself. At ease in my own space. 

When the class ended today Zubin wished some of us good morning, and others good night. Reflecting now I feel such a strong sense of connection with souls across the world who shared this brief experience. 

Life does have its moments.

Daily Bread

Rob has discovered making sourdough, and with Caroline's virtual support has produced some outstanding loaves. He's also talked a few of his guy buddies into trying it out, who I call his "sour bros."

Photos of sourdough are everywhere on the internet, to the point of people being mocked and derided for their sourdough obsessions. Of different ways to spend your days in lockdown, I can think of far worse (day drinking, for instance).

I love the way the house smells, with bread fresh from the oven. Sooo good. These loaves are also very satisfying. With cultured butter or a nice cheese they are a meal unto themselves. 

Walnut apricot loaf 

chocolate babka

The Loft

For many years after my son moved out, the space was still referred to as Alex' bedroom. When Caro stayed overnight and dubbed it 'the loft,' the moniker stuck.

The room did triple duty as guest room/tv room/yoga space when we were undergoing the basement reno. I've been doing yoga here for months now because I love the morning light, as does the ficus.

However, we are going to swap out the tv stand and return the teacher's desk that Rob rescued and refinished years ago for Alex' studies. The light is perfect for sketching, watercolours or small scale projects like working on models.

Once the desk is in place we''ll see whether it makes sense to add some built-in shelves without overcrowding.

Definitely want the kit kat clock to stay!

Full Flower Moon - May 2020

Every day there is something new to see in my backyard. I wonder how I could not notice the red exotic flowers at the root of the wild ginger before?

wild ginger flowers blooming at the root

They only last a day or two, maybe I never really looked at the right moment, or mistook them for leaf debris. I've been growing this for more than a decade and never really caught them in bloom.

And the mayapples, rude and comical at once. Again, never really noticed the small round heads perched just so at their very tips. Will those small green beads turn into the white flowers? Will have to wait a few weeks, I think.

Mayapples

The blood root poked up on April 15 and was in full bloom ten days later, attracting bees like crazy. By May 2nd there were still some flowers but fallen petals were distracted by the green broad leaves. 

blood root

Tulips, and more tulips, and daffodils.

Primrose, pulmonaria. Ferns. Leaves popping. Oh-I-do-love-this-time-of-year.

If this isn't nice, I don't know what is!

I've had this quote on my blog wall since 2008:

"I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" 

Such serendipity to hear the author speak the words, when I came across this Kurt Vonnegut lecture on the Shapes of Stories.  His Uncle Alex would frequently say them aloud at family get togethers. A viral-worthy phrase. Infectious gratitude!

The lecture on the Shape of Stories was humorous as well as a unique way of mapping the arc of a character's journey.

The straight line on the graphic above is Vonnegut mapping Hamlet and remarking on how the genius of Shakespeare is the lifelike ambiguity that keeps us from knowing whether developments are "good" or "bad." He did stop short of quoting the famous line, "for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

Which is why it IS so important to notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."