It’s nearly time for this journey to launch. Already, there is some turbulence being felt in my little world. My nerves and emotions are beginning to shaken it up in a way similar to earthquake precursors. I’m making my best effort to remain calm.
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Jenn, our fearless leader has asked the TT (teacher training) students to bring an offering of cheese to Savira, our teacher in India. To this end, I spent my lunch in search of cheeses that “travel well.” In other words: Hard Cheese.
My simple query of the guy behind Whole Foods’ vast array of cheeses, yielding a few suggestions. I sampled each and selected some Dutch Gouda as my gift for the teacher.
These cheeses will travel well and make a delicious offering to Savira. Additionally, they are apparently great for backpacking trips as well.
The light from my bedroom sneaks over to the edge of the adjoining room. The sun has yet to rise and it is quiet. We sit cross-legged on the floor at the edge of my ashtanga rug – each in our own space, with our own slurry of thoughts running through the quiet space we share.
In the center of my head, thoughts of the upcoming trip ricochet around. Mentally, I run through the final preparations (mostly unfinished packing for YaYa) and reflect on my mock up, if-you-will, for the journey ahead. This is not mindfulness or mindlessness; it is more like madness. But it is where I am at today so I accept it.
It is fitting that theMan and I have come together in the same room this morning, rather than meditating in separate rooms as we have done in the past. As both of us prepare to travel the same path, we also acknowledge each of us are on our own journey. We will each experience and grow from this trip in a different way. Yet, similar to us sharing our meditation space this morning, we will be together.
All week, I have kept my enthusiasm curbed. I am truly ecstatic about my trip, yet I need some way of balancing out the edginess that runs through every cell of my physical body. Here, with my eyes closed and my heart open, I focus on my breath. In… Out… In… Out…
About the time I find my peacefulness, Father Time reminds us that this planned retreat from the everyday has not yet begun. He pulls us out with the sound of Tibetan bowls’ sweet song. We open our eyes to see the sun has begun its ascent. So lucky are we to be here, as another beautiful day begins to unfold.
In the early morning, the sun hits these Tibetan prayer flags just so. They speak to me — whether I am looking towards the heavens during a series of sun salutations, as I was in this morning’s Ashtanga class, or looking up from some other yoga pose.
The flags seem to say, no matter what your belief or how you refer to the Devine, your prayers will be heard.
Most people ‘round these parts call him Big Mike. I know him by the pen name he used when he 1st left his words of harassment encouragement on my blog months back. Since then, I’ve watched this dedicated yogi make his way through the teacher training program.
Through his own yoga practice, hours upon hours of assisting classes around the studio, his own teaching style was born. This morning I was honored to practice under his guidance for the very first time. I was awed by his presence, and calmed by his confidence as he lead us through the ashtanga primary series.
I find it most encouraging and inspiring to see this yogi go from the guy on the mat next door to the instructor at the head of the class. It’s pretty cool to think that, someday, that could be me.