On Saturday I went along to my favourite yoga teacher’s class to do 54 sun salutations in a row. Why on earth would you want to do a thing like that you may wonder, but I was scarily excited by the challenge and wanted to see how tough it was.
I was unpleasantly surprised. I was actually sweating after about 10. After 25 I wondered how I would last until the end. Did you know that one sun salutation is actually two? That is, one on either side? No, neither did I.
It took us one hour and ten minutes. At times I went into a trance-like state. Other times I tried to count them (this was bad, they went really slowly). Then I tried to focus on my breathing and finally on the plot for my novel. I have to admit that most of the time I was wishing it was over. Although I was determined to keep on and not collapse into child’s pose like the woman in front of me.
At the end of 54 I lay back in a haze of exhaustion and sweat.
“Next week,” said Ria the lovely yoga teacher. “We will be doing 108.”
“Why 108?” I groaned. “Are you serious?”
“Indian/Buddhist thought states that the outer universe is mirrored in the inner man. He is the microcosm and the objective universe is the macrocosm. The number 108 represents the distance between the devotee and the God within.”
I’ll just have to take her word for it. And yes, I will be there on Saturday. I might never recover, but I will be there….
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2010
You rock! I’ve done the sun salutation millions of times but never more then 4 in a row. I love the simplicity of the challenge. I’m going to try doing 10 this weekend.
A
So pleased you’re doing yoga again, Helena. But I also want to say how much I’m enjoying reading More, More France Please. A friend in France sent me a copy and I’m finding it unputdownable even though our own French-connection is very much in the past. It’s a hugely informative book written in a very entertaining style, it should be essential reading for anyone giving even the slightest thought to moving to France.
my first yoga class ever , after years of not doing anything was all about Sun salutation ,
I don’t remember how many we did , for sure less than 54, but I slept 14hours after that ^^
It’s was exhausting , but in a very positive way )
that’s why I really enjoy yoga
I didn’t make it, as I write my fellow yogis will be 20 minutes into it. My back is sore so not worth the risk. But am there is spirit….Hx