read all the posts in the Monkey Mind series
Julie C Trubkin is a freelance writer and a member of the 889 Yoga community. Monkey Mind is Julie’s bi-weekly contribution to 889′s blog. Look for the Monkey Mind header to follow Julie’s experiences as an urban yogini.
This is Part 3 of 3 of the January Jots. Read Part 1, Dear January Joiners, Have Some February Fortitude and Part 2, My New Mat
How A Teacher Inspired My Hatred
Lastly, I want to say goodbye to Michael DeCorte and his Athlete Flow Class, a class that I admittedly didn’t frequent often, but that was mostly out of fear. (January Joiners might want to stop reading here).
Here’s a shot I took of Michael and a student this past summer at one of the Yoga Unplugged classes on the roof of the Thompson Hotel.
I only took a few classes with Michael when I first started at 889 because I found myself spending more time lying on my mat out of pure exhaustion than in any actual pose. I know that there is yoga is non-movement but I don’t think this is the goal. I promised myself to take the class when I felt “ready”. I’d see the shirtless, sweaty, muscly people emerging from the studio after his class and I knew I wanted to be one of them one day. I’m still not quite “ready” nor am I all that muscly, but when I heard it was Michael’s last class at 889, I knew I had to take it. I’m so glad I did. I didn’t feel that way necessarily during the class though.
Michael prefaced his last class with “this will be the most challenging class we’ve ever had”. I eyed the door but it was a bit too far to sneak out without being noticed. He continued, “The goal is to inspire hatred”. Mission accomplished. But it was the best kind of hatred.
Flashing a sadistic smile, he began the class. Sweat poured, a mix of Hindi and club music played and all I could think of was P90X’s taunt. At points I was shaking uncontrollably and words like torture flashed through my mind. My body felt like rubber (unfortunately not this kind of rubber,) which led to me thinking, “He must be into S&M” (a natural line of thought, right?). What possessed me on this early snowy Sunday morning to do this? Maybe I am also a little masochistic?
For this final class, I actually spent zero time lying on my mat aside from savasana. I did however have to hold on to the banister as I walked down the stairs to the change rooms. I was as weak as I was proud of myself. I slept well that night. Thank you Michael and good luck! I hope to brave your classes again one day.
And to Adam Bolton, who is now teaching the Power Flow class, you have some big sweat puddles to fill! After taking your class (wipes sweat from brow), I am confident that that won’t be a problem. To everyone who has yet to try one of Adam’s classes, it is a whole different kind of intense. Welcome to 889 Adam!
“Embrace the shake.”
-Adam Bolton
