Entry 5 How Yoga Has Changed My Life

You know how hard it is to make a few really good friends in a lifetime? I mean GOOD friends. If you’re like me, you can count them on one hand. If you’re lucky, you can count them on more than one finger.

I’m a Yoga NEWBIE. Less than three years since my first class, with Stacy, at the “old studio” on 30th Avenue. Even though I was pathetic at it, I tried my darndest and got through that first hour and a half, leaving with muscles quivering, perspiring, a little dazed, probably.
I’m not sure why, but I went back again.

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but at some time in the interim, I got “hooked” and have been a pretty regular student. Each and every time I made an effort to get to class and tried my best to do the poses without embarrassing myself (with balancing poses my most defeating attempts) I came away with a sense of “atta girl” – you got some of it right! You’re up to the challenge and progress does come, even if dribs and drabs, seconds spent in a upright “tree”,
remembering to bring my shoulders “back and down”, being told my hips were indeed level!

The first time I saw a wall of yogi’s in inversion with the head hanging between two blue metal chairs, a woolen blanket on each, I told myself I couldn’t do it and I was convinced of it. Fear held me back. The first time I saw it, I respectfully declinded. Eventually my mat neighbor Gail inspired me and told me I could, even without core strength, and I watched with envy as her legs swung effortlessly up to the wall. When I did muster up whatever I needed to give it a go, I was amazed! Even MY legs could do that! The did float up against all odds (and gravity) and I hung there, face red with rushing blood, temples pounding, smiling! I had done it!!!

The physical aspects of my relationship with yoga are perfectly complemented by the philosopical aspects. My poor, wandering, cluttered, chattering thoughts can be momentarily focused, tuned to a positive vibe, if only for a minute or two. But the beauty of it is I have the power to go to those good places in my mind whenever I want! Like a great phone chat with your best friend. It’s always there, always available, always listening, always encouraging, always teaching, always challenging. Always appropriate to the moment, to YOUR moment, to where you are and to what you need. How could it get any better than that?

I like to think my best friend makes me a better person, by example, by kindness, by understanding and listening to me even when I’m a total idiot or a mind numbing bore. And so I feel my yoga practice does the same. It’s the total package, the real deal, and I have come to need it, and respect it, and love it. And I get all that back and more from my practice. I can love myself, and respect myself, and best of all, take it outside the door when I leave Living Room Yoga, and be a nicer, more respectful member of the race out there. Sometimes the contrast is a little jarring, getting in my car, watching the speeding traffic on 16th Street. But go ahead, I’ll let you merge in front of me. Have a great evening. Be kind. Good karma for me, good karma for you, my friend. Help yourself and pass it on There’s enough to go around. I’m gonna go call my best friend. Sally Brown