Add Saul David Raye to the list...

This week we are in Culver City, staying at a Radisson Hotel (3 stars, oh yes), which is odd and close quarters and just a screaming red underline of the limbo we have both been feeling as we put phase 1 of LA living to bed and gear up for phase 2, but there is one highlight to this displaced life...

My proximity to Exhale, Venice. Exhale, home to yoga's many gods and goddesses. Exhale, where the studio is giant, the beach is blocks away, and the yoga clothes for sale are feeeeeirce. Exhale, where the practice is deep and flowing, and the clientele are poster children for "hip yoga". Myself included, no illusions there. Though sometimes I go without washing my hair, just to feel rebellious. (I would love to be snarkier about the feeling of "elite yoga" that permeates studios like Exhale but the real truth is 1. it's BEAUTIFUL there, and the teachers are many of the best in the nation, and 2. I am not seperate from the elitism of western yoga. The mere fact that I can afford to practice, with both my dollars and my time, is a total and utter luxury. And I am endlessly grateful for it. And, 3. it's possible I feel just a tiny bit intimidated by places so, so, so...shiny, and my desire to make it into something "less than" is my way of feeling, well, MORE than...).

Anyhow, I have been finding every opportunity to drive the mere 15 minutes to Venice and practice there. It's been a delight to get back to some good ol' Vinyasa and to take from some people I've heard about but never taken from, like Saul David Raye--who teaches a lot of the Exhale teacher trainings and so I have been more than curious to take from--and I was BLOWN AWAY by his class.

First of all, and I think this will remain one of The Best Classes I Have Ever Taken because of this--there was live harp music throughout the entire class. Yes. A kind-eyed young man played an eastern harp throughout class and it was so beautiful I thought I might just float right off my mat and have to practice in the rafters for the rest of the hour. Up among the lanterns. If you have ever wondered if you are, indeed, made of water, I suggest you take a vinyasa class while someone plays transcendent harp music. You will find out.

This is not to take any credit away from Mr. Raye, who was both quiet and exuberant--steady and vibrating--like the practice itself, and a teacher I will definitely take from again. And again and again.