back to the mat

For the past 2 months (at least) I’ve been unable to make get myself to the yoga studio. It’s been frustrating — because I know how much I benefit from it mentally, spiritually, and physically. I’ve been feeling the effects of resuming running. There are benefits and there are drawbacks — and I’ve been less than diligent with my foam roller.

Thankfully The Man, who has been in hot pursuit of his yoga certification, needed a student to test his practicum on. This meant that I got to take a few one-on-one yoga classes and have each pose examined and improved upon. The biggest thing missing was the heated room. Oh how I love how the heat makes you drip with sweat and your muscles stretch like Gumby.

Due to increasing running-related tightness, I’ve felt that my yoga was reduced to a level of just-getting-by. I’ve noticed how The Man has to slow down a bit when my right glut tightens up on me. The more time away from the studio, the more I feared I’d need to go back to basics — for the classes that I’d previously thrived on were a bit advanced.

Today, I finally made it back. My body immediately relaxed when I walked into the room heated to 90+ degrees. It was heavenly.

I rolled out my mat, settled into child’s pose, and closed my eyes. My mind quieted a bit, and my body relaxed. By the time I opened my eyes again, the room was starting to fill up like sardines in a can. Then in walked the instructor, smiling and ready to give us all the butt-kicking we’d come to expect from her.

As me and fellow yogis each offered up our practice to someone, I chose The Man to dedicate mine to. For however equipped, or ill-equipped, I was for this class — I showed up and would give it my all. I know that he will do the same tonight, when he shows up to teach his. I figured that even though I couldn’t physically be there for him, I was behind him (as I always will be) 100%.

Amazingly, he was there for me as well. For as class progressed, it became evident just how much I’d been working on my practice. When ever we were instructed to move into one of the poses he and I had gone through, I drew upon the areas where he’d assisted me in getting it just right.

At the end of class, I was so thrilled with myself and happy. I couldn’t wait to send a note of thanks to The Man for making it possible. When we closed with 3 om’s, I rejoiced and sang “OOOOOOOOmmmmmm….” like I’d never done before. It feels so good to be back.