Weird practice. There were even more people than yesterday. The only free spot was the one I had yesterday, too: Right where everyone passes through, with a headlight shining right at my face every time I looked up, but somehow still dark. The person next to me practiced Advanced A and put her sweaty feet on me in difficult arm balances multiple times.

I tried to focus on my practice and stay serene, but with everyone walking by left and right, I couldn’t concentrate, and got more and more annoyed. So, when my favorite spot right by the window opened up later, I did a very rare thing: I took my mat and mat towel and made my way to the front. Nobody stopped me. Later, David even came by and closed the blind for me.

It was still hard to practice in the mood I was in. I kept thinking: “You’re leaving so soon, don’t waste this practice, make it count”, but yesterday was a tiring day, and we’ve been going without moon days for all time that I’ve been here, too. And in a warped logic, I believe that by jumping back fewer times I might save some strength for the drop backs.

Before those, David told me to go up to Bhekasana today. I didn’t get the “up to”, though, and just practiced Bhekasana right after Krounchasana, wondering why I was to skip Shalabhasana. I was clearly not fully with it today. When he came over to ask how it went, I said “well”, which could or could not have been the case. Since I’d done it in my practice at home before I met David, it couldn’t have been all wrong. Either way, he said we’ll go over it again tomorrow. I’d also like him to tell me the exact Vinyasa count for up to where we go in Intermediate, just to make sure I won’t mess up too much.

Assisting went well, apart from two Maricasana D binds that I just couldn’t do. The rest of it went perfectly alright. We learned Kurmasana and Supta Kurmasana yesterday, and I got to assist five or so Suptas. When a new student came in later on, I got to teach her for a while (Suryanamaskara B up to Parsvakonasana B). It’s always so nice when people come in and have a good time straight away.

Since it was so crowded today, there were so many people to help out - I loved it. I really hope there’ll be a chance for me to continue this kind of work at home. The other day David said that I should/ could/ might have to open my own shala. Don’t remember his exact words as I was trying to figure out whether he was joking or not. I said that it might be a bit early for that, and that maybe some kind of teaching or assisting gig elsewhere would be good to start with. So nice that he said that, though, even in case it was just a semi-serious remark. My own shala… I wish!

(I’ll be so incredibly sad to leave this place. I’ll miss all of it so much!)

Was very much dreading the drop backs even before I started my practice. Mostly, I think, because I hadn’t done any since Thursday - Friday’s Led Primary doesn’t include them and Saturday was our day off. David came round to slightly adjust my Trikonasana A and Parsvakonasana A. He seemed quite content with the result. I know he pushes people harder the further they advance, so I guess with the start of Intermediate Series I’m also getting the start of Intermediate treatment. When it was time to get up from my third Urdhva Dhanurasana, it took me a second attempt to manage. Fell on my first try. Took forever to complete all three drop backs and getting up from them myself, too. I think I was fine coming to standing twice, one attempt was rather messy. No foot touching in the pose that might or might not be called Chakra Bandhasana.

It’s always pretty crowded on Sundays. Today I had someone slap my face with his elbow when I was in Prasarita Padottanasana and a girl land a half inch in front of my face with her feet while I was in Kurmasana. 

When it was time for headstand, I asked Jeff, one of David’s assistant teachers, to come over and help me with my alignment. He was of the opinion, too, that I would need to relearn it. Maybe not completely, but that it will be hard enough. Sigh.