Bloom: The Thinking Yogi December 2004

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The Thinking Yogi
by Kerry Maiorca

December 2004: Change your life in 30 Minutes or Less

A quiet yoga revolution has begun at Bloom.
It takes place Tuesday & Thursday mornings from 7-7:30am. Those who've been part of it thus far wouldn't talk of big A-Ha! moments in their down dog or of finally being able to kick up into handstand, but something keeps them coming back week after week, rain, snow, or shine.

Commuter Yoga began as a sort of experiment. Wouldn't it be nice, I thought, to offer a class that people could attend in work clothes, a class that didn't require a yoga mat or special equipment, a class that would provide tools people could come back to throughout their day to reenergize and refocus?

From the very first breath we take together at 7am, Commuter Yoga is about shifting our perspective of what is and what isn't yoga. For many of us, doing yoga means coming to an hour-and-a-half class, and if we aren't doing that we're aren't doing yoga. But often in our busy lives, a long class isn't logistically possible. And more importantly, we'll close ourselves off to some of the most profound benefits of yoga practice if we think that we may only do yoga if we're in class, working and sweating for an extended period of time.

The essence of yoga is being present in this current, fleeting moment. So really, we should only need one moment in order to truly practice yoga. How about this very moment, how about right now even as you sit in front of the computer? Notice your next inhale and as you observe that breath also observe your posture. Sit up a little taller. When your mind gets distracted and you begin to follow a thought about what you're going to do later today or it occurs to you that maybe this is a waste of time, return to focusing on your breath. Try stretching your arms overhead and breathing into your chest, or get out of your chair and do a small lunge. Or simply continue to take a few deep breaths, focusing on releasing tension and creating softness in your body.

In short, bring your awareness to right now: your body, wherever you are, in front of the computer, within the context of however many things are going on in your busy day. This is yoga in the largest sense of the word. You're no longer slumped at your desk daydreaming about a time in the future when you can do a nice shoulderstand or a deep backbend. Here you are!

Of course, attending longer yoga classes regularly is important because it helps the body to maintain strength and flexibility, so that you can sit tall and with an open chest for some length of time. But when you expand your conception of what yoga can be and how every moment is an opportunity to practice, you'll begin to experience the fullest benefits. Gradually, you'll observe day-to-day, minute-to-minute quality of life changes. And why else, really, are we practicing yoga? Who cares if we can do a beautiful backbend if we feel like a lump of coal the rest of the day?

So embrace the smallest moments and practice. Even in this busy holiday season, taking a deep breath and doing a quick stretch at your desk can make an incredible difference. You can start right now. And now. And now...

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