Ascending the Glass Mountain

• Practice: Ashtanga Half-Primary Series (Mysore)
• Length: 70 minutes + 5 minute Shavasana
• Supplements: 60mm cannabis sativa

Today was the final day of a visiting teacher’s trip to our studio. It was arranged for the anatomy portion of our teacher training. The instructor travels around the country more weekends of the year than not teaching people about anatomy. This guy shattered my practice multiple times with less than a complete sentence.

He has told me to start practicing with earplugs in, rather than listening to music.

He has changed my Marichyasana B, so that I can actually bind on both sides.

He has changed the way I approach dristhi, focusing on moving the head at the very end of the movement. It really allows you to get into the proper alignment.

I asked him to evaluate my breathing on a scale of 1-10 and he gave me a 3. :(

I tried the earplug idea later that day in evening Mysore and it’s definitely a good technique. It lets you focus on your breath a lot more, by hearing it inside your head. And it’s great for blocking out distractions.

• Where: Bake Oven Knob, Lehighton, Pennsylvania
• When: August 20, 2012 14:00-18:00
• What:
•      13:45 - 1g Cannabis sativa combusted
•      14:30 - 1.5g Oregon Gold Cap Psilocybe Cubensis Mushrooms
•      15:15 - 0.5g Oregon Gold Cap Psilocybe Cubensis Mushrooms
•      15:30 - 1x Cannaplex + 1g Cannabis sativa consumed via mixed hookah

I had decided to take a trip, literally and metaphorically. I’ve been hearing about this place near where I live for years. They call it the Bake Oven Knob. I don’t really know what the name means, but supposedly people go up there to smoke all the time.

It was about a half hour’s drive to the place and once we got there and saw that there were other people on the mountain, decided to take our shrooms before leaving the parking lot. I’ve heard many different recommendations about how to ingest them, including boiling them into a tea, making sandwiches and to eat them alone with citrus juices.

So I decided to try the citrus method first. I employed the same underused technique I use when taking pills. First I fill my mouth with the liquid, then I pop the item… In this case I didn’t even taste them. The juice had so much flavor that it completely overwhelmed any taste the mushrooms would have had. I was really off-put and surprised by the crunchiness they had. Chewing them was much more difficult than I expected, and they got stuck in my teeth, but even those pieces didn’t bother me at that point as they had been drenched in the juice. My friend went with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich option, which I also used later for my second dose when I realized I hadn’t taken enough.

The sandwich method was definitely more unpleasant as when I bit into the sandwich the caps and stems pretty much separated from the sandwich and I could really feel the texture and taste. Oh well, lesson learned.

Anyway, on our way out of the parking lot, this was the first thing we saw on the trail:

Kindred spirits had clearly been here before.

We continued up the trail, mushrooms not kicking in yet. The trail was pretty rocky, but not a difficult trek for me, even carrying my hookah.

Upon reaching the top of the mountain we were greeted with some of the most breathtaking views I’ve seen. Even though I had seen pictures before, they did not convey the enormity or magnificence.

Despite breathtaking views as these, we decided to find a more private area to enjoy our trip and some hookah… and some weed. The view was not so nice here (as evidenced by none of us taking a photo of it…) but it was a comfortable spot to relax. At this point it’s about 15:20 and I’ve taken my second dose. I’m starting to feel it a little, but nothing more than I’d have gotten from a good smoking sesh. We decided to set up the hookah and see if it would blast us off.

The area was not the most comfortable for sitting and I remembered I had yoga mats in my car, so I decided to go get them. Additionally, we only had two coals, despite me having twenty more in the car. So I decided to venture off alone (probably not a good decision in hindsight) back down the trail to the car. Five minutes in I began to see the color of the moss and various painted rocks coming to life off the ground and spreading up the trees. The colors pulsated and radiated some sort of energy. I could feel it interacting with my chi and I suppose it agreed with me because I was greeted by a sudden rush of ideas.

In those few moments I wanted nothing more than to go rock climbing and I remembered that I had actually met someone who offered to take me. Still need to get in touch with him. Another one of my ideas was to build some birdhouses with my grandfather and bring them to this mountain. I just felt so connected to nature and wanted to have it more intrinsic to me, but I suppose this idea also stems from me wanting to spend time with him because he has cancer.

I wish I had written more of these ideas down on the spot, because there were several more that I can’t really recall now. Continuing down the trail I was quickly becoming higher than I had ever felt. I do not know if what I am about to say next was a hallucination or real. It felt real at the time, but looking back I can’t confirm that since I was the only one there.

