This post is going to be really ironic , considering the previous one was on Dharana or focus.
It was like a big cosmic joke yesterday morning. I was looking forward to my favorite Sun. AM Mysore class & even after hitting the snooze button on my alarm twice , I managed to make it to the shala. This after attending parties two consecutive nights in a row.
As I started into Surya Namaskar A, it became apparent that it was going to take more than Dharana to get through this class . I could tolerate one of my biggest pet peeves to the right , the "Thudder " , an intermediate practitioner / acrobat who was making no effort to muffle the sounds of his landings.
The biggest yogic challenge was wafting to my left , a person who was oblivious of his own stench & pungency. And the more he practiced , the fouler the air reeked around us.
By the time I got to the seated postures , relief came in the form of an empty space in the back row. Which I bolted to the safety of immediately in order to minimize the throbbing headache & nausea that was coming on as a side effect of the aroma.
Portland Ashtanga Yoga has this note on " What About Hygiene ? " from its Beginners FAQs :
" Please try to wear clean clothes & shower before class . Deodorants & scented oils are OK , just don't bathe in them. If you have to ask whether you're wearing too much , you are wearing too much. Don't slather on the Tiger Balm & Ben-Gay. It won't help much anyway.
Gentlemen, if you wear AXE , then beware the AXE effect. You will not practice alone ."
I could have dealt with the smell of AXE in this case if that was all I was up against.
As an added FYI , Bhakti Yoga has extremely strict rules & guidelines on cleanliness & hygiene.
Image via Amazon.com
