YOGA IN THE SUN by Vivian
Branson
(Published in Yoga and Health May 2004)
20 years ago, a friend was extolling the benefits of Yoga and suggesting
it would be a good thing for me to take up. Me? Sitting in a sedentary
Lotus Position? I was the tennis playing, walking, gardening, golfing,
aerobic action person. I used to walk miles with my dog and my friends
in the countryside where we lived until my working hours got longer
and longer and my dear dog died. Eventually, because of the worsening
train service, I decided that to survive until retirement, I would
move to London to be nearer the office. Everything was going according
to plan but for some time before I moved up from the county, I found,
worryingly, that my hips were getting stiff and eventually I could
not leap enthusiastically out of bed in the morning but I had to roll
out. Thank goodness, at the back of my mind I could hear the echo
of my friend’s voice telling me about her Yoga so, on arrival
in the Metropolis, I joined a very trendy health club, which was subsidised
by the firm I work for, and joined in a Yoga course.
I was terribly
lucky, as the first teacher I had was a young American who was Iyengar
trained and from day one, her enthusiasm and expertise encouraged
my stiff hips and stiff everything else to start moving around more
easily. This wonder girl taught on Monday evenings and Sunday mornings
but sadly for her devotees, she left to go to Australia. Since she
left, I have also tried Hatha, Raja, and Astanga but I remain a devotee
of Iyengar, with its precision and implicit meditation in the Asanas
themselves because of this precision and concentration.
At 59, all of
the students in my classes were only as old as my children or many,
my grandchildren. I was therefore a bit hesitant in some poses as
I did not want to collapse in, for instance, the Crab which, as a
child, I used to run around in. However, every now and then a teacher
would assist me in a pose with a little gentle persuasion and I had
the exhilarating experience that, in fact, with more careful practice
I could achieve poses for which my body was able but my mind not so
willing.
Early in 2003 I decided that my Yoga practice needed consolidation
so that I could see where I was and where to go next, so I decided
to look at Yoga holidays of which there are now such a great variety,
in the most fabulous and varied locations. After much research, I
chose two weeks of “Yoga in the Sun”.
Out of the corner of my right eye I could see the first glow of the
sun that morning: this really was Sunrise Yoga. We were practising
Yoga in the fresh open air on the tiny and charming Greek island of
Lesvos, part of the yoga, sun and relaxation holiday co-ordinated
by Joan Stonehouse and David Farmer entitled appropriately “Yoga
in the Sun”.
This was
my first Yoga holiday so I was treading new ground with some trepidation,
especially as I was going on my own. However, Joan had sent us all
labels in the Paddington Bear tradition. As soon as I was on the plane
I heard a friendly “hello”. Cars had been arranged to
meet us on arrival and whiz us to the other side of the island where
our wonderful Hotel Delfinia awaited us. My room looked on to the
sparkling Aegean Sea and a spectacular sunset every evening. I went
to sleep each night trying to stay awake just a little bit longer
so I could hear the waves gently breaking.
We practised Sunrise
Yoga each morning with breathing and gentle stretching before falling
on a most delicious breakfast on the hotel balcony. We had panoramic
views of the stunning scenery surrounding us. Our village of Molyvos
had a castle ruin on top of a hill, with pretty harbour at the bottom.
Clustered between were houses, tavernas and shops all joined by winding
cobbled streets. From 10 – 12 we had a further 2 hours Yoga
and then the rest of the day for strenuous activities, such as sunbathing
or perhaps a visit to the thermal baths at Eftalou.
Our morning Yoga
sessions were alternately led by Joan and David. Whoever was not teaching
usually joined the class, which really set the feeling of unity for
the whole holiday, which I found very special. Joan led some workshops
in the late afternoon. All the teaching was meticulously and methodically
planned, careful and caring to the extent that one morning I found
myself sitting on my mat with tears in my eyes at the sheer joy of
being able to achieve not only new physical limits but with a sense
of complete peace of mind.
The holiday was everything I could have wanted and more, with lots
of time for relaxation and free time to explore our surroundings on
foot or by boat. We never felt alone and could always meet up with
people for dinner in the evening. I feel very generous writing about
“Yoga in the Sun” as I enjoyed it so much and would like
to go again next year, but if I tell too many people ………….
I love my Yoga.
I love being on my “magic carpet” surrounded by other
people and none of us competing or criticising or, in fact, even having
the time or the inclination to look at others in the class unless
invited to do so by the teacher. It has altogether been the most wonderful
experience and I will continue with this development of my body and
mind.
