Opening Note about today’s blog post: I wrote the following blog on January 2, 2020 and never released it. I’m not sure why. Who would have ever thought the world would/could change so much in such a short time. After reading this blog I decided to post it now. Even though everything is different it is still the same. As you will read in the last line - “Is it time to reexamine your experiences?”
On January 2, I was scheduled to take a Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga class at The Denver Botanical Gardens. I was both nervous about taking a new class and excited. I love the gardens and I was ready for this new year, new commitment.
When I signed up for the class I intentionally signed up for three classes. One on Thursday January 2 and then the following Tuesday and Thursday classes. I decided I wanted to give this class a real chance and since I have vowed that if it is on the calendar it gets done this year I would have to go.
I woke up at 5 a.m with our new sunrise clock that has birds chirping as the alarm (I swear both times it has gone off I just thought the birds were chirping outside our window), dressed in my clothes set out the night before, ate my kale and almonds, grabbed my yoga bag pre-packed and ready to go and headed out the door.
On my way to the gardens the sun began to rise in the beautiful Colorado sky. The sky here is breathtaking and I felt honored to be watching it. Traffic was good and I arrived 20 minutes early. I was pleased because I wasn’t quite sure where the building was on the grounds of the gardens. I am a member of the gardens and have been there multiple times but never pay attention to the names of the buildings - however, I had a general idea. I read on the main entrance door to enter a certain gate for after hours classes. I found the open gate and entered. I went directly to the building I assumed classes would be in but I was wrong. I proceeded to walk around the gardens trying to find the building on the maps they had throughout the gardens but I seemed to be going further and further away. I eventually ended back at the front gate more confused than ever. I finally found a construction worker and he had no idea. I was bound and determined to find this building. It turns out it was across the street with a children’s garden I never knew existed.
At this point I was 10 minutes late. I took a peek in the class through the window and saw they had begun and it was a small room - no way I could sneak in.
So….I left trying to look at my experience differently than I would in the past. I was disappointed and my hands were a bit frozen - but, I had an opportunity to take a healthy brisk walk through the gardens in the quiet solitude and watch the sun rise.
Yoga was done at home that day - and now I know where to go for the classes. It occurs to me that Yoga is defined as: a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline a part of which including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.
On Thursday, January 2, I meditated in my own way in the gardens as I watch the sun rise, looked at the trees, the flowers and the flowing (sometimes frozen) water. That I moved my body and improved my health. I would later do downward dogs, cat/cow and pigeon poses, I would move with flowing sequence coordinating with my breath and this is good.
But more importantly, this year I am taking those things that would stress me and my day and look at them through a very different lens. I always thought I looked at the world with a glass half full, but the more I investigate and change my behavior the more I realize that I need to relook at my glass.
How are you looking at your glass these days?
Is it time to re-examine your experiences?
I will end with this quote I found in one of my favorite books by Maria Shriver “I’ve Been Thinking”
“True happiness comes not when we get rid of all our problems, but when we change our relationship to them, when we see our problems as a potential source of awakening, opportunities to practice patience, and to learn. ”
Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,
Lorraine
