Benefits of Basement Practice (A little levity)
I have blogged previously about my discontent with practicing in my basement but I’m finding there are some benefits. And to be frank I’m very lucky that I have the space to practice albeit a subterranean mess. There is a picture in my post “The Basement Song” of my mats and the direction I practice. And if I took the photo pointing the other way you’d see a huge pile of junk, a bicycle, tools, luggage, and kids toys piled up to the ceiling.
This is where I practice and because of this I’ve become a total slob. I don’t brush my teeth, shave, or shower before practice anymore. One morning I got up to practice and forgot to put my shorts out the night before. I’d have to wake my wife in order to get them so I just practiced in my underwear – not a pretty sight. The good news is that I practiced – no excuses. One of the discovered benefits of basement practice.
There are other benefits as well. I now don’t wear a shirt. So on that day all I had on was underwear – as I said not a pretty sight. I’ve come to really enjoy not wearing a shirt and I think it is actually helping my posture. I find it especially informative during Suryanamaskura A & B because I’ve become more aware of my chest and shoulders. And for some reason the lack of a shirt makes me more aware of that.
So back when I was practicing at the shala and my teacher was helping me go deeper in Marichyasana B. Seems like such a long time ago. However; she was holding my wrists as she aided my fold forward. She was basically over top of me and I farted – oops. I wasn’t even trying to hold it back because it just happened. There was no straining to hold it in, boom.
That’s embarrassing for sure but she finished the aid, gave me a pat on the back, and went to the next person to assist. There should be some yogic technique to hold back a fart. I came up with a term for that and this technique is called gudabandha. The Sanskrit word guda can translate to anus and the word bandha can translate to lock. So this is anus lock – gudabandha – it’s practiced very well by all in a crowded shala. Not so much in my basement.
Of course there actually is a technique that could be used to hold in the gas and that’s Mula Bandha. Most times I don’t employ this elusive practice – especially in the basement – ha.
That’s another benefit of practicing in the basement; I can fart to my heart’s content. I realized one morning that I was trying to keep it in; why?, there’s nobody here. My Dad had a saying “Better to fart and be shamed, than burst a puddin’ and be lamed”. I’m worried that I will get into the routine of just letting go whenever I feel like it. If we don’t get back together soon this will become second nature and it will become normal. So when we all return to community practice I would stay far away from me until I get things back under control – ha.
IDEA: Come up with a yoga farting guide, I could call it Gasanas: The Safe Farting Guide. Which asanas are safe to fart in and which are not safe. For example: it’s safe to fart in Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) but not safe in Baddha Konasana B (Bound Angle Posture). It’s safe to fart in Samastiti but not safe in Karnapidasana (Ear Pressure Posture). It’s safe to fart in Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Posture) but not safe in Pindasana (Embryo Posture). It’s never safe to fart when teach is close by. And it actually could be helpful to fart in Utpluthih. As you can see I have deep deep knowledge – ha. I’ve also discovered mat farts. A mat fart happens when I’m shirtless and I roll backwards. Sometimes suction can happen and boom there you go.
Where I practice my tools are actually stored behind me and they are going to get used again. I’m going to fix up this room and make it more hospitable – I think I’m going to be here for a while longer…… My daughter helped us pick a colour for the walls and it’s called Quiet Moments, sounds appropriate for a place to practice.
I have become a total slob but it’s all good – I’m still on my mat as it’s not that far away. By the time I get this room all fixed up we will all be back in the shala again. That’s probably the subconscious reason to start fixing it up in the first place.
Be safe.