An attitude of gratitude

A poorly timed head cold kind of rocked the boat of my first two weeks of teacher training. I had little energy to do anything beyond what was assigned in class, my regular workload and house related tasks. That's a wordy way of saying, I didn't have the energy to blog about my training experience, so I didn't.

Here's to beginning again and putting my thoughts down into words. Being grateful for a return to health - I thought it would be a good idea to begin with a "thank you". Of course, I'm still coughing a little, but isn't that always the last thing to go away?

What would happen if we never said "thank you"? Manners and etiquette aside, I believe the lack of giving thanks would result in a feeling of sadness. My teachers would say that it would create a "vritti" - or disturbance in the mind when something is out of balance - and I agree.

That is why I'm taking a moment to give thanks for what led me to this moment in my yoga journey. I am grateful to my baby sister who took me to my first hot yoga class in California so many years ago. The Bikram style was not for me, but the challenge of being in a hot room, plus the feeling of complete bliss that followed a session was one I would never forget and longed to repeat.

I am grateful to the yoga community that is Powerflow. I have felt welcomed each and every time I've visited one of their studios, most especially my home studio in Clifton. That studio is my home away from home, my sanctuary, my touchstone for reminding myself of who I am, what I am capable of achieving and seeking always to be true to that.

I am grateful for each teacher who has led me in class, given dharma talks that resonate so profoundly, make my muscles shake, guided me in breath work, directed a mindful meditation, shared personal stories with me, provided inspiration to seek continually on this journey of the self, to the self, through the self. I bow to each of you so humbly and with such gratitude.

Most of all, I'm grateful to my family for supporting me on this path. They allow me space to spend time at the studio - listen to me wax poetic about what kind of teacher I hope to be one day - they deal with my playing yoga music in the shower (yes, I do this!). They are some kind of awesome and I am so super grateful.

Here's to week three - we practice teach each other - and oh man, if I said I was feeling anxious about it, I'd be understating it times eleventy billion!