Wisdom from the Mat

As we settled into Shavasana at the end of Sunday morning's yoga class (Shavasana being "corpse pose" - you get to lie motionless on the floor after an hour of full-body stretching and movement), our instructor Jeannie offered the following wisdom that really resonated with me. She was encouraging us to tap into the part of ourselves which hasn't changed since we were children:
"There's a part of yourself that has always known ... that, in fact, it's your true essence to be happy."

In entirely unrelated news, one of my housemates got flowers the other day. I spent the first couple of days skeptical that these closely-drawn petals would ever choose to blossom open in late January, then the next few admiring their open-faced beauty. I finally caught them in good light today and couldn't resist taking a few pictures (and subsequently playing around editing said pictures):

Ain't it pretty?

Simple editing software still amazes me some days.

I loved seeing the pollen caught on the petal.

It looks almost playdohlike up close.

There you have the beginning of my week: yoga inspiration and science fun time in the comfort of home. Up next: VISTA training and taxes (both almost as fun).

Life in Yoga-land

I would like to extend a huge thank-you to Yoga Synergy of Fairfield for understanding the financial situation of a VISTA and being flexible in providing membership at a discounted rate. I now have full access to the studio's yoga classes for the next seven months - the rest of my service term - and I love it already.

First, it's just great to be back into stretching and pushing my body in new ways. My last yoga class was nearly a year ago (before my world travels) and I love that I enjoy yoga enough now to appreciate it being back in my life. After a childhood of viewing the practice as silly and superfluous, I now my giant group stretch sessions to start a weekend right.

Second, this is hot/heated yoga, which brings in a whole new dimension. I was a bit nervous when I read various hot-yoga-beginners tips online about what to do if when you feel nauseous, how the mid-class misery will pass and leave you glowing, and all that. Fortunately, our classes were pleasantly heated rather than stifling hot and/or incredibly humid. Compared to the wintry outdoors, the room feels great. It wasn't until we started moving through poses that I began to sweat and appreciated the towel I had brought. (Everyone brings a towel; Douglas Adams would be so pleased.) The heat allows you to get deeper into poses. It allows me to get into some of them at all after so long not seriously stretching.

Third, it's fun social time! I know some yoga is very quiet and introspective, but this isn't that yoga. Well, it is but it isn't. A large portion of our time is spent reflecting on our own poses, but both instructors I've had thus far have known everyone in the class' name (everyone being about 15 people each time) and the second class devolved into a light-hearted conversation on male-female rivalry at one point mid-class. People were laughing and relaxed, which made it a great environment to start the day. That class also had awesome music to add to the fun.

One of the nice things about VISTA is that we're still technically 'on duty' 24/7, but we have much more time to 'have a life' than I did in my first AmeriYear. There's a lot to be said for stability and I've enjoyed getting to settle into this house by the water, sign up for yoga classes, make delicious food in our very own kitchen, and spend time with AmeriFriends and other wonderful people. I even get to sleep in on weekends. It's the little things.