On Beer and Yoga

Two things I've learned to appreciate after starting a chapter as a teacher.

Yoga came first, with a free Spectrum membership. Vinyasa Yoga Flow on Saturday afternoons for an hour became a weekly habit in October 2008 and helped save me from the sustained stress that was/is my teaching career. The instructor, Chantal, is a middle-aged French woman with a gentle, rich voice that brought me to see the power of mental relaxation and meditation in breaking the clusterf*** of work. Since then, I've moved on to other classes on other days (Power Yoga on Wednesdays, and sometimes Yoga Basics on Tuesdays), Cycling (been a while actually), and Cardio Core (Mondays and/or Thursdays). I also began listening to KPCC because Chantal recommended it, and have been a huge fan ever since.

My first yoga class ever happened in middle school, when my parents signed me up for a free first class. All I remember is downward dog, which had made me sweat back in the day because I was out of shape, and awkwardly clenching my lips shut at the last part of class when the instructor and all the other adults (no one was even close to my age) intoned "Ohhhhhhhmmmmmmm" about three times. I thought it was so boring and never wanted to go back. Of course, life was easier back then.

But now, the beauty in building balance, flexbility, and strength while listening to New Age-y, Indian drums/sitar/vocalizing music is just so awesome. I almost get a zen-like, euphoric high just from gathering internal energy and stretching into a pose that I wouldn't have thought to have been able to do. I never knew that breathing correctly was half the battle with holding a pose, or doing a shoulder stand was possible. Shoulder stands aren't even that hard. I can't do bridge, or head stand, or some other crazy one where you balance on your arms with one leg wrapped around one elbow and the other leg extended somewhere else. It's just so satisfying to hold the body weight in a way that stretches you, yet makes you sweat and relax at the same time. Maybe some remote Thai heritage I might have, connected with the Buddhist spirituality, had something to do with this powerful love.

It would be neat to be trained as a yoga instructor. I tell people that I'd like to sign up, though it's about two grand and 5 months' committment. I'm playing it by ear in the mean time.

Last Tuesday I also tried meditation for the first time. I haven't done it since but it has helped me distance emotionally from what goes on at work. Not to say that I'm invulnerable. Today's school day with 4th period was like a bad day from my 1st year. The kids were absolute demons today.

I seem to live a life full of extremes. I chose a teaching job partially because I knew the challenges would help me grow and I wanted to make a difference (and an office job sounded boring). While yoga has been an excellent means to unwind and be mentally stronger, beer has also become another outlet.

I had been dry most of my life. Up until I was at least 20, I had not even one sip of ethanol. Even in the latter days of college, I still couldn't handle the taste well enough to enjoy it. But now, it can really enhance a meal or a night out. Teaching just changes everything. For once in my life, I've noticed an increase in tolerance, which has never happened before. At least I have resolved to take a short break to keep the body healthy, and because my friends are tuckered out.

I've become more of a hedonist lately, but it's a part of survival.

Namaste (and bottoms up),
lemontea