Month: February 2009

The Sunrise Ruby by Rumi

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Martin at Aloha Kula Yoga read this on Valentine’s Day. I loved it. SOURCE

In the early morning hour,
just before dawn, lover and beloved wake
and take a drink of water.

She asks, “Do you love me or yourself more?
Really, tell the absolute truth.”

He says, “There is nothing left of me.
I’m like a ruby held up to the sunrise.
Is it still a stone, or a world
made of redness? It has no resistance
to sunlight.”

This is how Hallaj said, I am God,
and told the truth!

The ruby and the sunrise are one.
Be courageous and discipline yourself.

Completely become hearing and ear,
and wear this sun-ruby as an earring.

Work. Keep digging your well.
Don’t think about getting off from work.
Water is there somewhere.

Submit to a daily practice.
Your loyalty to that
is a ring on the door.

Keep knocking, and the joy inside
will eventually open a window
and look out to see who’s there.

As I am

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This past Saturday we went to Carnival at Punahou.  It felt like we were there for a long time but maybe it just seemed that way because of all the things we did.  When I told Sarah that we got our faces painted (me with a unicorn, K with a panda bear) she said that was pretty hardcore–and she’s a Punahou alum.  Only then did I think that maybe I approached Carnival with a little too much fervor.  It was a lot of fun.  Not really for adults but fun nonetheless.

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Hot!

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Well.  It took me a total of three hours but I walked to Kailua Shopping Center to take a yoga class at Bikram Yoga Kailua.  It wasn’t bad.  The sky is gray today so I can imagine that on a sunnier day the walk would be pleasant.  But I didn’t mind–the street wasn’t busy and I caught up on my Left, Right, and Center podcast.

In all my time doing yoga I’ve always steered clear of Bikram (hot) yoga.  I tend to overheat quickly and I thought the style would be bad for my knees.  Surprisingly, I felt stronger after class.  My knees felt less sore or tender.  I don’t know that that’s one of the benefits of Bikram.  For example, Iyengar yoga is meant to be more rehabilitative and good for the injured.  Bikram, like Ashtanga, always seemed similar in that their suited for people in tip top shape. Contrary to all of that, being hot made my joints more supple.  The class pace is slow and not very intense (except for the sweat pouring off you).  I liked it.  I signed up for the new student offer 30 days for $30.  That’s even better than Open Space!

The format for class is a little weird.  The room is small.  The teacher talks you through the class sometimes demonstrating if you’re having trouble.  But the weird thing is that she uses a headset–as in a microphone.  Like Madonna.  It was funny but it makes sense.  You shouldn’t be struggling to hear the teacher.  The other thing is that you face a full wall mirror the whole time.  I was wary at first but then I liked being able to make adjustments based on how I looked and not just how I felt.

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Last night Sarah and i took class at Manoa Yoga Center.  My picture makes it look like a prison complex but Manoa is so lovely.  A very picturesque residential area.  We took class with Ray, one of the owners.  He’s certainly the most experienced teacher I’ve had class with here in Hawaii.  I think we’ll go back again, mainly to take a more intermediate class.

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Sarah showed me Punahou School where she, Sean (and Obama!) went to highschool.  There’s a carnival coming up at the school organized by the junior class and staffed by students, alum, and parents.  It sounds so fun- food and rides in Manoa!

Ink

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img_0735I’ve been thinking about getting a 4th tattoo for 2 years now.  I’ve been waiting for something to hit me.  It occurred to me today what I want. Now it’s all about who’s going to do it.  I caught an episode of Ancient Ink on the History Channel yesterday.  They did a segment on Polynesian Tribal tattoo.  It was very interesting though I’m sure more painful than I’m capable of enduring.  The tatoo artist they interviewed and featured has a place on Oahu.  His name is Aisea Toetuu.  I’d really like to get one here in Hawaii to mark our time here.  But based on the artists on the show, aesthetically I prefer Zulu of Zulu Tattoo.