And the winner for best yoga class goes to...

I went to Kira’s “Tuning” workshop yesterday, which was billed as a way to “focus on sinking into our underbellies.” It was the best experience my belly has ever had. I was a little afraid we’d have to do a lot of ‘core’ strengthening muscular work. Thank god we didn’t; instead we started laying on our backs while doing all this stuff to our stomachs, like poking, kneading and uddiyana bandha.

The reason for “sinking into our underbellies,” Kira explained, is that we store our subconscious fears, desires, and other demons there. It was revolutionary for me to gain even just a little sensitivity in such a powerful area. And it was fun to be in that room with other people also trying out the same new awareness. I don’t think I was the only one who was a little nervous but excited when Kira said how deep we’d be trying to go.

She warned us that we might feel a little crazy later that night. I went to a bar to watch the Oscars and almost teared up every single time someone won an award, for some reason especially during the montages. I was only drinking tea! Every image touched me more personally than usual. I was ecstatically happy when Once got the best song and when my favorite stripper-novelist won best screenplay. I was overwhelmed with love for the 98 year old honorary Oscar winner when he was helped to the podium by Nicole Kidman.

Maybe I was high on all the stirred-up toxins in my body, or maybe softening in my belly, that dark cave of fears, allowed me to feel more open and receptive to my own feelings.