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HIYA!

I have decided I want to do some sort of physical work out. I was thinking I'd really like to learn something distinctly Korean. Like a martial art. So I looked into a few of them. But there all full of kicking and punching. Really violently too. I woulnd't mind something full of punching and kicking if it were a bit mild. But these are intense. I'm not comfortable with the idea. There was a time when I felt I'd be okay with it. But I've changed my mind.

Decided on yoga. It's big among Koreans. Somebody once told me of a Korean style yoga. And my boss took me to a yoga studio near the school. Only a few minutes walk. The teacher there said it was Korean style yoga. Sounds great. 60,000 won a month. About $US60. Not too expensive. I could go five days a week, an hour each time. The lady serves tea afterwards too. And there's meditation afterwards. I'm still really interested.

But, the lady suggested buying some Korean style clothing to wear in class. So I went to a place that a lady at the temple suggested. The shop sells monks' clothing and traditional Korean style clothing for daily wear. Not "costumes". I went and told the lady at the shop that I wanted to wear the clothes for yoga. She got really excited. She fussed over what would be best for me. I didn't really like what she had picked out for me. But in the end we agreed on a suit that I like a lot. (If I can borrow a camera or a cell phone with a camera on it I'll put a picture of me on this blog. Actually, I do have three pictures taken just a couple of weeks ago that I will put on. Give me a bit of time please.)

Well, this lady does yoga. She suggested I go to the studio where she goes. So the next Monday her daughter brought me to the studio. Her daughter is charming. Studying English and able to commmunicate better than so many others. Because she's intersted and so motivated.

Anyway, at the studio, the daughter introduced me to the teacher. The guy speaks some English. Then the daughter left. I talked with the teacher for a couple of minutes. We agreed that I'd just watch. He gave me a couple of cups of some nice Chinese tea.

The studio is fairly big but even at 9am on a Monday morning, there were lots of people there. This teacher is called "Master". I wonder what he has done to be called this. Maybe his long hair and that "Chinese style" beard helps. Plus he's been to India for study under some really accomplished ... Master? The guy does amazing things with his body. Incredible. I don't mean to be cynical, really.

The guy seems really adept. Nimble, flexible, and wow. But right away I noticed he didn't say anything to any of his students. Never once in the 45 or so minutes that I sat there did I see him touch anyone to nudge them into the posture better, I never noticed him say anything to any one individual. I felt that I could get the same thing from a DVD.

I had told the first yoga teacher (the Korean style yoga) that I'd go that very Monday morning. At 11:30. But by 9:30 I'd decided to just buy a DVD. And since I'd recently been shopping for a jacket on eBay, I knew how cheap things are on eBay. And that you can buy an enormous variety of things. So I looked on eBay that day.

But then how do you decide what kind of yoga? I looked around a bit and decided I was interested in Kundalini. So I looked on eBay for Kundalini DVDs. There's this lady named Gurmukh. I read a bunch of the reviews and most are positive. Some really really like her routine while others really don't. I read enough of the reviews to decide that I'm really interested. One of the reviewers also recommended another teacher. So I've decided on these two Kundalini yoga DVDs.

I'll save so much money this way over going to a teacher. And I expect to get much much more out of it. Because I'll understand the language! I was in the back of the room watching the teacher and many of the students. Those in the back probably get less from their routine than they can get from a DVD. This teacher didn't give anyone any individual attention. You listen to the teacher, and watch what he does, copy him as best as you can, don't push too much, don't do what you know you shouldn't do.

How is this any different from using a DVD? You can talk with the teacher before and after, and, I suppose, perhaps during the class too. But nobody spoke at all. Of course, you get the energy and serenity of being with a group of people doing something similar. Great. Plus, doing it at home, it might be real easy to find excuses for not doing it. Whereas if you've paid and commited yourself to a class, then you're more likely to go.

Nevertheless, I have decided that for me, in my situation, it's better for me to use a DVD. I'm still interested in this Korean style yoga. Can there really be such a thing?! I may go sometime before my year here is up.

I can't buy the DVDs just yet because I can't use the pay service yet. Soon, I hope. Don't understand what's going on with the pay service.

All right, this was a long one.
Troy.