Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Equinox | Sun Rising in Geelong

Finally, a few days after the September Equinox, the sun finally appeared in its splendid glow, to mark an almost perfect east-west line with its own reflection. I enjoyed viewing the rising from different frames, encounteredin the Cunningham Pier.


Saturday, September 21, 2013

running | Geelong, Limeburners Point

Today a 5k run to Limeburners Point: running, as usual, has brought solace.

View from Limeburners Point
Najarasana at the land art "Rhythms of Life" by Andrew Rogers (2006)
Total run length: 4.8km

Thursday, September 19, 2013

equinox | sunrise in Geelong

As the September —trying to be "politically correct" — equinox approaches I am trying to view the sun rising from the waterfront in Geelong at the true east, as following this yearly quadrennial  cyclic ritual throughout different places in the workd. This morning I was not able to witness the anticipated majestic views of sun rising from the bay while slowly reflecting its light on the water. Finally from the sharp gray light in the crispy waves some orange red hue slow appeared. The cold windy morning for a few minutes felt warmer, then back to the gray which announced the rain.
I keep repeating the same question: when will spring arrive?

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Practice | Carrying a Yoga Mat

In the past week I have been carrying along my yoga mat, which has been my constant and sometimes only companion since when I left New York and landed in Australia on March 12. Yoga practice has been a solace and reference point throughout these months of uncertainty, isolation and marginalization. I practice a short vyniasa sequence, a surya namaskar (sun salutation) which includes a sirsasana (headstand) in the morning, as soon as I wake up. And I repeat the same sequence in the evening, before dinner. My yoga practice usually happens in my room 16ft x 7ft where I also sleep, eat, research, read, design, draw, listen to music and communicate with people in my life across the ocean.
The past week has been one of the toughest, in the roller-coaster of my academic and personal journey and I decided to carry my practice outside, wherever the day was taking me. Although I practiced outdoor only once, during a warm spring announcing day, carrying the yoga mat has provided a sense of safety from my feeling of vulnerability, becoming the Linus blanket du jour. Although a yoga practice does not require a mat, this physical object has it own value and its presence makes me feel less vulnerable. A yoga mat —or whatever space occupying object— represents a potential to occupy a mobile space with your identity, a visible marker of a temporary occupied territory, even if the location moves: it becomes a metaphor of "being in the world" a liaison/interface between body and earth. And it is also a way to affirm diversity, especially in a place where yoga is definitely not a mainstream practice as in in my home town. 
 
I am truly looking forward to next week: hopefully spring will be coming to stay!