I used to think that I was the only person in yoga class who wasn't down with all the chanting at the beginning of class. I don't mind the Oms and a little chant at the end, but in prenatal class there is a whole big chant that goes on for like 10 minutes. (Which is a long time when you've got a human being kicking you from the inside.) I usually sit quietly while the teacher belts it out and a handful of participants chant responsively back. It doesn't bother me at all - I just rather get my breathing in a rhythm and gear up for class. As I've said before, doing yoga pregnant is rather humbling. The legs just won't go from down-dog to a lunge.
However, at Thursday's class I could feel the shift towards my way on thinking as only two or so people chanted back with the teacher. I could hear the woman next to me giggling (she's not down with chanting either) and it was getting harder and harder to stay focused on my breathing. The teacher however, kept it up for TEN MINUTES. "Look," I wanted to say, "you've got a room full of preggos with backaches who want to do The Yoga, enough with the chanting already." But that didn't seem the right thing to do so I just shut my cakehole.
Then yesterday happened. New teacher, same chant. Only this time no one chanted back. NO ONE. As all ten of us sat in complete quiet, the teacher yelled "this is responsive, so RESPOND." This time it was my turn to giggle - I've never been yelled at in yoga before -- as one or two students weakly responded back to the chant. Class progressed and it was pretty good (but what is up with making us do Triangle? The sciatica don't like that.) I thought about writing a note asking for a shorter chant or for some sort of instructions that chanting is not mandatory, but wondered if I was missing the point. I know yoga is not about the pose, it's not about perfection and making your body into a pretzel. It's about feeling good and centered and getting the energy moving in a positive way.
So to chant or not to chant? I say NOT. But don't let me stop you. In fact, come to my class and get me off the hook. The more you chant, the less I have to...
However, at Thursday's class I could feel the shift towards my way on thinking as only two or so people chanted back with the teacher. I could hear the woman next to me giggling (she's not down with chanting either) and it was getting harder and harder to stay focused on my breathing. The teacher however, kept it up for TEN MINUTES. "Look," I wanted to say, "you've got a room full of preggos with backaches who want to do The Yoga, enough with the chanting already." But that didn't seem the right thing to do so I just shut my cakehole.
Then yesterday happened. New teacher, same chant. Only this time no one chanted back. NO ONE. As all ten of us sat in complete quiet, the teacher yelled "this is responsive, so RESPOND." This time it was my turn to giggle - I've never been yelled at in yoga before -- as one or two students weakly responded back to the chant. Class progressed and it was pretty good (but what is up with making us do Triangle? The sciatica don't like that.) I thought about writing a note asking for a shorter chant or for some sort of instructions that chanting is not mandatory, but wondered if I was missing the point. I know yoga is not about the pose, it's not about perfection and making your body into a pretzel. It's about feeling good and centered and getting the energy moving in a positive way.
So to chant or not to chant? I say NOT. But don't let me stop you. In fact, come to my class and get me off the hook. The more you chant, the less I have to...
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