How'd She Know? Yoga with Lucia at The Atruim Yoga Studio: Houston, Texas: February 27, 2018
I chose to go to this studio because it was close but also because I liked their logo.
I woke up before the sun this morning because David was yelling from the front of the bus. He’s been at his desk since who-knows-how-early with a fresh email indicating our bank account had been hacked. Nothing makes him, and me too I guess, more nervous than money mischief. Two hours later, after sorting out and closing accounts, its no wonder I felt queasy on my 2 mile walk to yoga.
Lucia started the vinyasa class in downdog . Really? Of all days to start in a pose that actually takes some effort. "I know" she said, "it’s a challenge but that’s what we’re taking about today so lets jump right in". I've been in a challenge since 6:30 AM, and if you want to get technical about it, I've been in challenge for two solid days.
How’d she know? How did she know I had my bank challenge, a lawsuit threatened, our singer quit, my cousin is losing his battle with cancer, my mom is mad at me. Challenges?
On tour I travel around, taking yoga classes randomly , meaning wherever is closest and has a class time that works. Whether or not its my style or type, whether I have to walk or uber, this is not so much up to me as it is what the world offers up. More often than not, it’s not anything I would have chosen , but every single time I get a good dose of soul medicine. Thank you thank you.
This leads me to believe, without a shadow of a doubt, there is a bigger intelligence out there.
Left up to me I would have picked a class that let me curl up in a little ball with a blanket thrown over me. But today's class was full of deep backbends. Have you ever done camel and wheel when you're sick to your stomach? I always do my best to follow along in a class, to follow the teacher. Because the real practice in life is following the Cosmic Teacher, life and all the lessons and challenges. Hence, yoga sutra 1.2 "yoga chitta vrittis nirodahah", yoga is the quieting of the mind so we can experience the world with as little ego of what we think about it all. There is no suggestion in any of the yogic texts to curl up and run for cover.
At the end, in savasana, I didn’t want class to end. Please don't send me back into the world, I thought. But of course the class ended. Everything does. Impermanence is one if the biggest teachings that's here to help us calm and quiet our minds. I know these challenges will morph and pass and ultimately make me stronger.
I know. I know, I know, but man, some days it feels like I’ll never learn.
Health, Love, and Rock N Roll.