I started with suspended rope Sirsasana. I was in it for 5 minutes when I get a poke in the back, Guruji wants your swing. I immediately come out and move to the side and watch his assistants pile the swing with 10 folded mats, along with a number of other props. He bends his body over the swing into an unbelievable backbend. He practiced various forms of Viparita dandasana and Kapotasana. He was on that swing (in postures I could only dream about doing) for 30 minutes! He was chatting with the assistants as he hung there. It was incredible.

It’s hard to focus on your own practice with Guruji in the room. He was in better spirits today, laughing and joking. His knees seemed to hurt less. You just want to watch him. He demonstrated Urdvha mukha svanasana to his assistants moving his entire front body into the wall!

His practice inspired me and I stayed the full three hours of the allotted practice time moving from standing postures, supported backbends, full backbends, and inversions. My body is slowly starting to adapt to the heat and found I was able to release deeper into postures.

Geeta taught Thursday evening’s class. She has lost weight and looks great. Her manner of teaching was softer. I mentioned this to another student and she said, “It’s still early in the month, I’m sure we’ll see her fiery side…”

We worked on the proper action of the feet, knees, and arms in standing postures. She spent a lot of time showing us how lifting the outer knee helps lift the arms in Urdvha hastasana. Such a simple action completely changes the pose.

Toward the end of class she had us work on Supta tadasana for 30 minutes….well everyone else worked on it, I fell asleep.

Some of the students and I were talking about Geeta’s class and one of them said, “I can’t believe she made us stay in Supta tadasana for 30 minutes!” I said I didn’t – I had fallen asleep. OMG they said in unison Geeta must have been talking about you when she yelled, “This is not Savasana make your feet active!” I never heard her…..

Thank goodness I jumped to attention when it was time to work on block supported Setu bandha sarvangasana with the legs extended. I don’t know if it was all the work on the arms, my nap in class, or the Indian heat, but this was the first time I was able to enjoy this pose!