Mono to Stereo

We just went from mono to stereo. Finally the state of the art sound system that Equinox purchased has Tripp plugged in so that every word we used to “guess” he was saying came through in clear channel surround sound. And what we thought he was saying pales by comparison to what we heard today. It’s not a wonder that he has us all inspired virtually in silence but now that he has the new dimension of sound at his disposal there’s no telling what mountains we can scale. He has an extemporaneous style that enhances our ride using his own life examples and live examples of his own goals and challenges like when he will scale Mount Washington later this month. I like it because I turn it into a stronger pedal stroke. That’s what happened today for me in the 7:15.

Up in front Young Dana looking svelte and in her second Sven class for the day had her other half in the locker room set for his turn in the 8:30 with Damian.  db was in Arizona maybe and is glad to be back in her home saddle in Woodbury and taking care of the tiny humans. 

Enthusiasm

I took this day to reflect on the phenomena of Tripp’s revolutionary brand of spin.  I didn’t feel the way I do now when I took his class for the first time however.  I knew that it was completely different than what I had experienced with some of our other outstanding talent, but I never had inkling that class with Svengali would take on the dimension it has. Someone might say I am taking this spin thing way too seriously.  But I would tell them I am sorry you feel that way because for this writer it has been a crystal clear metaphor for how I can begin my next chapter in life. 

 Enthusiasm is not something that is easy to pull off. You need to be fully associated with it to actually experience it. People can tell when you are being genuine, whether it be anger, joy or even when you are truly happy. Enthusiasm is the gateway I think to every human emotion and when we do have feelings I think enthusiasm allows us to feel everything on a deeper visceral and emotional level.  Too heavy? Not for me but take what you can use and leave the rest, because this is just my experience. 

 The exhilaration is not just a Dionysian form of art it is something that I can use for myself as well as my interpersonal relationships whether they be with family, friends and even more important strangers. If I can take pride in how I relate to people I have no emotional investment in, the other relationships in my life will be enhanced as well.  

Propinquity

Can you just sense our closeness in the CS? I mean we are actually starting to communicate energetically and making eye contact as well. That was unheard of just six months ago. We are smiling at each other knowingly as if we are starting to share our brand of propinquity with each other.  

Tripp has provided us with the radio band that gives us a clear channel of camaraderie that is generally absent in a sport like ours. And it’s not looked at as if you’re crazy when we get demonstrative in class. It’s all passion and if it’s authentic people can read it like Jack n’ Jill.   

Today the energy was palpable and I could swear that the open bike next to me was pedaling all by itself like the television set turning itself on in “Poltergeist”.  A bit of hyperbole but what the hell this is one fun place to be and this hour carries my mood for the whole day, like a hypo of B-12.  

“Let’s Do This” to quote Svengali and I am just so glad we have found each other to share this propinquity together.  

The Prime Ingredient

What lasts 45 minutes to an hour and leaves you with a smile ear to ear? Give up?  Of course it’s spin class with Tripp Doherty, a.k.a. Svengali.  Today our hero was in Scarsdale and Manhattan, the latter being one of the new editions to the Equinox fold. 

We should nominate Tuesday as Tripp Day because he is the only instructor that can book 3 classes full right in a row. Even Kristen can’t do that.  How does he do what he does? Authenticity, Energy and Enthusiasm are the key ingredients. There might be others that you’d like to add but as I have written it’s not so much as what he says as what he does.  

The Katzenjammer is Over

Three Kristen classes in a row primed me for Svengali’s 7:15 this Friday morning. His choreography put me in a freefall of spinning ecstasy.  Some of my favorite spin mates were in attendance in the shortened version of the Trance Inducers time slot. They were the PQ- Debbie J., Sanctifying Grace- Mary McCann and Young Dana.  (Her husband Keith I met for the first time in the locker room). These young women are a treasure and I have difficulty not becoming maudlin when I mention their names. I guess I am feeling paternal again.  That’s what sexagenarians do.  Now Mary, a sexagenarian is not a sex term.  

I am a little hoarse right now because the Lavender Palace was rocking today. It always is with Tripper and spinning with this man ignites my blue flame of enthusiasm every single time I clip in.  45 minutes was really not enough and so I am sitting here contemplating taking the 9:45 KSC but I think my 9:30 appointment will preempt that possibility.  

I am ready to attack the year in the most congruent way, making sure that I continue to be a channel for the people I write about and I will also make sure that my own emotional, mental and spiritual house is attended to as well.  

We talked about the idea of socializing outside of class and the Lake Minnewaska trip was the first foray into galvanizing our camaraderie that is ever growing inside our CS.  Let’s talk about it. Mention it to Tripp or here and as Hayley Mills once sang: Let’s Get Together

Recess

In the space of Kristen’s spin class today our hero was mentioned. He was not only acknowledged but aggrandized as well.  In the presence of Pam Polestino and Kristen on Tuesday in Roslyn I told the two gurus that Kristen is “class” and Tripp is “recess”. Kristen repeated that phrase today in her 8:30 and loved it as an apt description of what sets them apart and by the same token makes his presence not only welcomed as part of her staff but also essential as a compliment to her brand of spin. “We love our Tripper” was a direct quote and you know, she meant it. No small praise from a woman who has a MS in exercise physiology.  I for one have been extolling this man’s talent for a good interval now and for him to be mentioned today was important in my humble estimation and could be mutually satisfying for all those that think he is just grand. 

Get Fired Up!

It's not often I would reprint something but this quote from Thomas Merton lit my match on fire.

The "spark" is not so much a stable entity which one finds but an event, an explosion which happens as all opposites clash within oneself. Then it is seen that the ego is not. It vanishes in its non-seeing when the flash of the spark alone is. When all things are reduced to the spark, who sees it? Who knows it?

Thomas Merton. Love and Living. (New York: Harcourt, 1965) 10

Thought for the Day

The "spark" which is my true self is the flash of the Absolute recognizing itself in me.

Thomas Merton. Love and Living. (New York: Harcourt, 1965) 10