I walked past a pedestrian with his dog. They were sitting off the trail, in some of the underbrush. The dog started barking and his owner said something that I could not understand. I heard him clearly, it just did not sound like any Earthly language. I continued towards the parking lot. As soon as I got there, I realized I had left my keys in my bag at the top of the mountain. So I turned around and when I got about halfway back to where the guy and his dog were, they were on the trail heading towards me. This must mean that they started walking just as I passed them… but, again, the dog barked. I tried to speak, but my lips just flopped around like a fish. He again said something indecipherable and pulled his dog towards him as if he wanted to avoid me. Whatever. I continued up the trail and had the sudden desire to run.

I ran for quite awhile, until the trail was too rocky for it to be practical. I noticed something off the trail and went to go check it out. I discovered a cool little bed of rocks buried back in the woods.

I got my wish! Rock climbing! Sort of… I ran around for quite awhile, acting like an orangutan on all fours. It was a fun time, but I got really sweaty and this, as well as the running, probably killed the high a littler sooner than it would otherwise have.

When I got back to my group, we finished the hookah and decided to pack it in because it was about to rain. At this point I was not tripping anymore, but did not feel safe driving in case of any kind of resurgence. I had taken the second dose just two hours earlier. I got to lie down in the back of my car and just be a passenger for once. I honestly can’t remember the last time before that I was a passenger and relaxed, comfortable with the person behind the wheel. The rain started coming down, but it was still really pretty out.

I know this is probably going to sound odd based on my recount, but this was probably the most positive experience of my life. For a lot of reasons that are hard to explain, a lot of internal struggle that was resolved, I am entirely happy with my choice to try this.

Definitely going to be doing this again in higher dose. Stay tuned.

• Practice: Ashtanga Primary Series (Mysore)
• Length: 70 minutes + 15 minute Shavasana
• Supplements: 5x ShroomTech Sport, 2x AlphaBrain, 80mm cannabis sativa

Today was my first day practicing in Philadelphia. I had a traditional Mysore practice, doing almost all of the primary series. The room is pretty small and there were over 15 people packed in it in addition to the teacher and his assistants. This results in a great energy and heat, but unfortunately there just is not space to do some postures like Supta Konasana and Supta Padangustasana. Anyway, I had some of the best assists I’ve ever gotten. In Marichyasana D I was able to bring my hands off the mat and hug my leg, allowing me to get a much deeper twist than ever before. I question this because of how much my sitsbone has to come off the mat to actually be able to hug my leg, but if he thinks this will benefit my practice more, I will continue doing it. Then in Urdvha Danurasana he gave me a few tweaks like heel alignment and hand position that were surprisingly helpful. Working in Sarvangasana with a rolled mat and additional styrofoam support allowed me to get really good extension.

He has this weird rule about not having water in the room. I appreciate the idea of not drinking during Ashtanga so as not to diminish the heat, but as I explained to him, I drink before Shavasana to allow me to cool off and relax. He was okay with that, but still made me keep my water outside of the room. Which meant I had to leave and come back, disturbing people all the way.

After practicing, while waiting for my group to finish I overheard a conversation between two of the regular students. One guy was recounting his night and joked that he had wanted to spike the punchbowl at his party with DMT, although it wouldn’t have had any effect. I uncharacteristically inserted myself in the conversation and advised the use of an MAO inhibitor. Much to my confusion the other student assumed I was a healthcare professional because I had this knowledge. Anyway, it’s pretty serendipitous that the first time I leave my studio (which is not really anti-drug, but no one uses anything as far as I know) I get a connection for the drug I most want to do and have the least access to?

• Practice: Hot Yoga (Led)
• Length: 70 minutes + 5 minute Shavasana
• Supplements: 5x ShroomTech Sport, 2x AlphaBrain, 30mm cannabis sativa vaped

I’ve been pursuing Hot Yoga to supplement my Ashtanga practice for about a month. I hope it will allow me to control my hyperhidrosis, but I’m afraid I’ve seen no progress so far, only regression, if that’s possible.

The warrior sequence in this class is the single hardest exercise I’ve ever done… I look forward to it all week.

I have a variety of poses I need clarified, but I can only remember what when I’m doing it… :(

Hot Yoga seems really hard to teach because you do the poses (unlike most Ashtanga classes), but I want to get into this since my studio runs more Hot classes than Ashtanga classes. I really need to work on memorizing the sequence (only ever taking it high probably isn’t helping me, haha), but after that the teacher in charge of the program said I could teach it without even taking the Hot Yoga training.

