Photo credit themodelsandbook.com

Dandayamana-dhanurasana or standing bow pose is now my favorite pose in bikram. Standing Bowpose is an example of a “tourniquet” effect, because it transfers fresh blood and oxygen from one side of the body to the other, and then equalizes it. This pose helps develop balance and it firms the abdominal wall and upper thighs and tightens upper arms, hips and buttocks. Most importantly, it helps build patience and determination.

I don’t really need help with determination that I have in spades. Seriously. Anyone who knows me knows this. When I’ve set mind to something I used to have a ‘take no prisoners attitude’. (Can you seen the strewn bodies and burnt bridges?)

What standing bow also does is inspire patience.

Let me paint a picture. One can see from the pose itself that it requires balance. By this point of the practice, you are already warmed up and your thighs are burning because you have been in Utkatasana. In Utkatasana (which needs to be a whole post alone) you are in chair pose, on your toes and squeezing your knees tight and easing to bent knees. You then move in to standing head to knee pose.

So by standing bow- as I mentioned you’re pretty tired. But something happens when you get into the position and hold it…

I really feel like an archer and the arrow when my chest is lifted. My teachers encourage “Kick back, lift higher, kicker harder with 50-50 strength. You can balance here forever.” And lately- it feels like I can.

I’m terrible at staying present in practice (and in life sometimes for that matter)- and when I’m in this position there’s an indescribable happiness that rises. A combination of gentle movement on one leg. You’ve  hit the sweet spot when you literally sway almost imperceptibly as your back arches and your toe is over your head. Stretching your heart up to the sky and kicking hard enough that you might spring forward- right at your target.

Until you fall out. It’s fucking frustrating. However, you can’t think about it. No judgement just get back on the horse and do it again. And again.

Hmmm I wonder- it’s pleasantly annoying when life and yoga collide. I walk home from class- at first with my teacher and then by myself. My thoughts wander back to the class and standing bow- then to the future and what I have to get done- and this damn match.com. I had a date on Monday- even though it was painful- he asked me out again before the night was out and I had to pass. Funny thing is I’m positive he didn’t enjoy it either.

I do have an upcoming tennis date. So if nothing else- I’m looking at calories burned and the smell of an indoor court which I find oddly comforting. And I do miss playing. Tennis is another game that takes patience and determination to master- but its lessons stay with you forever.

The dating world and I are striking a better rhythm. Finally, I’m accepting this as a thing I’m doing and not a notion. More patience and determination is necessary. But there is joy in the journey.

I’m taking the Millionaire Matchmaker, Patti Stanger’s advice and getting a few professional photos done. Mineeds.com is pretty awesome. You request a service and providers bid.

In Working Girl, Melanie Griffith proclaims as she chops off her Staten Island hair ‘If you wanna be taken seriously you have to have serious hair.”

So we’ll see how the photos look! And if I’m still yawning on dates. I’ll simply get back into position and try it again.

Namaste y’all.