I left home this morning in what I thought was more than ample time to catch the train to Manhattan for a Sunday morning hot yoga class.
Oops- holiday schedule.
I was wrong. But as any city dweller who is at the mercy of public transit knows, you must just go with the flow.
For about 10 seconds I debated if I should even bother heading into the city- there was a really good chance I’d miss class. It would be a wasted trip. With less frequent trains to boot…
Instead I decided, bah- why not. I’d use the ride to continue working on my 6pm class. With headphones on, iPad mini in hand and caffeine in my veins I waited to see what would happen.
The train came at 9:35 and dropped me at my stop at 9:57. I ran to the studio in leather flip-flops to class. Though this may seem contradictory- my mind was surprisingly chill. I figured if I make it, I make it. Running in leather flip-flops however, sucks.
Arrived at 10:02. The door was locked. I knocked anyway. Still, no sinking feeling.
(I should have mentioned- I’m never late to class. Ever. I’m the goof who more often than not arrives 20 minutes early. )
I got the affectionate side-eye from a teacher and was told to hustle.
My heart was racing but I just turned myself over to the practice. I knew I was having the right experience, because shit, it was the one I was having.
I was expecting a 90 minute class, but class was only 60.
Class beat me up, down, sideways and turned me inside out.
It was freaking glorious.
I’d never had a more challenging class. I couldn’t quite sync up my body and breath. And the heat was a distraction, not its usual sweltering embrace.
After class splayed out making sweat angels, I smiled.
It was hard. So what? I can handle anything for 60 minutes.
Not to be stopped I headed back home to order my new bike. I figured I’d be back in the park the following weekend.
As I was wrapping up the guy said, “Do you want to wait? They’re working on it now- should be about 20 minutes.”
Huh? Wha?
I dashed home to get my helmet.
Time. Time. Time.
It’s like a challenging pose- when you resist, it pushes back. But if you inhale and find a way to move inside the spaces, it brings you right where you need to be.
Namaste y’all.
