The Smell of Sweet Sweat.....

Isn't that what working out is really all about. Get the heart rate up, work the muscles, the core, stretch, twist, build heat and detoxifying sweat, repeat often, and then feel good about it. Sound funny when described that way. I love that smell of my sweat right before I get into the shower. I am not some gross jock who sits around smelling his own sweat all day, but I do appreciate a good sweaty workout, and a cleansing bath or shower afterwards. Sweat it a funny thing. If you work out often, you come to tolerate, and even to relate to the odor of your sweat. Other peoples sweat always seems offensive to you, just as yours does to them. One of those little mysteries of life I guess. I will not go down the whole sexual pheremone avenue. That is not where my focus is right now.

the weather has been unusual for the desert at this time of year. It is cool in the morning 50-60s. Many people, the wife included, are under the weather with some sort of flu like illness. We also had rain recently, and rain in the desert after the monsoon season is over is indeed a rarity. We are so fortunate here though. As much of the rest of the country prepares for cold weather and snow, we enjoy weather in the 70's during the day, and 40's - 50's at night for most of the winter months. For those of us who transplanted from the East Coast, that is just heaven.

Morning mysore practice was energetic this morning. It was a full room. The Older daughter and I rolled in, and Returning Guy, a tourist, Quiet K, and the British Director were already practicing. We chanted the vande with the Other Dave. During our practice, Sanskrit Scholar, NY Girl, San Fran Gal, and The Girl soon on her way to India (long name, but will do for now) arrived at practice. I worked through second series this morning. I noticed that my back is still tight through eka pada sirsasana. I am still working on that. The left knee is still tender when I put it in padmasana. After practice, Volleyball guy gave the Oldest Daughter a ride home so that I could stay and help Sanskrit Scholar teach the Astanga Journey workshop. Volleyball Guy had another previous engagement to teach somewhere else. Sanskit Scholar is an excellent teacher, and conveys information easily to those open to learning. Today the focus was on navasana.. navasanas partner pose of lolasana always seems to miff people. I am not sure whether they are unsure how to access their core strength, or they just don't posess it in sufficient quantity to do the pose. One of the students. I will call him Rock Climber (because he is a climber) is all about core strengh, and he and I demonstrated navasana to handstand. A move that I might say I am still mastering, and sometimes miss. Today it was perfect, however. Funny how the expectation of a group of people watching you can sometimes energize you into asana. Out of the Journey by 9am, and home after that.

Lots of housework to get done today. Dishes, Laundry, cleaning, linens to be changes. No slacking off , as usual, because the wife is home sick, and on the prowl.
Two classes to teach tonight, and then a good nights rest before teaching my 6:30am class tomorrow.

Positive thought:

"Look for the positive lesson in everything."
Gary Null

A story to demonstrate this further:

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "May be," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "May be," replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "May be," answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "May be," said the farmer