Today is a good day. It's Sunday (yay), sunny (yay), warm (yay) and quiet (double, triple yay) at the compound today. Danielle and Jeff are off doing something. Robbie is out dirt biking with his buddy and Skip just left for Canada for the week. That just leaves Courtney and I here. Sundays and Fridays are my days off so I really strive to make NO plans for those days and just enjoy them. Today feels especially golden.
I was just outside working. Birds are chirping and the day is just warm enough to feel amazing but not too hot. Nobody is bothering me (well except Courtney asking me random questions). Everything feels great. Inside I have my quiet meditation room (aka Bitch Cave) that I plan to slip into in a bit and enjoy as well. Yes, I'm in love with this day.
Of course, a day like this gives me pause to reconsider whether I really want to move from here. I can list a LOT of reasons why I don't want to live here on the compound anymore. Another day they would be big and valid. Today, they seem so insignificant.
A day like this brings me back to what I consistently teach in all of my yoga classes: Bring your attention to this breath, this moment, right now.
So, for now, I'll just feel the greatness of now. Tomorrow or another day will bring with it whatever it brings. I'm sure this moment will pass into another moment that might not be as zen.
Jai!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Slow Down
Thursday night I bopped into the studio to teach my Stretch & Release class. Same class I usually teach there but on a whole different night. This was to be my first night teaching this class on Thursdays so I wasn't expecting a big crowd.
My boss (and friend) was still there saying "good bye" to her students and finishing up administrative stuff as my class was coming in. A young woman blasted in the door with her mat in hand and seemed to be on a mission as she was heading for her "spot" in the studio. Cool. Obviously she heard someone else conversing with me and got the heads up that I was the teacher. She looked at me, sized me up (okay, I'm a larger middle aged woman) and said, "you the teacher for this class?"
"Yep, I am!" (with my bestest smile).
"What kind of class is this?" (obviously from her assessment of me it wasn't going to be what she came for, but then I already knew that from the way she was bustling in and the stressed out, maxed out look on her face).
"This is a deep stretch class."
"Oh, I was looking for a more intense workout. I'll come back another time."
"Okay!" (with my bestest smile AGAIN!)
My boss heard this interaction and intercepted Miss Full Throttle as she was heading out the door. She told her that she was twice her age and for her to stop and just listen to wiser, older person for just a second. The young dynamo did (to my surprise).
Gloria (my boss) said, "There will always be opportunities for you to push yourself to the max in a class. There will always be teachers that are willing to offer a class that takes one to their full potential. However, slowing down and taking a nice stretch class and taking care of yourself is equally important. Jody here, is our guru and I don't think you will be disappointed if you stay. I mean, look, you already are here, you've already carved this time out of your busy day and you already have your mat."
The young woman did stay. I soon realized that she was VERY tight and not flexible at all. I worked with her (my class was small) and assisted her in a lot of our melting and stretching poses. She kept saying, "wow, I really need this" several times over throughout the class.
At the end of class as everyone was leaving she came up to me and said, "I'm so glad I stayed. That was an amazing class. I'll definitely be back next week. Thank you so much."
And THAT is why I love to teach a nice sweet stretch class. Everyone needs to slow down and take time out to just take care of themselves. Something our culture seriously lacks.
My boss (and friend) was still there saying "good bye" to her students and finishing up administrative stuff as my class was coming in. A young woman blasted in the door with her mat in hand and seemed to be on a mission as she was heading for her "spot" in the studio. Cool. Obviously she heard someone else conversing with me and got the heads up that I was the teacher. She looked at me, sized me up (okay, I'm a larger middle aged woman) and said, "you the teacher for this class?"
"Yep, I am!" (with my bestest smile).
"What kind of class is this?" (obviously from her assessment of me it wasn't going to be what she came for, but then I already knew that from the way she was bustling in and the stressed out, maxed out look on her face).
"This is a deep stretch class."
"Oh, I was looking for a more intense workout. I'll come back another time."
"Okay!" (with my bestest smile AGAIN!)
My boss heard this interaction and intercepted Miss Full Throttle as she was heading out the door. She told her that she was twice her age and for her to stop and just listen to wiser, older person for just a second. The young dynamo did (to my surprise).
Gloria (my boss) said, "There will always be opportunities for you to push yourself to the max in a class. There will always be teachers that are willing to offer a class that takes one to their full potential. However, slowing down and taking a nice stretch class and taking care of yourself is equally important. Jody here, is our guru and I don't think you will be disappointed if you stay. I mean, look, you already are here, you've already carved this time out of your busy day and you already have your mat."
The young woman did stay. I soon realized that she was VERY tight and not flexible at all. I worked with her (my class was small) and assisted her in a lot of our melting and stretching poses. She kept saying, "wow, I really need this" several times over throughout the class.
At the end of class as everyone was leaving she came up to me and said, "I'm so glad I stayed. That was an amazing class. I'll definitely be back next week. Thank you so much."
And THAT is why I love to teach a nice sweet stretch class. Everyone needs to slow down and take time out to just take care of themselves. Something our culture seriously lacks.
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