Death in the Morning
The rainy season has started to make a move. The beautiful sunny days in the southern islands have begun to give way to rain and humidity, so much so that i have had to modify my yoga routine. I had been content to do my practice at pretty much any time of day, depending on the days activities and my meal schedule. When diving, yoga generally had to wait until my return much later in the day, as departure for the docks was at 7:30 am. On other days, sometimes when i woke up, sometimes in the afternoons.
The new weather leaves me sweating so profusely that 20 minutes or so into the routine, i have to stop, as my hands and feet can no longer find proper purchase on my mat - downward facing dog suddenly becomes face plant, and I figure my nose is big enough without breaking it. So, in order to keep up, I've had to start setting my alarm for 5:30 a.m. and doing my daily practice in front of my bungalow on the grass. This is only half hardship - the sea is 10 meters from where I practice, and I can listen to the waves as I work through various asanas. And at the end of each practice, I jump into the ocean for a quick swim, which is both cooling and refreshing. Of course, I have had to forego any chanting, so as not to wake anyone.
There is, however, another issue: mosquitoes. Insects and pests generally don't bother me; I'm content to shoo them out of my hut or home or office in most cases. Flys are slightly more difficult, as they don't shoo well, contrary to popular song. But still, I try not to kill anything. Mosquitoes are a different issue. They are here, in force, and the size of small cars. Additionally, they are only somewhat deterred by burning citronella candles, mosquito coils, and deet filled repellant, which I ordinarily wouldn't use, but here in Thailand you can get Dengue Fever, which is only deadly in the ultra rare hemmhoragic form. But I've met some people who got Dengue, and the one thing they told me was "It won't kill you - but you'll wish it had." You see my point.
So what to do about these swarming menaces during one's asana practice. I've taken to killing them. 10 years of kung fu training has given me very fast and accurate hands. But I've been struggling to keep to the spirit of ahimsa, but also take care of myself. Is it not somehow hypocritical to kill mosquitoes during asana practice? Smack! Better life next time, little friend.
kisses from paradise. brett.
The new weather leaves me sweating so profusely that 20 minutes or so into the routine, i have to stop, as my hands and feet can no longer find proper purchase on my mat - downward facing dog suddenly becomes face plant, and I figure my nose is big enough without breaking it. So, in order to keep up, I've had to start setting my alarm for 5:30 a.m. and doing my daily practice in front of my bungalow on the grass. This is only half hardship - the sea is 10 meters from where I practice, and I can listen to the waves as I work through various asanas. And at the end of each practice, I jump into the ocean for a quick swim, which is both cooling and refreshing. Of course, I have had to forego any chanting, so as not to wake anyone.
There is, however, another issue: mosquitoes. Insects and pests generally don't bother me; I'm content to shoo them out of my hut or home or office in most cases. Flys are slightly more difficult, as they don't shoo well, contrary to popular song. But still, I try not to kill anything. Mosquitoes are a different issue. They are here, in force, and the size of small cars. Additionally, they are only somewhat deterred by burning citronella candles, mosquito coils, and deet filled repellant, which I ordinarily wouldn't use, but here in Thailand you can get Dengue Fever, which is only deadly in the ultra rare hemmhoragic form. But I've met some people who got Dengue, and the one thing they told me was "It won't kill you - but you'll wish it had." You see my point.
So what to do about these swarming menaces during one's asana practice. I've taken to killing them. 10 years of kung fu training has given me very fast and accurate hands. But I've been struggling to keep to the spirit of ahimsa, but also take care of myself. Is it not somehow hypocritical to kill mosquitoes during asana practice? Smack! Better life next time, little friend.
kisses from paradise. brett.
posted by brett at 10:23 AM
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