Bovine News

1. The female buffalo (cow) on the way to the water trough notices me.













2. After two minutes staring with both eyes, the cow starts sizing me up with just the left eye while literally chewing it over... two more minutes pass...
















3. Traffic goes around cow as cow considers situation.


















4. Cow decides my interest in her is harmless and she can approach the water trough and take a drink.













Speaking of cows... my dosha is Kapha with a distant secondary Vata. This makes me in many ways like a cow and (my theory is) highly suited to Ashtanga. Kapha types tend to be strong but not easily motivated to action. They tend to be slow, grounded, trusting, loyal and did I say slow?

I am noticing that a lot of people in this Ashtanga Mecca are rajasic... leaning toward what in the west is called the "type A" personality. It seems that - while satisfying because it seems to reinforce their coping strategies and world view - Ashtanga exacerbates the rajasic, hot, excited, strenuous, conquering and achievement side in these people. This can be summed up in the phrase that a long-time student said to one of my dinner mates when my dinner mate unwittingly tried to put her mat down in the front row. Long-time rajasic ashtangi: "This is my spot!"

Me, on the other hand... Ashtanga pushes uncomfortably against my desire to sleep! The last thing I think I am naturally inclined to do is get up early and create a lot of heat. It is balancing for me because it is not the direction I grow were I to grow like a weed. So, an injury is always a delicate thing for me. Am I being careful or lazy - or both?