Picnics in the Park • 09.23.08
We come to class, we roll out our mats, and follow our breath to find our center. This is the ideal. I usually get to step two, rolling out the mat. From there, it’s only a matter of time before I’m distracted. Hopefully, its the effort I’m putting in to sustaining the pose that’s distracting me, or maybe my determination to hold on that extra breath, and take my practice to the next level. But usually it isn’t. Sometimes, I’m distracted by the thong in full view, in front of me because the pants on the girl dip too low when she sits. Plummer style.
I’m bothered by this conundrum — should I tell her, I know I’d want to know! I figure, it’s OK, only I notice — since only i have the “backseat”. But then a man rolls out his mat next to me, and … as I predicted, he notices too, and now I feel REALLY obliged to tell her, but I don’t. Instead, I chew over this for what seems like hours. Thoughts like this, throw my practice off center. I chastise myself, I shouldn’t be so easily distracted. It’s not about how others look, or even how I look, this is my time to focus inwardly, and see what’s true.
(more…)

After an extended hiatus from yoga, I went back. Dealing with stress at work, and other sources of drama, I had lost sight of my practice, for what seemed like months. It’s easy to put off going to the mat, after a long day at work, sometimes a bubble bath was more appealing than sun salutations. I got tired of coming home at 9:30 – 10pm — too late to put anything together besides Lean Cuisine, and barely enough time spend with my better half. I was a certified teacher, I figured it was time to put some of my training to use and develop a home practice.




