Reacquainted with Yoga
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.
With all of my good intention, I never practiced at home. I did make dinners, but I also watched endless hours of TV. And the stress wasn’t getting any better, in fact it was getting worse. To cope, I started drifting back to my old habits. It was easy because I now had time to hang out with my old friends, and I always gave myself the excuse that it was temporary, I would be back soon.
Thankfully, I did go back soon. Yoga teaches you to listen to your body, to hear its vibrations, and mine was telling me to go home. I thought about going back to some vigorous classes, but I had a physical retraction just at the thought. I considered going back to some of the other studio I discovered, it somehow rang hollow. I knew I wanted to go back to the UES, where I first learned to love yoga, and where I could perhaps re-learn some of the wisdom I felt I had lost.
I started in basics class with Molly, my first teacher. Her soothing blend of melody, movement and breath soften my mind. Experiencing peace for the first time in weeks, it was a smooth nectar for the soul. I was thrilled by the time i left class, I had re-discovered the joys of yoga, and now just like a year and half ago, I couldn’t wait to take more classes. This time though, I have Brahmacharya to fall back on, moderation. The knowledge that a sweetness can be infinitely extended, if it’s not completely spent the minute you clap eyes on it.
