4.16.2009

star wars, fancy clothes, shoes and bags- where does the spirituality lie?

there is this image everyone has in their heads about people who practice yoga- this person who wears white and loose clothes (preferably one that does not need ironing), really quiet, very flexible (puts their feet behind their head while sitting) and speaks softly. granted these are all qualities that are quite admirable more so because i definitely do not see myself being any of them (and i have tried)but it is an image that is far from being reached in this insanity.

here's the scoop. at the age of 6 or 7 i watched stars wars in karachi, in the days when the movie theatres were not filled with perverts and folks who have nothing better to do with their time but to harrass and ruin the peace of others. i watched star wars then with my big brother on the big screen and even though i can't remember anything substantial there is one thing i do remember and that was darth vader. he creeped me out. i continued to have luke and darth in my life through mad magazines, ocassional re-watch of the sequels and then while cat sitting. i have to admit i like star wars and i am still a yogini. and Yoda is my man. i wanted to name my psychology lab rat Yoda but then named her Eudora. my brother orders pizza as Luke Skywalker. i tell you it is embedded in us.

and shoes. i love shoes. i love shoes that my mother has saved for me to wear, ones that she got MADE. I love bags and whatsmore interesting bags invade my dreams. for example the louis vuitton bag that madonna has on the table next to her as she lengthens her leg to show the awesome shoes she happens to have on her feet. i say wow to those creations. and clothes. i frequent Network just to feel the fabrics. recently found material from my cupboard where tucked away was this embroidered material from pakistan my mother had bought just after i was born and now my aunt is making a dress.

where does this fit in with yoga? i have been thinking about this for a while. and i believe i have come to terms with the contradiction that only i had created...isn't yoga supposed to be free from all earthly desires i USED to say? was having a chat with my vinyasa ashtanga mysore style teacher Saash who said that yoga is not about suffering; its about having a comfortable life; yoga is not about being in the mountains all alone, the trick is to be in your centre amidst 12 million people and let's see if you can really do that!

i am trying.

reading "eat pray love" by Elizabeth Gilbert who says just that. great read. i am relieved to have packaged this issue and finally let it go...phew

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