Beginning again…
In May this year, I took a long walk on a camping trip with another friend who was really giving it over to yoga in a big way at the time (and still is). She wanted to change her life and pursue yoga as a total lifestyle. We spent a lot of time talking about it and her enthusiasm brought yoga back on to my radar once more. I am happy to say that a short time later, yoga seemed to sweep her off on a journey and it suits her well. Ever since that walk I kept telling myself I should start yoga. Finally, I pulled the mat out and popped in the DVD.
Truly – and just by chance – that was the same day my colleague on this site Jon asked his Facebook friends to support the Yoga for Men page so that he could begin to build a community interested in increasing male participation in yoga practice. I joined the page and the next morning I decided to pull out my mat and DVD. I began to research home practice and how to build a foundation. I spent the next day working on it by just developing body awareness in the sitting position. That was about as basic of a thing as I could think of to build from. I then read a short piece on the Bandha meditation technique and sat back down to give it a shot. I had experienced the sensations of yoga bliss before it. But this was different. It was somehow, longer lasting and active.
The “bliss” was following me around and did so for well on into evening.
The previous times I felt this it was as part of a deep relaxation and the feeling faded in a few minutes when I started moving around again. Something had clicked and I had a strong urge to pick up my guitar. I like to play so that isn’t strange, but the ease of creation and mood of the phrases was very energizing. I was happy. Not that I was specifically unhappy before, but somehow just sitting in the sun and petting my dog had a new level of presence and appreciation. The “bliss” was following me around and did so for well on into evening.
I hadn’t done anything other than to just focus on sitting position for some extended time, read a couple of paragraphs, sit back down facing west and just do the contractions with coordinated breaths, maybe twenty times mostly with my hands in dhyani mudra and a few split between atmanjali and apan mudras. It was so simplistic and yet my most amazing yoga experience by far.
Happy accidents
That was yesterday. I am going to do yoga today. I think will very likely do some tomorrow. I am looking for some classes that fit my odd working hours and may have found some. This is where I am. A pretty winding, slow but serendipitous path that started with a gift from an very unlikely source and moved along by happenstance and wonderful people that want me to manifest something in my life that enriches theirs. I hope my involvement helps to motivate me to practice more consistently and with purpose. I intend to share my experiences and thoughts here as I become more involved with yoga from this novice state, and sincerely hope somebody out there will find something in it that serves them as well. YfM
Small Steps Moving Forward – Part 1
