(Yoga Hanalei)
(Emma's cottage amongst tropical fruit trees)After the whirlwind of the holidays (why does it have to be a whirlwind - I always think it should be relaxing and fun and it's not) I had nothing but migraines with this hideous Columbus, Ohio weather. I'm sorry, I hate to be negative, but I really hate winter in Ohio. I really love fall, but winter slays me. Luckily we are leaving for paradise (Kauai, HI) on Saturday. I never forget how the air feels softer and you can smell the tropical plants and flowers floating on the sweet breezes. I always take a light sweatshirt to cover up with early in the morning and in the evening and the smell of Hawaii stays on it for months. Aaaaahhh! That is what I am living for right now.
That and oddly enough, the new job that I started. Just as I was getting a bit burnt out teaching yoga full time; chasing dollars instead of living in the moment and focusing on the ancient teachings that I was passing down to my dedicated students, grace entered my life in the form of a job offer for a job that I'd forgotten I'd applied for months before. I was a bit hesitant at first. Could I go back to the routine of 9-5 in an office? Turn in my comfy yoga clothes for my trendy, name-brand clothes that I had once loved so much? Give up bare feet for panty hose and pumps, albeit patent leather Cole Haan pumps with Nike Air that I had lusted after - very un-yogicly. But does being a yogi mean that you can't take pleasure in dressing nicely? I would argue not. Yogi's are supposed to be impeccable in words, thoughts, deeds and appearance. I simply enjoy looking nice and think it's part of good customer service and a way of gaining respect from one's co-workers, supervisors and the people that I supervise. I don't dress sloppily for yoga class, whether I am a teacher or student, why would I do so in other areas of my life.
Anyway, I love my new job. As a matter of fact, the steady schedule and reduced teaching hours have replenished my love of teaching and practicing yoga and I've felt more energized than ever. Another funny thing happened, I suddenly gave up attachment to the outcome of my yoga practice and stopped judging each practice as "good" or "bad." Now it is just practice. A way to lighten my body and deepen my mind and spirit. A means to an end (samadhi) as it should be. My job is somewhat high stress, although I am rather laid back compared to most of the people that work there (thanks to yoga) and so I look forward to every practice, every chance to meditate and begin concentrating on my ujjayi breath. And my job is very essential to the outpatient breast health clinic. As a supervisor to the registration staff, facilities manager and sort of all around gal Friday, people greeted me warmly on my first day. Quite the opposite from my last job, where no one really knew why I was there and the doctors saw me as someone who was there to make them do something they didn't want to do.
And then there is my trip to Kauai in 4 days. It is supposed to be extremely cold here this week, so it will make our arrival there that much more sweet. Even though I have to leave my precious angel puppies and kitty. And I have a newly renovated yoga studio with a wonderful teacher to look forward to and nothing to do but do yoga every morning, get breakfast and then decide if we want to go to the beach with a picnic and books, go hiking or maybe shopping if there is rain. Or just chill out in our little bungalow, named "Emma's" cottage, reading books and relaxing. Aloha and namaste.
(Polihale beach)
