[Late Post - Couldn't post on Saturday!]
Saturday June 14th was Restorative Yoga at Yoga Tree Midtown. I'll be honest, I was a little reluctant to take a restorative class.
Something happened though... As I was getting dressed, I moved my legs to put my pants on, and I felt just how tense my hamstrings were. There was no way I was going to be able to even attempt a downward dog and not fall over.
So - restorative it was, and for that I am grateful.
And the teacher of the class? Nothing short of amazing. She gave variations to poses, her voice was soothing, and the class had a lovely format. I was able to get deep into relaxing stretches, and give my hips and hamstrings time to really release any tension that had built up from the previous week. I needed that class, and it was the perfect thing for my body.
The lesson for this class was Gratitude.
How fitting. :)
As I was laying there, breathing deeply into my whole body - I thought about all of the things I should be grateful for. I found myself getting caught up in some unpleasant emotions about family, because in my childhood when we had to list things we were thankful for - I would have put my family at the top of that list.
Unfortunately, my family is no longer with me. I lost my mum when I was 14, and both of my grandparents when I was 13 and 15. I'll be 30 in a month, so that's been half of my life that I've been without them, and it hurts now just as much as it did back then - only in a different way.
I started to feel negativity wash over my body, and I hated the feeling. So I tried my best to turn it around. I reminded myself how grateful I am for having known my mum and my grandparents for as long as I did. There are people who lose their parents at a much younger age - and there are people who have much less than me... No matter how hard things get in my life, there are people who would look at my situation and think I'm silly for being sad.
I am grateful I knew my mum. She was a wonderfully imperfect and random woman, and a strong woman. I'm proud to have had her as my mum, and I know she would be proud of me no matter what turns my life takes. She was that type of person who didn't judge anyone. She accepted people for who they were. She made me feel so loved and cared for in the years she was on this earth with me. I am grateful to have felt that love, even if only for half of my life.
I am grateful for those in my life who care about me now. I am grateful for my dog, Buddy. I am grateful for a functional and healthy body. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given in this life - even if I complain about them after the novelty wears off. I am grateful for every breath I take, because there are people who are breathing their last.
Life is so short... It is so fragile, and can slip away at any moment. This class gave me a gentle reminder to take a few moments each day, and count the blessings I should be grateful for.
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