Poona's teacher, Swami BreezuptawhazooDarlings!
How nice to be back among you! I simply had to return for Mr. Benson's birthday party again this year. Pug has prevailed upon me to give a few yoga lessons, in keeping with Riseholme tradition. Our dear Mrs. Lucas has graciously allowed us to use this lovely smoking parlor in her Elizabethan manor, The Hurst. Is everyone ready? Ah, Contessa, that's a lovely robe you're wearing. Chiffon?
Let us begin
with a few simple exercises for beginners, and then I will move on to more advanced techniques. As I look out among you, I see many who are well advanced on the Path to Spiritual Enlightenment. Such lovely auras, dears. What a lovely purple yours is, Miss Leg. And that deep amber glow can only be Mrs. Trout's. But wait... what's that? I sense a Presence! A soft wing just brushed my cheek. Could it be...?
Come, my sweet. Rest on my shoulder as I conduct the lesson.
Let's begin, dears, with a Salute to the Sun. Stand erect and breathe naturally as you slowly raise your arms above you head and touch your palms together. Oh! I almost squashed Blue Birdie all over again! Birdie, dearest, perhaps you would be safest perched on this golden lampshade during the lesson.
Now, let us assume the Lotus Pose. Sit with your spine straight, dears, and lift the right leg and place the right foot on the left thigh, and then left the left leg and place it in the same way on the right thigh. Comfy? Now fix your gaze at the tip of your nose and breath evenly. Innnnn..... Ooout.... Innn.... Ooout....... Let's remain in this posture for several minutes. What's that? Your foot's falling asleep, Georgie? All right then, let's do a simple exercise for the back and abdominal muscle, the Cobra.
Lie face down on these wonderful rush mats. Keep your legs and feet close together and stretched out straight. Put your forehead on the mat. Now bend you arms at the elbows, palms on the floor next to your shoulders. With a slow inhalation, raise your head, then your neck, then your shoulders, and then your chest from the floor. Look up toward the ceiling. Slowly release your breath in a hissss......... Then bring your chest, shoulders, neck, and head back to the starting position. Repeat this posture three times.
Now that we are feeling more in tune and limber, let's try a simple relaxation technique, the Shiv Asana (Blissful Relaxation). Lie on your back with your hands a little apart from the body, palm upward. You can use one of those little tassled pillows, if you like. Close your eyes and take two or three deep and long breaths. Feel that you are growing lighter and lighter, floating up into the blue sky, communing with the birds and aerial spirits. Enjoy this feeling of weightless bliss.....
ZZZZZZZZZ! Snort!
Oh dear... someone has fallen asleep. Wake up, Pug dear! Now I should like to demonstrate a few advanced techniques which are, alas, quite beyond your capabilities at this time but which, I feel sure, you to can master with diligent practice.
The first posture I'd like to demonstrate is called "The Bashful Fish". See how I hide my face under my long fins? Oh, Birdie don't land there, it tickles! I have *what* in my navel? That's not bird seed, dear, my navel is pierced and those are seed pearls. Oh dear. Too late.
The next posture is called "The Regal Peacock". First I have my "tail" (legs) held out straight, and then I open and close my tail (legs) slowly and gracefully. Isn't this nice? I could hold this posture for hours. It's so restful!
Finally, a quick costume change before I demonstrate the last posture. This one is called "The Playful Leopard." Yes, some of you may have recognized the similarity of this costume to the one I wore in for the famous Poona Portrait that premiered at last year's Benson Art Exhibit. A designer friend of mine in Paris makes these exclusive bodysuits just for me.
And now, my friends, perhaps you'd care to stroll through Mrs. Lucas' garden with me before luncheon? Such a lovely garden, it almost reminds me of home.
Peace!
Poona
The Pride of Poona's Palace
