Friday, March 30, 2007

Yoga Back

This is some long over-due news. Yes! March 1st was the first day that I had rolled out that mat in not just since January '06, but add another 6 months before that and then keep going a couple of years if you want to find a consistent practice.

Even then my most consistent and best times were always out of town in other locales besides NYC (?). This has been an ongoing question.

But my real question this past year has been "How will it be?". Different I'm sure, but will it lose its essential quality of calming, strengthening, relaxing, or will it be a twisted reminder that I am not what I was?

ANSWER: (short)

I am one L-U-C-K-Y M-F!

Yoga is amazing.

I am a dope for doubting.



ANSWER: (longer)


The thing is I DID try and do it about 6 months ago and was quickly informed by my shoulder that I wasn't ready. Sorry pal. Call me again sometime.

And another thing is, the body has a natural, beautiful, almost sacred equilibrium and balance to it. Originally that is. If that is ever taken away, you are in for a different kind of life than all the other people walking around in their healthy, balanced bodies, who never give a wink of thought to it. And why would they?

So that equilibrium is challenged everyday by gravity, your posture, your activity or lack thereof, and say, any stray car accidents that may get in your way, among many other things. And mine was literally broken that day. And I have been kind of walking a little crooked, kind of leaning to the left ever since.

But it HAS been getting steadily better through the months. This supposed setback in February was enough to signal a true second chance has been given. (Please don't waste your blessings, sir)

So March 1st was the day to find out.

And dude, believe me, if you lay off yoga for a year or two or three and try and do it again, it is going to be a little rough in the beginning. I have, in my past, layed off, tried it again, and I felt WORSE the next day. But that is an illusion!

But I can tell you that even that first day I was more relaxed, breathing deeper (and that is huge) and feeling better than I had in months.

Was I crooked? I think yes, maybe a little. Maybe its the plate (which is coming out in Jan) holding me, maybe its just how it is. Disconcerting at first, but practice is the answer.



Fast forward.

This has been a great month. I have missed only a couple of days. The unfolding of the practice is back on track...