Indianapolis Speedway... Gentle Country Road

by L. Williams

It had been a tough day. I entered the yoga class like I was on the Indianapolis Speedway, I left on a gentle country road.

When I started yoga I could barely touch my toes, now I can and much more. I knew that Yoga would help my flexibility but would there be other benefits? I had just started a new role at work while covering my previous role until a replacement could be found. It was a fast, hectic and demanding day. I worked until the last minute to try to get everything completed and hustled off to class. My mind and body were going 100 miles an hour like I was on the Indianapolis Speedway.

Margau’s voice started gentle, soothing, calming. Focus on breathing, focus on slowing the mind and body. We moved through many poses and then we had balancing poses. I have always struggled with balancing, frustrated that my ankles and legs did not seem strong enough, always shaking and quickly losing the hold. I had tried to concentrate on a point in front of me but it still wasn’t working. Today was different. All the things that I had been taught over the last 8 weeks seemed to come together at one time. My mind calmed, my focus was not on a point outside but a place inside – centered, relaxed – and I realized that balance is not a physical strength but a strength and opening of the mind to touch the body and bring the mind, body and spirit into one. I got ‘IT’. It only lasted a few seconds but I can still feel that moment.

Margau’s calm voice and her gentle suggestions of refocusing the mind, her detailed instruction for properly aligning the body and breathing through and into the poses was fabulous. At the end of the class my mind, body and spirit felt like they were meandering on a gentle country road. Thank you for the gifts that yoga has brought into my life.