Re-engage the Calm

From mistakes come greatness, or so I have heard it said. Well, I’m not sure my slip of the tongue led to greatness, but certainly a good giggle. And then food for thought…

My 89-year-old private yoga student was just getting out of Sirsasana. Ok, head stand for those non-sanskrit speaking yoga folk. And yes, she IS 89 and she WAS in head stand. More impressed with her I simply cannot be.

Her big blue eyes darted, a mixture of surprise and excitement, maybe a little fear thrown in, and as her breath got shorter and more shallow, I offered, “re-engage your calm.”

Now I meant to say, re-engage your CORE, but calm came out. We had a good laugh about it, but then thought it quite an accurate if not pithy coupling of words. Even more to the point really than the original.

After all, what does core mean? Physically, I know it refers to the belly area. That whole center of the bodily universe that when strong, keeps us healthy. Core is also our center house. Our mind alone takes too many liberties. WIthout a strong sense of grounding, of self-knowledge, which only a strong core can provide, the mind hides in its Cheshire Cat costume and grins its way all over us.

It is the breath practice of yoga that might help reveal the core’s fleeting nature AND potential. How does it change in each asana? Again, come to class if you are interested in what THAT word might mean… What moments threaten the connection and in what positions does it all deepen?

My professor in Drama Therapy, Robert Landy, ascribed to the onion theory of personality that we are all like onions, each layer colored directly through interaction with another, until finally a small core remains. That core is what we are in constant search to relate with, more closely and calmly. The yoga thought might be the peels are the asanas, and the core in the center, the calm purity of breath. Or soul. Release.

PLEASE JOIN ME TOMORROW, 11/12, AT 10:30 AM

5410 WILSHIRE BLVD., JUST WEST OF LA BREA.

FOR A VIGOROUS PRACTICE AT U STUDIO

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in peace and calm, michelle

**the rest of our practice remains the same this week!