Maybe I think this is normal, and it turns out that it’s actually weird, but here: I’m going to suppose that everyone has a favorite practitioner at their place of practice. It is not necessarily the most advanced or the most proportioned and gorgeous looking. It probably is someone who you think you could realistically aspire to be like. In my case it is a woman who looks a little younger than I am. She was already practicing when I began a few years ago. She has a really beautiful simple practice with no fancy flourishes and she knows when she has had enough, closes and rests. Sometimes it is after a few Suryas, other times it all of it or she splits to 2nd, but she is totally at ease with herself. I am always glad when she walks into the room. This is starting to sound kind of junior high school lame but it gets worse. Today she sat next to me before class started and we talked a little bit, and she is very cool. I really think people can transmit both positive or negative energy, and this person has a very positive presence vibe. So we’re FB friends.
Serene Flavorful
inspiration yoga pretty things tasty things fearless kindness
I tend to have favorite spots in a room to practice and favorite neighbors. Well I used to, anyway… I think it’s normal!
I favor one of the four corners of the room,and arrive early enough to secure one. That way there is only one neighbor. The big kids hang out with neighbors who help each other with drop backs and similar horrors, I mostly violate dristhi to see who’s coming or going.
Ha! I always liked the corners too or – in under heated NYC shalas – any area as close as possible to a space heater.
I’m laughing about “I mostly violate drishti to see who’s coming or going.” Love it.
In all honesty I also violate drishti when I get wind of someone getting a scary looking adjustment…
I have favorite spots too, but no particular practitioner admiration that I’m aware of. This lady you’re talking about, I’d admire her too – it takes confidence to stop practice when you feel you’ve had enough for the day.
She told me today that she was Dutch. In my experience my Dutch acquaintances are VERY confident about their opinions and their way of doing things.
I totally know what you mean. I love practicing next to some people, and others—not so much. It’s all about the energy, and I think we sense the rhythm of the breath, even if it’s not super loud. There are a few folks I”m always psyched to practice next to… Two of them are super advanced, but I think that has very little to do with the peace and beauty of a person’s practice, because the one or two people I’m not so excited to practice next to are also very advanced, yet there’s a kind of “striving” vibe I sense with them, that’s in stark contrast to my favorite practitioners…
Amazing how many things take place in a completely silent room right?