I came to SPACE because I wanted to learn yoga through asana practice. It turns out that SPACE continuously surprises me with different ways to practice yoga, both on and off mat.

Asana practice in SPACE is not easy. The teachers are always “nagging” me and pushing me to my limits. Meeting one's own edge is not easy. Therefore, I “hate” my teachers in classes though I love and embrace them afterwards. I find hip openers most challenging. In Anusara, hip openers are deep and transformative. Doing hip openers releases my tensions and makes me want to cuss and cry. The relentless teachers call the sensations in hip opening “joy” as they move on to even deeper hip openers. Therefore, I try to persuade myself that I learn most from the most difficult situations. After a few rounds of hip openings, I become more open to things that used to be difficult for me. For example, I get to smile at the policeman who is writing me a ticket instead of swearing at him; the policeman is more adorable than my yoga teacher. If I could embrace my teacher after class, I can certainly bless the policeman who stopped me for violating traffic rules.

Besides regular Anusara classes, I also take workshops. I try to take the whole sequence of workshops since I am a slow student. I usually don't get what the teacher is talking about until the third day. SPACE workshops are amazing. These master teachers always present different teachings that make me think about what I've previously learned. For instance, Desiree says contract the rhomboid in Chaturanga; but a month later, in the same studio, Aadil says lengthen the serratus anterior instead in the same pose. Then came Bruce, who mitigated that I do it in between. The climax came with Ateeka, whose teaching is without alignment and asana practice altogether.

SPACE is a place where different lineages are introduced and different views are presented. For example, should the fingers stay together or spread wide in warrior poses? Learning yoga in SPACE, to me, is challenging to the physical body yet more to my mind. By attending SPACE workshops, I can never hold on to one belief system for too long. It is always challenged and renewed. I have to stretch my mind wide open to accommodate these seemingly-conflicting ideas presented by different teachers, especially the master teachers.

Coming to SPACE presents me with another challenge in that it brings up my desire for luxurious stuff. If not for yoga, I won't have the budget for expensive expenditures. Some SPACE students are high in social status and income, but yoga equalizes us. I see in locker room their nice underwear, in contrast to my own shabby one, and beautiful yoga outfits carried in branded bags. My SPACE mates take taxis to studio instead of buses, and they bring me to pricey vegetarian restaurants. Good thing Felina showed me a delicious and affordable vegetarian noodle stand. Thanks to the moneyed pals whom I don't meet elsewhere, beautiful things beckon me from windows when I linger on the streets before class begins. Sometimes I act on my impulse and buy things I stopped buying after practicing yoga. For now, looking at those beautiful things and the ensuing temptations instead of suppressing breath and walk away presents another challenging yoga practice.

SPACE presents yoga to me in many ways, in body, in behavior, in belief system as well as in relationship with my purse.