"Om" means "Wow"

My yoga teacher Delana said this morning that "om" basically means "wow!" Now, that's a new translation to me! She also reads sutras to us and today read sutras on friendliness and compassion, and not being competitive. She also said something funny when I was in a backbend that made me crack up--it is a very strange experience to laugh in that position. I like this class a lot--it's held at Gold's Gym in Santa Cruz,so we get to hear all the conversations of people working out. One woman, just outside the door, kept describing her allergies, in detail, and said, "This weird weather is DRIVING MY ALLERGIES CRAZY! First it's like spring, then it's like fall. Spring! Fall! Spring! Fall! It's like the weather just can't decide what it wants to be!" My teacher got up and turned up her music at that point.

I am getting a lot better at yoga--when I first started, I was amazed at all the little islands of pain throughout my body, especially in my feet, hips, and shoulders. Shoulders are still a problem, but my balance is a hundred times better, and I am slowly losing my fear of falling over. It's hard not to feel competitive with 18,000 buff people working out within sight of my class, but I am getting better at it.

I just realized that if you combine "om" with "wow" and mix it up a little, you get "mow." Strange thoughts promenade in my mind after yoga; it must have something to do with all the blood rushing to my head when I am upside down.