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The Journey to 108 Sun Salutations...

 

 

108 Sun Salutations… One Hundred and Eight… A Hundred and Eight…what was I thinking?  I think I just have had over a month of madness – can I plead five week temporary insanity -  please?

 

How did it all start?  Well… I was just, trawling through the Yoga Show website, innocently planning who I wanted to see this year, what fantastic inspiration I could gleam from the world of yoga crammed into one fabulous weekend.  Then I spotted Yoga Aid!  That’s new I thought and before I knew it I'd set up my justgiving web page, was begging my friends and total strangers for money, even went as far as putting on a demonstration at work as to what a Sun Salutation was – or at least my interpretation of what I believed passed for one, before I was shaken from my ignorant fog by 12 Modern Day Master Yoga Gurus!.  All I wanted to do initially was to encourage people to donate to a worthy cause, as in reality we are all doing time, whether incarcerated or not.  And as I was to find out it, was so much more that I ever imagined!

 

The training programme followed, I wasn’t going to be the one on the side, sitting out a few round as I wheezed for my next breath… 8, then 12, then 20.  20 became my bite size chunks, tried for 40 but got stuck on 36!  I was ecstatic.  36 turned into 40 and then 60, oh no 80 was a monster, but I came, I saw and conquered.  I was going for 100 and 108 was produced on a wave of euphoria (you’ve have had that hysterical update!).  So in my final week, clear of mind, clear or body (yes I did give up alcohol and sex but the chocolate stayed – just for energy purposes), I did a couple of 50 salutes, to keep the stamina up. 

 

I had bought a new yoga top (like I needed another one), mat to complement the top and even painted the toenails to match - yes, yes a step too far but remember, I am deep in the realm of insanity now.

 

Could I sleep the night before – Noooo, anticipation crackled through my every vein.  I thought I was eager… there was already 20 people there before me, when I arrived at 7:20am!  We were ushered to a holding room, whilst the teachers prepared and set up

 

Before we all got started, we were all humbled!  The organiser gave a short introduction and told us all that the challenge was not to complete the 108 Sun Salutations, but being there taking part, making a difference for the charities we were supporting was the challenge!  That just put a whole new perspective on things J could I now just sit out and watch the other, beautifully demonstrate Sun Salutations – No, I still wanted to do the 108, be part of UK history as this was the first time this had been done for Yoga Aid in the UK.

 

12 Amazing Yoga Gurus:

 

Simon Low

So I stood at the front of my mat, green bejewelled toes winking at me and Simon Low opened with his beautiful command of language, gently easing our morning yoga limbs from 1-9 salutes.

 

Kate Appleton

Next up the serene Kate, who coaxed another 9 from the 150 of us yoga enthusiasts!

 

Dylan Ayaloo

Dylan, Oh Dylan, he took the gears up a couple of notches.  19-27.

 

Jcaqui Wan

The playful, acrobat Jacqui Wan!  She had us in stitches, legs raised, butt’s in the air, prostrate to the East.  I loved her style. 28-36.

 

David Olton

I am remembering David even now, powerfully built but ever so graceful.  Dressed in white he was Grace personified.  37-45.

 

Duncan ‘My Hero’ Wong

Nothing can prepare you for Duncan – yes we are on first name basis!  He warms you up – actually that is a lie, he goes straight for the jugular, blood gushing life ebbing away.  Squats, thrusts, howls from the belly are just par for the course.  Apparently there are 7 Warriors and we did them all, all is forgiven Virabhadrasana III…  His last set, left 150 yogis with their jaws dropped watching his incredible style and precise speed!  I am in yoga love… 46-???

 

Anne Marie Newland

Well she was stumped and how awful to follow the energetic, mad style of Duncan.  She was gently on us and brought the tempo down to an Alfa Romero gear 5!  Strong but yet, very subtle with her Sun Powered Yoga style.  She however did get carried away and I am sure we must have done at least 15 with her.  55-63 ++

 

Neil Patel – The Rapping Yogi

The rapping Yogi, who pays homage to his mother who taught him the basis of yoga from the year dot.  How wonderful to grow up in a house full of yoga.  I bought his CD, pretty cool!  His style fuses a bit of the streets, so very appealing.  62-72, but we have lost count by now!

 

Manish Shah

Manish, with his delicious lisp, gave the postures their own slant.  The sun did indeed come out for us in all of its brilliance, all 150 of us turned to face its glorious rays, as they bathed our sweat sheened faces, upturned to absorb it beauty and warmth, taking time to be thankful for life.  73-81.

 

Hemalyaa

Our beautiful Lotus Lady, her style captured the very Prana (energy) between our palms as we floated like petals in the breeze to Uttanasana (standing forward bend).  Soft but deadly like an eagle. 82-90.

 

Dr Malik

Yoga is strength, hold your postures until you drop – no mind that you have just passed through he gates of yoga purgatory, barely survived the likes of The Wong Man and the Eagle claws of the Lotus Lady… encouraged us to hold each posture for far too many breaths, that we all did not have!  I swear that we only completed 4 salutes as he was wrapped up (by the official counter) before his nine.  Not to worry Duncan‘s counted as DOGOF (Done one get one free…) so we were ahead. 90-99??

 

Elena Voyce

She looked so slight, absolutely nothing to her petite frame, but what a note to end on.  Her thick European, accent made you listen intently to every word she spoke.  She saluted all of the previous teachers individually, their style and presence through her sun salutations.  We were blessed as she guided us all into relaxation – which was the most blissful relaxation I have enjoyed for…. 108 Sun Salutations!

 

I loved each and every one of them, AND the nearly three hours it took us to complete, we started at 8ish and finished just before 11am!  The different styles and egos (don’t let any one fool you that yoga is without ego) we overran, but it did not matter. 

 

My journey had just started, during Elena’s salutes, I got it.  I really got it!  There was no one else there; it was just me and my mat, perfectly in the moment, one hundred and eight percent in the now!

 

I feel so blessed to have been part of it all; I am still riding the yoga wave high, surfing like my man Duncan (see the pics below...) .

 

We each received a set of Mala Beads  - 108 meditation beads as a gift for taking part.  That was wonderful as had I planned to buy a set to mark the event – the Universe provides our wishes. 

 

At the very end an amazing event unfolded, Karen a lady who has suffered with MS for the past 11 years, unable to work but has taken up yoga in the past three years, dearly would love to become a teacher as she has seen the benefits of yoga and wishes she knew about yoga before she was diagnosed - was granted her dearest wish.  The organizers are going to pay for her to train as a teacher possibly with the master Simon Low.  Whatever it takes they plan to support her. 

 

That is such an amazing gift we were all so touched.  A perfect end to a fantastic event!

 

We closed with Three wonderful Om’s (the beginning and the end).

 

Thank you all for supporting me, putting up with my insanity over the last five weeks and for being so generous. 

 

We raised, on behalf of The Phoenix Prison Trust £540 - 5 times what my target was – £108 for each and every crazy week!

 

…so I ask myself?  What is next... I’ll keep you posted.

 

Namaste

 

Ursula

 

xXx

 
 

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Sunday 2nd November 2008

 
 
  The Prison Phoenix Trust
The Prison Phoenix Trust encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath. We offer personal support to prisoners around the UK and Eire through teaching, workshops, correspondence, books and newsletters - and to prison staff too.