Pat's patience

On the way home from the chiropractor on Tuesday I passed a car in the parking lot of the LRT station. For whatever reason I took note of the license plate. It read,

"TRYOGA"

It's interesting to note, on a Universal level anyway, that when you have something on the brain you tend to draw more of the same in. In my haste to make the train, I noticed this plate, and somehow - even though I'm already into yoga - it sent me a message to the effect that I feel right down to my core that I'm doing something that's right for me. Not ever having felt the need or want for contact or competitive sports, I haven't ever been into anything quite as physically active, as regularly as yoga. My running friends talk about the "runner's high" - that sense of drive and 'in the zone'-ness that keeps them coming back for more. I tried running. It's not for me - not seriously anyway. Yoga, on the other hand, has demonstrated this sense of a high that I simply did not get from running. It's like addiction to a drug, really. I used to go once a week, maybe twice. Over the last two weeks I've attended eight classes. I think it will be quite easy for me to do 5 days a week - it's addictive.

One instructor I've known since I started yoga a year ago last May is Pat. He's this tall bald guy that, to look at from a distance, you may think twice about approaching simply because of his stature... not the kind of guy you'd take first glace of and want to meet in a dark alley - unless of course you knew for certain that he was on YOUR side! The first thing I discovered about Pat was his gengle, good nature. He's the guy who instructs us to

"Let your practice just happen"
and asks,

"Yoga only happens in the moment; what are you doing, this breath?"

I've known all along that Pat was involved in professional sports prior to becoming a yoga instructor. I found out only last week, from sources at the studio, that he was in fact a professional wrestler.

That's right. Gentle, good natured Pat used to kick people's asses.

I enjoy Pat's classes in part because I KNOW he could kick my ass, but chooses not to. Instead, he welcomes me each and every session with something like,

"Welcome, brother, it's good to see you!",

and each and every time, he encourages me to make my practice my own - not to worry about how it should look, but rather perfers an honest approach which says,

"this is what I can do, today."

I'm happy to be at yoga and I believe it's as good for my body as it is for my spirit and my soul.

Namaste