This blog has a big fat disclaimer to start off with…there’s 8000 years of ancient Indian history about yoga. I don’t know anything about that stuff, and I’ve hit my head too many times.
Holiday blues got you down? I’ve had them since the Fourth of July. Namaste to yoga for honing my drishti so I can find my prana. Holidays can suck! St. Patrick’s Day, Columbus Day, Valentines, daylight savings. I do like Halloween, but December Holidays are rough. And that is why there’s yoga.
Shut down your brain, breathe, stretch, and listen to someone tell me I’m a badass. I was just trying to get in better shape and wanted the physical benefits without the mysticism. I still don’t know much about yoga, but I’ve learned shutting your eyes and breathing is nice. Not only during the holidays but most days.
Now that it’s apparent yoga has so many scientifically proven brain benefits it’s used in TBI recovery, PTSD treatment and many other medical recovery programs.
My practice has been computer videos and it took a few weeks to find my Yogi. The search “beginner yoga” didn’t weed out the complex classes or the instructors who flubbed their left from their right. As a beginner it’s super important I don’t try and reach for the wrong ankle while lying on my chest. For me www.jenhillman.com She’s RAD!
Now with almost 3 months of learning the basics of yoga and what’s expected in a live class, I took my yoga to the streets. Just down the road from the Safety Third compound is Beaver Creek, Colorado. It’s a wonderful ride on the motorcycle. The “Beave” isn’t for riff raff like me. Boutique shops, high end art galleries and neighborhoods of multimillion dollar homes. Today, Beaver Creek is offering a free yoga class and free is the only thing I can afford at the “Beave”.
Being on a motorcycle means I can park wherever I want, at least I try. Squeeze it in tight, near the door and save spots for cars. I’ve grown up very little, but I try and park like an adult these days. This day…I was running late. Not sure of where the class was, I scanned the area for yoga pants or maybe “OM” on a T shirt. With my mat poking out of the Harley, I just rolled thru the village and parked next to my new yogi.
After 45 minutes of vinyasa and some downward dog, a young man posing as law enforcement asked the class “Whose motorcycle is this?”. Of course, “It’s not a motorcycle, it’s a chopper” popped into my head, but I rolled up my mat and said “sorry”. While changing from my annoying yoga outfit and into my annoying biker outfit, this cherub of justice and I went back and forth. “Who told you, you could park here?” I was calm from Ujjayi and just said “Sorry buddy I’m moving it”. Not missing his chance to keep up the rhetoric “who would park like this?” he also used the opportunity to radio this one in. After getting my boots on and stashing my yoga mat into the saddle bag, I said “Shanti”. Well, this flashlight chamberlain just called me in to the Sheriff’s Department and informed me I’m “leaving the scene”. I’ve seen scenes and created most of them. The entire Shala has the front row to this battle of non-wisdom. My new yogi even gave me a “sorry brother”. I still wonder if she rides.
The main drag out of the village is 25 mph and there’s a wide load tractor trailer backing a long line of cars to an even slower crawl. Tucked in tight to the edge of the road and almost alongside of the car in front of me provided cover just as three sheriff deps go flying by. Seriously, three deputies on their way to…I still don’t know. I got on the highway and never looked at my wake. Yet another benefit of yoga is keeping you calm while eluding law enforcement.
Now I annoy an entirely new Shala. Just over the mountain in a small railroad town is where I get my chaturanga on. Of course, I parked right in front of the studio doors and my bikes pranayama is loud. I didn’t know yogi’s get their meditation on as a pregame to practice. I got some looks after turning off Trigger and walking in, but I have a mat. To these folks that’s way cooler than a Harley.
I’ll try to introduce the “Downward Hog” but first meditating through the holidays.
namaste