I'm detaching from the physical practice, the more I delve into it. Meng Foon reminds me that it is not important, it is impermanent, and she is of course absolutely right. I'm caring less about whether I can do this pose or that pose, and more about what I'm feeling when I am doing this pose or that pose. I try not to think when I'm doing something my brain says is hard - like kakasana or chakrasana (crow and wheel).
It reminds me of a line from the movie Top Gun - "You don't have time to think up there. If you think, you're dead."
Well, if you think in either of these poses, you'll think yourself out of trying them or fall on your face or crunch up your neck. Neither really requires a lot of upper body strength - it's more about mental strength and balance, looking forward (or up, in chakrasana), leaning forward (or again up, in chakrasana) and just doing it. Make like Nike. No fear, no judgement, no attachment. Just let it go. Let it be.
Anyway, before I get all sanskrity on you, I managed to get on the crown of my head in chakrasana and nearly got half a toenail off the ground in kakasana today. Exciting times. Then, after coming out of each pose, I was reminded by Meng Foon to let it go, do not judge, do not be attached, do not be fearful, let it go. It is impermanent. Today it may be easy, tomorrow it may be difficult. It does not matter, it is impermanent.
After class today, I realised it was Easter Saturday, then I stopped caring about the white man world again. I'm living in the moment, hanging in the kampong with my OMies. That is all.
On the day break, I went for a walk down the beach and grabbed the world's biggest fresh green Mat Kelapa (young coconut) for RM5 (about $1.60 AUD) to drink. We all know that coconuts are nature's isotonic drink. But, one giant fresh coconut full of electrolytes, drunk under a palm tree, while watching two little local boys playing hide and seek is truly awesome.
Back to class I went after lunch and a swim and a nap on the beach chair. We did more sun salutations, more asana, more meditation. I again struggled with the roosters, lizards, motorcycles, bulldozers, sheep, goats, cats, people, squirrels and cars all making stupid amounts of noise - but the call to prayer always settles me.
Tonight I wandered up and down Cenang trying to find something to eat. Seriously, after three days and while on a shoestring fry budget, I'm getting over it. One night soon I'm going to have to eat Maccas or KFC. Shudder.
I had a drink at a beach bar while trying to figure out if I wanted to pay Aussie prices for a burger and fries. Here's the view from my table:
The sunset tonight was pretty awesome. The lights you see out on the water are fishing boats - mostly squid boats to be precise. They're looking for squid and they will sit out there all night until they get it!
After loafing around at Little Lylia's Chill Out Cafe for a while, I grabbed another strawberry magnum ice cream and then went to Old Town White Coffee for dinner. I had cocktail chicken sausages and roti canai with curry sauce, washed down with an iced white coffee. Hardly a gourmet meal but I don't care, it's edible and reasonably nutritious, plus it's cheap!
Back to the hotel for some voltaren-ing of the achilles. They are now both playing up a bit, so I'm trying to be kind to both of them. They are being better behaved, mostly, but I don't want to push my luck!
Besides, it's the bugle at 0530hrs again tomorrow, on Easter Sunday, for the final day of the relaxed retreat.
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