Whirling Dervishes

Crazy week, well, crazy month to be exact. This is 'let's make Linda get outside her box in a big way' month. My first step outside my box was on Saturday. One of my yogis, and member of my Spirit Board, Carol, has asked me to speak at her annual myasthenia gravis conference for the last 3 years. Now, this may come as a shock to some of you but I am terrified of public speaking. Well, maybe terrified is too strong a word but I wouldn't have known since I avoided any opportunity that came along that asked me to speak in public.

I can just hear you now: Linda, do you not realize that every time you teach yoga you are speaking publicly?

Let me explain: When I teach yoga, it's coming through me... not from me... I don't have to plan, I don't have to think, I just take a deep breath of gratitude and let it pour. Sort of like the cup running over, you know? It's a completely different thing to have to talk about it. I'd rather do. Trying to explain yoga... or Reiki... or anything else I feel really deeply about is extremely difficult. Seriously, how do you explain breath? You just do it. You don't say "well, I open my nasal/throat passage and try and pull air up through them by .... what? thinking about it?" By the time I figure out how to describe it 3 breaths have gone by and I missed them. I like to pay attention to them when I can, you know?

Anyways, I felt like I had to do this for Carol. Not to say I didn't silently think bad things about her or come up with 15 different excuses every day. But I did it. And some may say I ROCKED THE HOUSE!!! Others may say I was aiiiight. Personally, I think I was somewhere in between. People seemed to like it, I didn't say hardly anything that I planned but I was comfortable and didn't sound like an idiot, maybe a little woo woo but these days who isn't? It was a tough group, 60 folks in varying stages of illness, not necessarily open to woo woo, but anyone can breathe so they were willing to do that. I did a little yoga, a little meditation, a lot of breathing and sending Reiki. I was accosted in the bathroom after by a group of ladies telling me they loved me so yeah.. I guess I was aiight.

It was a crazy weekend. Went to a great party soon after getting home from prior, then to church on Sunday (I KNOW RIGHT?) ran home frantically preparing for my open house cause I sort of had a crazy week too. Had a lovely Open House... so many beautiful ladies showed! I was most excited, at one point sitting around the table in the back yard (wasn't it great weather yesterday?) I noticed that I had yogis from every place I've ever taught there: Slim & Tone, World Gym, CCPC, Yolinna's Spirit Room... very, very cool. I had a lady there who was with me my very first grown up class at Bowie Athletic Club and 2 ladies who just started this week, 1 at CCPC, 1 at my house. Had dear friends there and a lady I never met before who a mutual friend sent. It was neat getting to know new and old friends and watching them get to know each other.

Can I just pause here and say a big WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! I love my life.

Anyway, step 2 out of my box comes Friday when I get to marry my first couple. My son keeps saying, "who do you think you are, what right do you have to marry people?" A reasonable question, if somewhat belligerent. Answer: I am a terrified of public speaking woman with 29 years of marriage experience who can send a great deal of positive energy to a beautiful couple just starting out. That usually sets him on a rant about how marriage is not religious and.... well I don't know cause I go to the land of breath in, breath out.

I love my son. He's not the most nurturing type though. Especially when I'm taking big steps out of my box. I'm excited. But I gotta keep breathing so I can do this. I'm just thinking that this Friday is the dress rehearsal for the big one next Friday.

I think I'm gonna be aiiiight.