• Practice: Ashtanga Primary Series (Mysore)
• Length: 80 minutes + 25 minute Shavasana
• Supplements: 5x ShroomTech Sport, 2x AlphaBrain, 30mm cannabis sativa vaped

Another typical Mysore.

• Prasarita A headstand hovering is difficult, but definitely great for core strengthening.
• Sliding the arms down the back in Marichyasanas to root and get more extension.
• I have no idea how to start working my feet onto my head in Supta Kurmasana, but I feel like it’s time.

The owner of my studio offered to let me take over one of her classes once training is over… I was totally flabbergasted, not expecting such an offer to come even after training is over. I guess it’s more of a convenience thing on her end, not wanting to teach both days of the weekend… but does that diminish the fact that she thought of me when there are a dozen more qualified teachers who have in-studio teaching experience?

And she’s starting Hot Ashtanga and said I can teach that too… what is happening? When I got my job four months ago and my boss asked “What’s the worst thing your manager could ever say to you?” and I answered “You’re fired.” I would have never fathomed that within a half a year I’d be hoping to get fired… Unemployment + teaching yoga + freelance programming sounds so much more balanced and rewarding than programming 40 hours a week?

• Practice: Ashtanga Primary Series (Mysore)
• Length: 90 minutes + 30 minute Shavasana
• Supplements: 5x ShroomTech Sport, 1x AlphaBrain, 50mm cannabis sativa vaped

Today I had a new Mysore teacher. He’s great and I expect the next few weeks that he is teaching the class will really allow me to get a lot of good information from him. Observing him throughout the class I noticed that he has a ridiculously high adjustment volume, just touching people for a couple seconds. I think he adjusted me about 14 times.

• Adho Mukha Svanasana: lift up the lower abdomen with one arm across it and the other pressing from the back at the same spot.
• Utthita Hasta Padangustasana: work on height and stability with knee bent (still grabbing toe) in first 1/3
• Marichasana C & D: work upward-facing knee’s sitsbones to floor and avoid false height that arises from having this off the floor
• Sirasana: make base narrower for increased stability by placing hands further outside arms when setting up
• Intensity: lower it, work on not tensing face… I guess if he told me three times it must be pretty important, but it’s not like I’m intentionally tensing my face…

• Practice: Ashtanga Half Primary Series, Second Series Back Bending (Led)
• Length: 75 minutes + 10 minuteShavasana
• Supplements: 5xShroomTech Sport, 1xAlphaBrain, 40mm cannabis sativa vaped

All I have to reflect on is my bind in Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana. Had it this morning in Mysore, but not at night in led. And that I need to try Sirasana with really small, slanted blocks.

I always think of so much good stuff to write throughout the course of the night, but by the time I finally get to journal, most of it isn’t easy to spit out. I guess I need to work on mentally organizing the thoughts better.

After practicing for 90 minutes, doing completely new second series poses, it was decided that I was going to lead the practice that followed in teacher training. I was worried at first but tonight was the first night I really got into it. A couple times I spaced out at the realization that an entire room of people were hanging on every word I said, aligning their movement and breath by my say, but overall it went pretty well. No applause like the for the person who led last night, but she did the full series. I was very impressed with her and was using that as motivation to try to be as good.

I was a bit disappointed that we only did standing series when I led. I’ve done that much before… but not with a full 10 sun salutations at the beginning. I was somewhat looking forward to leading seated poses by the time we were on Virabhadrasanas. I just need to familiarize myself with the breath counts to be more comfortable leading the seated postures, I think.

My biggest concern is with too much monotony in how I lead the postures. I kind of feel like most teachers are repetitive with the same language, most of the time (especially throughout sun salutations) and I never mind that as a student, so I guess I shouldn’t worry about it. But after 50 breaths in sun salutations how much more can you say other than 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 without repeating yourself? Or is repeating yourself good because people may not have heard the tip or applied it?

• Practice: Ashtanga Primary Series (Mysore)
• Length: 70 minutes + 5 minute Shavasana
• Supplements: 5x ShroomTech Sport, 2x AlphaBrain, 120mm cannabis sativa, 20mm cannabis sativa vaped

This was my first early morning Mysore practice and probably my favorite so far (guessing this was only my 8th time or so).

I never really believed what people said about being more flexible in the morning, but it seems to ring true with me.

Too bad I don’t have more time to journal.

Assists:
Pulling down the back leg in Trikonasanas/Parsvokanasanas
Standing on the thighs in Butterfly
Pulling up into the hips in Adho Mukha Svanasana