AN AMAZING DAY

FIRST DAY OF CLASS! My first class with the famous Mr. P was at 7 am and of course I'd been up since 5 unable to sleep due to excitement. Prashant was very witty and welcoming. (somebody said it may have been b/c they were taping the class-ha ha) The sequence was brilliant of course and led to a pretty fair attempt on my part of parivritta paravakonasana which was a yoga miracle. Prashant's favorite pose appears to be TRIKONASANA. He peppered the 2 hour class with lots of philosophy and told us not to hesitate to ask him questions durung his office hours for fear of looking stupid because if you are stupid and you don't ask you are REALLY STUPID. He said he has the feeling that students don't understand most of what he says. (true)

On the tiny and dark staircase coming down from class I suddenly saw long white hair and whoshing white robes and I took my hands to namascar as Guruji greeted me with "namascar". It was an emotional moment for me after years of talking about, thinking about, reading about and FINALLY seeing this living genius, our teacher, and being in his "home". It is truly an honor to be allowed to share his practice space. Many people in Guruji's position would choose to keep more private and limit the students practice time to when he was not in the room. It's really like a family here. Guruji is the much loved patriarch and everyone loves and cares for him. Thank God he is better. I understand he was terribly ill. He still has a cough.

Both Guruji and Geetaji were in the practice room today. Geeta sat on the platform doing upavista konasana and seated forward extensions. I put my mat near Guruji's practice area near the ropes and next to the pilar where he works on the horse near the prop area. I could see him in his poses and hear what was being said. it was amazing. Eddy was assisting Mr. Iyengar set up his props. Abi was working next to Guruji. Three times Guruji stopped his practice to teach Abi and another Indian student. I and several others gathered around and sat and watched. Guruji was laughing and smiling and I think he smiled at me! Or at least that's what I choose to believe. I really don't care about much else while I'm here.

It's nap time. Next I'm hoping to run into an elephant but don't think there are any in Pune.

L

I've signed up to observe all the classes I am not scheduled to attend. I really don't