Community Update

I often quote Anne Lamott during my yoga classes. She is one of my favorite authors because she writes clearly and concisely, but mainly I love what she writes about, which is life, its many imperfections and faith. Her latest book, "Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair," is about piecing together things one stitch at a time after tragedies such as the Newtown tragedy, a slow death from Alzheimer's disease and other heartaches that befell her inner circle. Though it sounds depressing, it is surprisingly uplifting. My only complaint is that is isn't long enough. Her words are often the perfect complement to yoga, where people of all shapes, sizes and physical abilities come to their mats to try to bring a little peace into their lives. Everyone has something going on: personal problems, nagging injuries or a chronic disease they want to keep in check. But they come their mats with an open heart and an open mind, trying to make the very best of sometimes not so great situations. I was told years ago that injuries make you a better yoga student and I didn't believe a word of it. That is until I struggled with arthritis last year and couldn't do many of the poses I was teaching. Being unable to do the poses made me a better teacher: I was able to focus all of my attention on my students and guide them into poses with words instead of just modeling them. Injuries also force us to listen to our bodies and back off of certain poses and perhaps certain yoga styles, making us more creative and in tune with what our bodies really need. But mostly, injuries force us to be in the present moment and realize that for just this moment, the body may not be able to do what the mind wants. Making that realization and accepting it is really what yoga _ union of the body and mind _ is all about.