A Yoga Story

2am and my mind decided to end my sleep cycle. I struggled to return to a peaceful dream state, but as the minutes converted into hours, I gave up and shifted my anxiety from getting a good sleep to worrying about the day 25 of 30 Hot Yoga Challenge 6:30am class I had scheduled. 

I told myself I just needed to get to the mat and stay in the room. Any extra positions would be bonus. 

I did the entire class and left energized enough to power me on to my next appointment, a 9:30am facial. 

An appointment with Andrea is harder to score than a table at Funke. Her ability to rejuvenate your skin has kept her clients coming back for over thirty years. 

My hour and a half session included exfoliation, multiple hydrating masks, and head and neck massage, 

I warned her that I might fall asleep. I was out cold within minutes. When I woke up, I could feel my skin was enlivened even without looking in the mirror. 

Delighted, I left her room and walked 20 feet into my shop. 

It was a busy day with an interesting mix of customers. Some were regulars, one was a board member of Beit T’Shuvah who was so delighted to see my “round up your change” display for her recovery center, and my last customer walked in and said “my daughter just died. I need a birthday card for my only remaining child.”

As I rung her up, she continued that she lost a husband and now another child. I didn’t know what to say. I simply asked what her late daughter’s name was and said as I looked into her green eyes that she must have been beautiful like her mom. 

As I was locking up, my colleague Richard said that I could now go home and get some rest. “Nope. I have Antwan’s Yin class at 8pm to make up for the class I missed on Saturday.”

Again, I went to the studio thinking I just had to get to the mat and stay in the room. Positions would be optional. However, I powered through the 115-degrees class. I was drenched in sweat and could barely rest my wet hands on the slippery blocks.  My hips burned in frog position and just before I sat back the teacher said, “push through the discomfort. If you can hold on for a few more breaths, your body is going to get what it needs.”

Exhausted, I collapsed into savasana and focused on my breathing.  The teacher walked around waving a eucalyptus oil scented towel. 

In the 57th minute of class, he passed by me, and I felt a cool ripple of air over by body. I inhaled the healing fragrance and reflected upon my day. 

I love Andrea’s facials and her massages. Sure, I benefited from her service, yet I was asleep and missed the entire experience. 

However, I was awake during the two seconds when Antwan transformed the hot air into a soothing burst of a cool breeze. 

I was present. 

It was the most delicious moment of my day.