Some of you might remember why I call myself the Wandering
Toast…it’s a tongue in cheek reference to Taoism. I was at 4 day silent retreat at a friend’s house with her
Buddhist meditation group and their teacher. Doing a slow walking meditation
past a wall of library books I caught the title out of the corner of my eye- The
Wandering Toast. The host was
a world class cook, traveler, psychotherapist, gardener extraordinaire,
Episcopal minister, and Buddhist.
Her book collection includes books on all those subjects and more,
neatly organized. Then the book
was behind me. Curiosity! Could it
be a cookbook on food to take on the road? Jonnycakes, unleavened bread, things
that don’t need refrigeration and such?
Things to do with stale bread? I walked around alternately beating myself up for not being a good meditator, wondering
about the title, and trying to follow my breath and walk. Finally, after zipping by it at a fast walk, I got to slow walk by it. The Wandering TAOIST. Not Toast. Giggles. Not
good. I’m clearly not meant for
monastic life. There’s a previous
post about what happened next if you want to read it.
I’ve spent the last month at yoga teacher training at the
Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. I decided
over a year ago to apply for this program. I’m still trying to remember why,
but it doesn’t matter anymore.
After the first week that question was plaguing all 62 of us, as we
visited the sauna and whirlpools, got massages, and wept. 4-6 hours of yoga a
day, anatomy and physiology, philosophy, teaching strategies, asana posture
clinics, voice workshops, scary practice teaches, and the looming final exam.
Up at 5:45 and crash into bed later than I should. Initially I was terrified knowing that I’d be in a minority
of older participants, surrounded by 18-40 years olds with uninjured, muscular
bodies leaping into and sustaining difficult positions for as long as it might
take me to drive to the Red Lion Inn and get a glass of wine and sneak back-
whereupon they’d leap, undaunted, out of the asana and grin, begging for the
next assignment. I’d be in Swami
boot camp.
Not so. Because I have had injuries, done yoga on and off
for 40 years, and learned to have some compassion for myself I was able to pace
myself, modify poses as appropriate, and like the tortoise, I plodded along
while the young’un dropped like flies the first 10 days. Then each one “got it” and they started to
take care of themselves, and the philosophy part that overwhelmed many of them
in the beginning started to sink in.
One total cutie pie said early on “What do you mean this is going to
‘transform’ us??? I like myself just the way I am! I don’t want to change!” She is transformed- becoming more deeply herself every day.
And joyful about it.
So I survived!
And what is the Wandering Toast taking home from camp? No potholders, or
picture frames made of popsicle sticks.
No badges for excellence in canoeing. I’m taking my breath home. Breath
creates an expansion, making space for movement, and change. With that space and movement, prana
(energy) can flow more easily. Not
just in the body, either. It’s
that breath I take before responding to a question- when I have the opportunity
to disengage from my knee-jerk reaction and respond with thoughtfulness, and kindness. In my final hour-long practice teach I
invited people to begin every deliberate movement with an inhale and move with
the exhale, and stay a few breaths.
The exhales became a gentle surrender – an invitation to go deeper into
the posture, and into what was true for them, in that moment. I’m trying to breathe into the whole day
now, and see what spaces open up, what new movements are possible in my life.
So I am back in the Adirondacks, dog delightfully underfoot,
and the planet is breathing thru the cottage- windows flung wide open, curtains flapping. The wind
chime moves with the breeze, and the greens and blues of the summer day are
stunning. It’s a day to breathe
and feel and allow- and I’m going to do all three.
