Shiva, Gumby, Buddha, Barbie, Ken, Luke Skywalker and the Thigh Master on the altar.
Dear Friends,
What is this? This is my altar, or at least most of it, on the window ledge at the Taj (the Magic 8 Ball must be out wandering around the room). My altar has grown organically over the years. Everything here reminds me of a concept or story that I wish to bring into class or into my own practice.
I like to play with the idea that even the most commonplace object has something to offer us. The action hero toys, lined up in a row in this photo, are a terrific visual prop that assists me in showing students how to move, or how not to move. Probably not quite what Mattel Toys had in mind. Invaluable as they are, they are also silly, which leads to an activity I hold near and dear: laughing.
One of the great joys of this window ledge menagerie is that it constantly changes, a life lesson discussed in yoga. However, I'm not the one changing the altar. It is the teachers and students of the Taj who pose the dolls when I am gone, make clothes for Barbie, and bring devil horns to place on the Buddha when yet another radical decries yoga as "devil worship." This is a visual representation of the good-natured community at the Taj, and I am constantly amused by this altar that has a life of its own.
Hope you are having a great summer.
Theresa Elliott
Director, Taj Yoga
Co-Director, Pacific Yoga Teacher Training
0 comments:
Post a Comment