Inner Peace...

Last night I went to a yoga class (not my idea). I've never done yoga before but I was under the impression it was some sort of exercise.

I didn't think the language barrier would be too much of a problem as I thought I could just copy what everyone else was doing; this is not so easily done when you are lying flat on your back. I could understand 'left leg' and 'right arm' etc but couldn't understand the verbs telling me what to do with them. I turned my head to the look at the man lying next to me; he seemed to know what he was doing so I discreetly began to copy him.

It wasn't too difficult, just a lot breathing and clenching. I had a quick look round when the instructor was on the other side of the room; I looked to the man next to me and he was watching what I was doing - he was copying me! He was German so I don't know why he couldn't work out what we were supposed to be doing.

The instructor was talking in a very soothing voice but of course I didn't know what she was saying. I was lying with my right leg in the air as everyone seemed to be doing but then she marched over to me and yanked my leg across my body and pressed it down, talking all the while in German.

The next part of the class was sitting cross-legged on the mat, hands resting on knees with thumb and middle finger touching, chanting 'Ommmmm.....' I couldn't believe people actually did this! I had to try very hard not to laugh!

After the chanting, the next part of this grueling workout was to lie down (again) under a blanket (I didn't have a blanket - I foolishly forgot to put any quilts into my gym bag before I came out), in the dark. The instructor then lit an insense stick and wafted it about the room whilst telling us to breathe through the left lung and purge our aura (or something).

The man next to me began to snore so I knew he wasn't getting much out of it either.

I left feeling like I'd wasted an hour of my life, which of course I had. At least the Bakery Boys weren't there on the way home - at the tram stop near my house (this tram stop is apparently the 'worst' part of town although personally I think it's Händelstrasse; there's a group of aging rockers there who are under the same tree any time of the day or night, drinking beer and staring at people walking past) there are steps in front of the Grimminger bakery, which are occupied by several boys who smoke and stare (they are probably the next generation of Händelstrassers). I don't feel unsafe exactly, it's just a bit off putting...

Tonight I will go to Mannheim, I need to buy a present for the baby. It's very cold outside though and the fog is so thick you can't see to the end of the street.