... on cloud 9... high as a kite... I might as well have had 5 shots of espresso and some LSD. If this were my normal life instead of this insane vortex that makes my head spin, my heart writhe in fear and my soul feel like withering and dying (yes, I'm being overly dramatic but, hey, unless you've had to get your breasts sliced open, give me a break -- I already know those of you that have, are already giving me a break)... anyway, if this were a normal day, I'd be on the phone with The Husband right now, tracing over my practice until I got to the juicy bit that I'm dying to tell... It's 5:30 on the West Coast and I'm fairly sure, as happy for me as he'd be, he would be less happy to hear the phone at this hour....

which leaves me with the anonymous but loving reader set I have here at facinginward ---

I got up at 5:30, had half a Red Bull (heck 5:30 is 2:30 my time)... walked the block over to Yoga Sutra.. I was a little pensive... this would be my "last" practice --- in the very least my last full practice since I understand at AYNY I will only be allowed to do first (?) -- I wanted to cherish it (been here before but never with my practice as it is right now). Practice started off a bit wierd but soon because this loving, amazing place I go to. I laid my mat next to the Hanuman... I thought about that Vedic astrologer and how he told me hard times were coming and that Hanuman would be there for me. I decided I would dedicate this practice, hold out my hopes and lay my fears with the God of the Wind. I was just perfectly spot on today... my driste held up, my strength was there, my flexibility out of this world. Everything was perfectly aligned. I think today might well have been the best practice of my entire life. There isn't really much to say other than everything came together. Every pose in first series felt perfect. I asked if I could continue... the adjustment in Pasasana was different and a bit wierd. Krounchasana today felt like I was floating on some cloud.... my leg was so straight and so aligned even I was surprised. Dhanurasana was suprisingly amazing. I thought about what JMS had said about people having their thighs down but back arched and I concentrated super hard on keeping both with the same energy. Ustrasana felt, well, right for the first time every.... and, of course... Kapotasana.

Kapotasana.

Kapotasana became my friend today.

I hemmed and hawed at first. I saw Christopher watching me. I laughed (people take this practice very seriously out here... no talking whatsoever, no giggles, no verbal.. just the energy... not bad just different) He, of course, had no idea why I was laughing! I went back and was amazed, emotion welling up inside, when I could see the ground and my hands were still in Namaste. I dropped back, my arms were straight... straight, head off the ground, I walked them IN... walked them IN... no struggle. I was really hoping Christopher was going to help me at this point but he didn't so when I couldn't walk in any further, I put my head down... then I got help. He only got my fingers touching the bottoms of my heels... I had a perfect exit today... it felt just amazing to come up that way.

Then I set up to do it again.

Christopher looked at me funny... so I actually asked him if he would do the adjustment without my putting my head down first. I just HAD to know, given how open I was, if I could go further.

I got my heels.

I couldn't hold it there... but I had my hands on the tops of my heels/ankles... Left side first...then right.. and then my entire spine on the right side cracked... all the way up the spine... it was like the sound of God. I grunted out of pleasure but Christopher must have thought I was scared. I had no fear down there... I was stunned into bliss.

I came up... Christopher looking at me. I said "Did you hear that crack!!!" He said "Was that what you made the noise for?" I said "YES!"

Heels. I got my heels.

It may very well be the last time I see Kapotasana for quite a long time. Making new friends sucks when you know you won't see them again for awhile.