A friend of mine asked me the other day if I get to many yoga classes. It’s interesting, owning two yoga studios, you’d think I’d be in a class twice a day, but being in the studios often means, well, work. While there are classes a pretty much hit weekly, sometimes I want to do yoga, but choose to stay in my meditation room at home, alone, where I won’t have to clean a bathroom, answer questions, or reconcile accounts. My friend explained to me going to yoga classes is part of my job and I had one of those “ah-ha” moments about reframing work. Those of you who know me know I suffer from workaholism. I have a coach I see about every six months who helps me reframe work. I’m happy to add something I love into my irrational mental inventory of work. You see, you can beat an “ism”by quitting the “ism” and all that standard of care or you can reframe it and contextualize it and super”yogi”ize it and that works for me.
So today at 9:30 I was in the Montgomery studio with Lynn Larmann. The weather is gorgeous so we only five students including me. I like the set up in Montgomery on a gorgeous day because the gauzy curtains allow me to catch the sun and the sparkle on the trees. One yogi present is hosting an event for 420 nurses in Tennessee next week. She was a little stressed. Another yogi present works with teachers who work with special needs and she was a little stressed. Another is taking care of an aging husband, and then there was Dona. I think almost everyone knows Dona now. She’s 71 and comes to yoga twice a day migrating between Lebanon and Montgomery and fully embracing our smorgasbord of styles at EOM. She’s been doing this for about 3 years now and is in a FULL SPLIT…I kid you not. She’s my inspiration.
Lynn starts her class with no music. I like that. It gives my mind a chance to chatter away and organically settle. Once she turns on her playlist we are all warmed up and ready to go. Her sequences are exceptional and at one
point we all cracked up because she encouraged us to twist out our half-moon pose and typical to a class at EOM, we all chose not too. To witness such powerful choice-making is a thrill because I intended EOM to be a place of rest, relaxation, detoxification, and yoga to suit our aging bodies and unique personal needs.
Lynn finishes her class with Shavasana, but before you enter she let’s you know she will ring the crystal chrakra bowls and you can choose to sit up for meditation or not. As you relax she gives Reiki. It’s always a treat when the yoga teacher touches you, but there is something even more magical about Lynn’s touch. It just thoroughly grounds your energy. After class there were hugs all around and as I rolled up my mat I had a moment of pride for this yoga community. Thank you for sharing your practice with me. Namaste, Pamela
*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.