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Hosh Yoga was named with purpose. “Hosh” is the Turkish word for “good and kind,” It is the root word of “welcome” and “happiness.” In sanskrit “hosh” means “awareness” or “awakening.” And “XOS,” the Turkish spelling spelling of “hosh,” is, as the studio’s owner Hamid Elsevar explains, comprised of X’s and O’s – approptiate, since Hosh Yoga is all about spreading the love.

Many studios in the neighborhood offer community, or pay-what-you-wish, classes during the week, but Hosh is the only all pay-what-you-wish, non-profit yoga studio. The Hosh operation began during the summer of 2009, when Hamid and other volunteer instructors began conducting open sessions in McCarren Park on the corner of Lorimer and Bedford. When the weather became too cold for tree pose among the trees, Hamid took the class indoors to a bare-bones basement studio in a gym on Calyer St. But this past June, Hosh reopened in a new location on Nassau Ave. in super close proximity to Lomzynianka, for loading up on pierogies before class. (Although trust me, it doesn’t help flexibility.)

In my 6:30pm Friday class, taught by Hamid, the environment had a more relaxed air than most yoga studios. Shoes came off at the door, but students kept their belongings beside their mats, and Hamid peppered instructions with jokes. He soundtracked the class with contemporary indie rock, and mellow favorites, Thom Yorke crooning to us as we tried to bring our chests to our knees. “Soon, you can all go party!” Hamid said over the music, as he watched our thigh muscles shake in chair pose. This is the man who understands my motivations. The studio space is huge, with high ceilings, sunny yellow walls, and beautiful, wood floors installed by Hamid and friends. Clear, Edison-style bulbs hang fashionably from the ceiling. Hamid and his generous volunteer crew will be finishing the build out of Hosh’s second yoga room in time for new year’s resolutioners to take advantage and nine new classes of varying intensity will be added to the diverse schedule. Hosh also plans to expand into schools and to offer retreats, all depending on the gracious donations of its students – so practice and give!

Sweet and delicious interchangeable play of accordion and base slowly started making its way into my busy mind. My body started leaning towards the music but my legs kept moving in the direction of the train doors like an unstoppable metronome. I made it, I caught it, I’m in the train, I have control over my precious minutes and the victory over time is mine.

me(m): this is so wrong
the other me(tom): what do you mean wrong?
m: I want to listen
tom: well, you are standing in front of the door facing them
m: for another five seconds
tom: instead of arguing just listen, three seconds by the way, better enjoy it
m: screw this
tom: wow, hold up, we are going to waste a lot of time!

Train doors close behind me; nobody is on the platform, except the music and me. I sit on the bench right by the band, close my eyes and soak in the tunes. I missed this feeling so much. It comes and goes setting me off on a rollercoaster. Actually missing that train gave me a chance to get the best seat, listen more and talk to these guys. I should do this more often.

I was behaving myself like that theology student on his way to make a speech about being a good Samaritan while passing by in a hurry a slouched over person on the steps of the auditorium. Where am I running? Do I really have something pressing to get to right at this moment? Honestly…no. I just got out of a yoga class, shopped around a bit and set out on my way home. Where did all of that yoga ways have evaporated? If the only place I can practice my “yoga” is on the mat, then I have even more to work on than I thought…Not this time, not today, I can still surprise myself.

m: thanx guys, where can I see you play?
accordion player continuing to play with one hand and reaching for a contact card with another: email me, I’ll tell you

Train doors close behind me, it moves. I find a comfortable seat, close my eyes and fuse the gentle rocking of the train with fading away dancing sounds of music. Smile…I should do this more often.

music in the tubes

To counter balance all of the intense strengthening of the thigh and hip, at the end of class we released into half pigeon. Starting off on the right side we stayed in the pose longer than usual. My practice has allowed me to get into half pigeon fairly easily now, but remaining in the pose for what seemed like an eternity had pushed my practice right to the edge. When the teacher brought us out of it I was more than relieved, I let out a quiet but large sigh as I stepped my foot back and returned to downward facing dog. As we transitioned to our left leg I was starting to become apprehensive. Although the teachers remind us to practice each pose as if it were our first time, the opening of my right hip was a much stronger reminder that this might get intense.

I lay my foot down, took in a deep inhale and exhaled slowly into the pose. I was a little tense, not wanting to leave my hip as vulnerable and opened as it was on the right side. But, with each breath as I was able to slowly deepen into it.

As I took in one more full breath and exhaled I entered a state of complete release and relaxation that I had not experienced before. I could visualize my body from a third person in half pigeon, the silhouette of my body stretched out on the mat. I began to notice a wave like energy radiating from my body. With my palms facing each other I could feel warmth flowing between my hands. I was in bliss. I remained focused, breathing even more deeply, allowing the hip to open even more fully and trying to let go of physical and emotional tension. I took in one more breath and exhaling slowly pressed myself back up and flowed my way back to downward dog.

I walked away from class floating, with a new appreciation for the practice and a sense of warm loving that is more than enjoyable in these cold, dreary, depressing winter city days. When you allow yourself the extra time and care for your body, you will be amazed at what your heart will allow and open up to.

The union of ying and yang, mind and body, crazy moments in subway and peaceful rest in the park. No wonder people are drawn to New York City, and whether they leave or not, nothing is imprinted in their mind and soul as this city. To enjoy this city and what it has to offer better, I feel it is important to be grounded, focused. Of course one has to have energy to spare, sometimes getting 25 out 24 hours a day. However multitasking, which I might add is highly overrated, shortens our attention span to mere seconds.

Here comes the morning practice, something I personally want to cultivate and mold into my everyday life as a permanent healthy habit. Waking up and grounding myself with few poses and deep breath is a great way to start your day anywhere, especially in the city of constant stimulation. Many reasons can be in our way to stop us, mind you the ones we made for ourselves. We might tell ourselves that unless we do a certain number of poses in a certain environment we can not consider it worthy of calling yoga. Many other reasons can be quoted as to why we can’t or shouldn’t do something, like with everything in life.

Being the decisive element in your life you can look at this situation from a different perspective. Even if you do one Down Dog, couple of Sun Salutations and a Sahavasana, that’s yoga. Seating in a chair and stretching for two mintues, that’s yoga. Walking on the street and breathing deeply while taking in the world, that’s yoga. You decide what yoga is for you and when you are ready you will have your morning/evening or any other time of day or style practice on and off the mat.

Coming back to the topic at hand this morning I did a sequence of five Sun Salutaionts, Low Lunges, Warrior I and II on both sides, Chair Pose, Dolphin Plank and finished it off with multiple twists and a headstand. That was my personal choice of today. Tomorrow I will do my best to practice again early morning, and it might be completely different. Whatever it is, as soon as it puts a smile on my face and makes me sing and dance, helping me to cherish the present moment, appreciate my past the way it is and take a peek at what’s coming ahead.   Namaste.