Don't Freak Out! Yin with Heidi at Yoga Loka: Reno, NV: February 21, 2020

I’m blogging from my spot beside the fireplace today. Back in Nevada for a week.

The trip from Maui to Reno isn't difficult. In fact, I rather enjoy "the long flight" to and from Hawaii. It takes me a while to mentally transition, to prepare myself for anything that's, well, not Maui.

All teachings of yoga are preparations for Yoga. While we are always connected to God, we don't always know we are. My teacher Ravi Ravindra likes to say, these practices aren't about understanding the Truth, they are about withstanding the Truth. Big truths like Love, Abundance, Peace, Happiness are massive energies to hold. The seventh chapter of the Gita, when Krishna is revealed to the warrior Arjuna, Arjuna says, “my heart is happy but my mind is afraid”. That's exactly how I feel most of the time when I'm in this journey of life. Almost overwhelmed by the glory of God. But also, for whatever reason, when in Maui usually my heart is happy and my mind is fearless. My life in the islands is a practice, a play, a life of expansive capacity to hold great joy for long periods of time.

Our mind has been described by sages as a Truth Slayer. In my struggle with anxiety I have noticed that my worries are usually unfounded, or at least not as bad as I've made them out to be in my pretty little head. While our house in Reno isn't my dream, it sure is nice. And it is awesome to roll down the hill in my Mercedes Benz right into Yoga Loka, one of my favorite studios in the country. And this morning was pure Heaven to land in Heidi's yin class. She eased us into the yin poses with a short sit and pranayama followed by a freeform cat/cow play. She suggested we tuck our toes under from tabletop pose, and when this is offered in yoga classes, you can feel the whole room energetically groan because usually that means coming to toe squat, which for most, including me, is painful. The Truth Slayer hates “tuck your toes” as an opening stretch.

"Don't freak out", Heid said right away. I love her.

And isn't that the play of daily living? To do what you need to do and stop being a freak show when things look scary/difficult/not what you want to do? A happy heart and a courageous mind. At home in your heart and at home in the world.

And thus the challenge to endeavor these alignments of joy and truth and presence. In the physical world it manifests in my left hip and in my house(s). The subsequent yin poses helped alleviate the pain in my hip , but my house(s) issues? It's not the right fit in Reno and not exactly the right fit for full time living in Maui, and from the mat I could see this clearly.

Don't get me wrong, I am so super, like extremely, grateful for my life and what I have. That I have anxiety in the midst of such profound abundance is bewildering. Part of me, the Truth Slayer part, thinks my heebie jeebies will go away with the right house. But if I don't freak out I can also see this a spiritual issue and a call to keep warrioring on; it's not about not fixing my house problem, but more building a home inside to withstand the Truth that the life of a yogi and a touring music executive inherently has house issues. But also the Truth Seeing Self understands that I also have the answers. So keep practicing.

And don't freak out.

Health, Love, and Rock N Roll