Coffee Table Declarations
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Two nights ago I joined my friend for her yoga class. It was held in an old church in an urban area where parking was nowhere to be found. We parked light years away it seemed as we hurried through the cold dark night, yoga mats under our arms. I was completely out of breath by the time we got there, like I had already gotten enough exercise for the evening.
The church itself was somewhat intimidating, dark, old, and large. A lady was sitting on the inside steps to collect money for the class. She had wild hair and crazy eyes. The cost was $12 but I only had a $20. The lady looked up at me with her crazy eyes and said, "you're getting all ones back." "No problem!" I said cheerily.
We hurried up the stairs and into the yoga classroom. The room itself was long with a giant fancy window on the far wall and high ceilings. Seated in front of the window, facing the class, was a woman wearing all white, including a turban. There were five or six other people already seated on yoga mats when my friend and I arrived. The turban lady greeted my friend by name and came over to meet me. She was awfully nice. I asked her if we could leave the door open a crack because I explained, I often feel a little claustrophobic and uncomfortable in unfamiliar places.
Sidenote: I think I've mentioned my weird anxieties before. I don't like to feel closed in and having doors opened a crack helps. It's not all the time, just certain places. I know it sounds strange to others. I'm sure it sounded strange to the turban lady - but, hey, she was the one wearing a turban and that's a little out of the ordinary. Anyway, it's embarrassing to always have to explain myself like that, wondering what people will think of me, judging from this first impression. It's a frustrating way to go through life, let me tell you. But the turban lady was kind and understanding. She had no problem with leaving the door open a crack and then told me that the breathing exercises we were going to do were very helpful for phobias.
Then crazy-eyed lady came into the room and shut the door behind her. "Great," I thought to myself, "now what do I do?" I covertly got up and opened the door slightly and returned to my mat. I was hoping no one would protest and luckily no one did.
We started with chanting and stretching exercises. We continued on to breathing exercises, some of which were familiar but odd, like the so called "breath of fire" which is basically hyperventilation. Some were new and challenging like inhaling for a huge length of time and then inhaling some more before finally getting to exhale. There were also some mediations toward the end.
My friend swears by this yoga class saying that it's tremendously relaxing for her and a great way to start the week. I couldn't say it was entirely relaxing for me but that was because I didn't know what to expect and I was focusing hard on learning the techniques. I definately felt that there was power there. I could see how doing that breathing on a regular basis would have a beneficial effect.
At the end of the class, the turban lady served special tea. It was really good - full of spices and warmth. It was also a nice chance to chat with the others. One guy talked to me about my claustrophobia. He said that he had anxiety problems and this yoga class helped him. He also said I was brave for talking about it - he had kept it inside and suffered for years. Brave? That seems a little counterintuitive when referring to fear but I was pleased by the compliment. One lady told me not to worry and that I was among friends. It was a nice group of people.
After two cups of tea my friend and I trudged back out into the cold for the long walk back to the car. That was the worst part of the night because I was already exhausted and then I felt like I was sick because I was simultaneously sweating from walking so fast and freezing from the cold wind. Yesterday and today I just feel sore. I don't know if it's from the yoga or the walking or the two combined. My friend asked if I would like to go again and I think I would but only if we could find a closer parking spot. Or maybe if it's summer.
The church itself was somewhat intimidating, dark, old, and large. A lady was sitting on the inside steps to collect money for the class. She had wild hair and crazy eyes. The cost was $12 but I only had a $20. The lady looked up at me with her crazy eyes and said, "you're getting all ones back." "No problem!" I said cheerily.
We hurried up the stairs and into the yoga classroom. The room itself was long with a giant fancy window on the far wall and high ceilings. Seated in front of the window, facing the class, was a woman wearing all white, including a turban. There were five or six other people already seated on yoga mats when my friend and I arrived. The turban lady greeted my friend by name and came over to meet me. She was awfully nice. I asked her if we could leave the door open a crack because I explained, I often feel a little claustrophobic and uncomfortable in unfamiliar places.
Sidenote: I think I've mentioned my weird anxieties before. I don't like to feel closed in and having doors opened a crack helps. It's not all the time, just certain places. I know it sounds strange to others. I'm sure it sounded strange to the turban lady - but, hey, she was the one wearing a turban and that's a little out of the ordinary. Anyway, it's embarrassing to always have to explain myself like that, wondering what people will think of me, judging from this first impression. It's a frustrating way to go through life, let me tell you. But the turban lady was kind and understanding. She had no problem with leaving the door open a crack and then told me that the breathing exercises we were going to do were very helpful for phobias.
Then crazy-eyed lady came into the room and shut the door behind her. "Great," I thought to myself, "now what do I do?" I covertly got up and opened the door slightly and returned to my mat. I was hoping no one would protest and luckily no one did.
We started with chanting and stretching exercises. We continued on to breathing exercises, some of which were familiar but odd, like the so called "breath of fire" which is basically hyperventilation. Some were new and challenging like inhaling for a huge length of time and then inhaling some more before finally getting to exhale. There were also some mediations toward the end.
My friend swears by this yoga class saying that it's tremendously relaxing for her and a great way to start the week. I couldn't say it was entirely relaxing for me but that was because I didn't know what to expect and I was focusing hard on learning the techniques. I definately felt that there was power there. I could see how doing that breathing on a regular basis would have a beneficial effect.
At the end of the class, the turban lady served special tea. It was really good - full of spices and warmth. It was also a nice chance to chat with the others. One guy talked to me about my claustrophobia. He said that he had anxiety problems and this yoga class helped him. He also said I was brave for talking about it - he had kept it inside and suffered for years. Brave? That seems a little counterintuitive when referring to fear but I was pleased by the compliment. One lady told me not to worry and that I was among friends. It was a nice group of people.
After two cups of tea my friend and I trudged back out into the cold for the long walk back to the car. That was the worst part of the night because I was already exhausted and then I felt like I was sick because I was simultaneously sweating from walking so fast and freezing from the cold wind. Yesterday and today I just feel sore. I don't know if it's from the yoga or the walking or the two combined. My friend asked if I would like to go again and I think I would but only if we could find a closer parking spot. Or maybe if it's summer.
