Jul. 3rd, 2010

aprilstarchild: (Default)
Okay, first of all: Four flats in a week? ExpandWHAT. THE FUCK. (plus: talking about upcoming bike tour etc.) )

(Cut because I know some people really don't read when I ramble on about bicycle stuff)

IN OTHER NEWS: I have a crush on a yoga studio. More accurately, I finally found a place to do yoga that I really really like, and I'm sorta infatuated. I've tried a few kinds....I tried Bikram (the kind where the room is super hot) a few times years ago, and I liked it, but it's always expensive. Plus I read more about it, and the guy who invented it (and rules it with an iron fist) is a bit of a dick. At Oregon Country Fair I tried Kundalani once, and it just made me roll my eyes. You basically hyperventilate. On purpose. The instructor was like, "Feel the natural high!" and I'm thinking, No, we're all just light-headed.

Anyway. The place is called The Bhaktishop and they're on SE 26th and Division. The studio is really pretty, of course. But, oh man. The place is so cheerful and laid back and friendly (when you get there, everyone's chatting and smiling and laughing; instead of all quiet and serious). There's a wide variety of people in the classes, wearing whatever is comfortable. They do sanskrit chanting and stuff, and have an altar in the studio, which is a bit woo-woo, but I don't mind because they're so relaxed about it. Plus the chanting is pretty enough that I don't mind just listening.

But the yoga itself: yes! They're not perfectionists about technique, as long as you're not hurting yourself. There's a sense of humor about the whole thing. (I went to their Pedalpalooza ride, where we did yoga in a bunch of different parks, and the teacher made up a Sprockette pose and said things like, "Now reach out, and hold your handlebars" as part of poses.)

The class I took yesterday, it felt so good. The whole thing. It was almost better than a massage. Afterward I went to thank the teacher, and before I could say anything she thanked me, and said I'd had the best half-smile through the whole class. I said, "Oh, everything felt so good," and she laughed and said, "Well, it's supposed to!"

AND AND AND: They have several free/by donation classes through the week, and a bunch more that are cheaper than the regular classes. LOVE.

As a side benefit, they're close to People's, so if I start going regularly, I'll have an excuse to do my shopping there.

After yoga: Did shape-note singing for the second time in my life. What a contrast--chanting in Sanskrit, and then singing a bunch of older American hymns with lyrics about death. Older hymns have really....interesting....lyrics. We sang one lecturing young people to repent 'cause you don't know when you'll die. It could be ANY DAY NOW, so you better be prepared. There's a local group that sings Sacred Harp (unrelated to actual harps), which has the oddest harmonies. The whole thing is fascinating, and the group has known each other for a while, and for Portland is pretty diverse, although what's up with several of the dudes having handlebar mustaches? One was even wearing suspenders! I bet they square dance, too. I'm pretty sure that several of the regulars are actually Christian, but I'm also pretty sure that several of them aren't. They just love the style of singing. It made me smile to see them gently tease each other about things like picking the same songs every time.

While the whole system of shape-note music is meant to make sight-reading easier (and boy, it really does), it's still harder to sing than I expected, partially because everything is sung forte--pretty loud! I had a headache after it was over last night--next time, I need to make sure I'm not sitting in front of the two loudest altos.

Wow. I make long posts when I'm drinking coffee.

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