I’m pretty sure that is how much I consumed today when I returned from school. Four very large water bottles now sit empty in my room and I’ve only peed once. It’s definitely hotter today than it has been. I’m not uncomfortable, but I do change my clothing a few times a day. Part of the evening ritual is washing tank tops in the bathroom sink. I am doing my best to preserve the clothing cleanliness. Thai culture frowns upon looking messy, or dressing immodestly.
Friday ended my first week of school. I love my classmates and my teacher. I really feel fortunate to have such a great group of people to work with. And we do WORK all day. Not crazy “must keep going” hard, but we give one another genuine feedback and keep practicing until the postures feel right.
Thai massage, like Chinese Medicine is handed down from master to apprentice. Both are a skill and art I look forward to learning from different teachers. There are not many texts that outline Thai massage, which is why so many come to Chiang Mai to learn. I’ve met several students who are making their 5th, 8th, 10th trip to study.
Yoga is also big here as a tourist attraction. I went to a master Ashtanga teacher the other morning. It was not only hard because I’m so inflexible, but hard because it’s the type of yoga that forces your mind to be with your breath and your body the entire time. I’m not so good at that in general, and even when I was practicing 4 times a week years ago I still wasn’t very good at it.
The teacher, William led three of us through two hours of asana. Thank god it’s so humid and hot here or else my body could not have survived the posture corrections. At one point William laid his 6’ body over my body in downward dog–feet to head. He didn’t hold back either using his weight. He put his hands on my achilles to push my feet flat one the floor. I think on a good day of yoga my heels brush the floor!
I haven’t gone back. I’m too scared.
