Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Return

I had a yoga class this morning, after an entire summer in hiatus. I realize now what I would be like if I hadn't been practicing yoga at all these past nine years. Creeky. Stiff. Unwieldy.

Getting down on the mat, and focusing on that rectangle and my activity on it was liberating. I hadn't felt that sense of calm and centeredness in many months. It's a paradox to be in the body and working hard, and outside it, too.

We had an extended period of Shavasana; I almost felt that complete thoughtless, weightless point. Almost.

Bear's favorite napping spot, from which she can keep a regal eye over any proceedings in the backyard, and still beat a hasty retreat inside, should that white cat or some interfering dog happen by:

16 comments:

Kurt said...

Aw.

Joanne said...

Lately my daughters and I have been wondering about yoga, it seems like something we'd like. It relaxed me just reading your post. P.S. Bear looks pretty comfortable in that guardpost!

Maddy said...

Haven't done yoga for years. Perhaps I should take it up again.

My sympathies are entirely with the cat though.
Cheers

Coffee Messiah said...

Sadly, Yoga has always been a thought, with no results to do it.

; (

Reya Mellicker said...

Welcome back to your body! When I skip massage for 3 or 4 weeks, I always think, "This is what women of my age feel like." Creaky, stiff, awkward.

Bravo and congrats on your return to a practice that serves you so well!

edward said...

Bear looks mightly comfy. yoga must be very nice .

my human likes to meditate, and i like to jump up and poke humans who try to meditate.

lettuce said...

lovely lovely

i start yoga again on Friday

tomorrow!!

and can't wait.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

I'm been contemplating a return to yoga this fall....I once was so flexible and now ....geez so creaky and stiff!

bear looks like she found a cool little spot....

deedee said...

I wish I had time to try yoga. I may in January...

Shammickite said...

I haven't tried yoga, but I love to do Tai Chi... we have a super instructor who leads us in the park every Wednesday morning, I really enjoy it. So much concentration required to get all the moves in the right order, and to energise the Chi!

dennis said...

Dennis loves to leap about.

DineometerDeb said...

The cat always interferes with my living room yoga. For some reason, if I stand on a yoga mat, he will always wake up and join me. And he likes to show me up by doing a very good downward facing dog and then cat pose.

lettuce said...

[aching now, post-yoga..... i'm SO STIFF!]

angela said...

We don't have a local yoga class for beginners as I'd love to try it. A friend swears by Tai Chi which sounds promising but after a fairly sedentary year I do feel I should get moving

Gary said...

I had planned to get back into yoga this summer - I even joined a gym near my home just for that purpose - but ended up paying for a three month membership and the only time I was in the gym was the day I signed up! Totally crazy. At this point I would probably fall over if I attempted a difficult pose. But, thanks for the inspiration and for the chance to remind me that it is not too late to get it together.

Gary said...

I had planned to get back into yoga this summer - I even joined a gym near my home just for that purpose - but ended up paying for a three month membership and the only time I was in the gym was the day I signed up! Totally crazy. At this point I would probably fall over if I attempted a difficult pose. But, thanks for the inspiration and for the chance to remind me that it is not too late to get it together.