OOOOMMMMMMMG!

I never really ventured into the world of yoga until after I had my first back surgery. I had a few small attempts, but it didn't stick. Life got in the way. Too much of being too busy to breathe in any pose other than "running man." I was addicted to the endorphins of aerobic exercise. The treadmill was my therapist. The recumbent bike my oxygen. Of course, I also listened to music, read AND watched whatever was on the community gym TV at the same time.

Shouldn't sound like a stretch that I went into my first real yoga studio kicking and screaming. (In my spa voice, of course.) My boyfriend and I bought a 2 week introduction deal where you could try any class you wanted, and attend as many as you could stomach (head stand) in 14 days.

Thank God he came with me. I have a bad track record of trying something new, feeling the uncomfortableness of the newness of it, and hitting the road. Running Woman Pose. With him there I felt not only more grounded, but obliged to follow through. Money had been spent!

Our first class was designed for people with neck and back problems. Those people...as in, the whole world. We were pleasantly surprised. Our teacher was a normal sized woman. Not a stick thin make-up-at-Starbucks type figurine of Los Angeles plastic, with perfectly placed sweat beads and an air of richness. But a real, accessible look you in the eyes yoga teacher who remembers your name and then remembers it again.

I was 4 months post op from a one level lumbar microdiscectomy. The most exercise I had done in between the anesthesia and this class was walking. It felt good to move again. Not exactly the same mind numbing rush as climbing the stair master. But one thing was clear. It was NOT just a stinky meditation class as I had feared. This was an unexpected present.

No moment like the present.

Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.

If you keep one foot in today, and one foot in tomorrow, you piss on today.

Oops, I'm wandering. Ommmmmmmmmmmmggg. She's doing it! She asked us to OMMM. Oh well. Just this once. One, two, three.

Namaste.
>;<