I have been watching Numb3rs TV show lately. If you are not aware of this show, it shows how Math can be used to solve any crime. How cool is that? Or you can say, how geek are you! Same difference...
Anyways, one of the episodes is titled - "The uncertainty principle". It tries to explain how humans change their behavior when they are being observed. Well, I did study about Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in college but obviously do not remember the details.
Yesterday I experienced something similar to what they explained in that TV show first hand and thought will jot it down. Did some research and found out that there is a bug in the TV show :)
The explanation of the uncertainty principle in that episode is misleading. It is in fact not the uncertainty principle but the "observer effect". Both are related that's how I came to know the difference. When you search in WIKI about the uncertainty principle it mentions about the observer effect.
Both are aspects of quantum mechanics, but the uncertainty principle states the impossibility to measure the value of some pairs of variables like location and speed of a particle at the same time with absolute certainty, while the observer effect states that observing an object always has an effect on the object.
The later is the one which I want to relate to human behavior.
I started going to Bikram Yoga from last week. I am quite happy I made this choice and I am enjoying the 105 degree Fahrenheit, 45% humidity hot yoga unlike most of the reviewers on Yelp who complained a lot about everything :)
I did learn Yoga before from a very good Guruji in India who became quite a public figure right now. So I was taught well. I knew all the postures they were teaching but had difficulty in doing them to full extent as it had been 2 decades since I last practiced serious Yoga.
I was happy. I went to 3 sessions already and I was improving with every session. Yesterday I went in quite energized with a strong intention to challenge my body a little more. While entering into the Yoga room I saw someone coming out, a very familiar face. At first I thought I knew her from Chinmaya Mission's Om Run. We practiced together and I was quite impressed with her dedication. She signed up for 5k run, decided to do the 10k run during the practice and the next year later she did the half marathon. When I saw her I thought no wonder she was able to do the half marathon, she does Bikram Yoga!
All of a sudden thoughts of me at the finish line for the half marathon crossed my mind and my heart was filled with joy. I am following the exact path as she did and my dream of finishing a marathon by the time I hit 40 seemed so real. Well, I even thought of introducing myself to her after the class and letting her know how she has become my role model in a split second!
I settled down on my mat and eagerly looked at the door to see where she is going to come and sit. She came in and sat in the same row just one mat next to me. Her friend was sitting in between both of us and she started talking to her friend. I looked at her but she did not recognize me. We met a few times during our practice session and used to exchange hello nods and smiles never knew any more details. But then I thought she was looking a bit different this time.
Then it became all clear. She is not the person who I thought she was. Instead, we both did MS together. We both took some 3 -4 classes together and did a project together for a whole semester. She used to come to my place while integrating our work. Last I heard she was working at Google and climbed the success ladder pretty quick.
I sent her emails during my initial job search in 2005 and she conveniently ignored my emails. My husband said may be she does not want to forward your resume as she thinks you are her competition. Whatever!
But her presence in the room changed everything. I am seeing her after almost 8 years. She did not change a bit in how she looked. I changed quite a bit, gained lots of extra pounds. May be I was embarrassed too conscious of my appearance, worried what she is going to say once she recognizes me...
The class started and I started feeling funny in my stomach. I did eat very less the previous night, was not able to sleep well and was starving when I woke up. Once the class progressed I started looking into the mirror before me to see if I can see her, how well she is doing the postures to determine if she is a veteran at this or a beginner like me. My view was blocked. I was constantly checking my posture as I was quite sure she would be watching me too :)
I felt nauseated and dizzy while doing some of the postures. That is quite common with the intensity they make us do the whole thing for 90 mins but then Today felt different.
To be continued...
