Enthusiastic endorsement

When you come to passionately believe that the lifestyle you’ve discovered could benefit each and every person you care about, it’s hard not to endorse your product.

I’ve been trying to get my mom to start a yoga practice for years now. I don’t want to force it on her, but I suspect that she’d learn from it, and most likely be happier. And, caring is sharing.

So when she told me a yoga studio opened within walking distance of her house a couple months ago, I strongly suggested she check it out. She was interested, but busy too, which worked to my advantage when Mother’s Day rolled around: My sister and I got our mom a gift certificate for a massage and a few yoga classes.

She took her first class the other day, and I was thrilled to receive an email shortly thereafter, excerpted here with her permission:

“I can’t believe it’s possible for an hour to disappear so fast. I love the stretches, but I’ve also suddenly become much more conscious of my posture, and find myself trying to sit up straight without even thinking about it. And as I was weeding the front bed (in between rain storms) this afternoon, when my back hurt I consciously relaxed into a yoga pose and it instantly felt better.”

Yes! Yes. I had a similar experience after my first Bikram class: The next day on the subway I noticed myself standing taller–of being aware of my posture, of noticing and caring for my body. So I returned to the mat, again and again, and life has only gotten better.

Of course, it’s not always easy to have a yoga practice. Feelings are a big part of yoga (emotions in motion) and sometimes that’s tricky. My mom already noticed:

“It is frustrating not knowing what you’re doing, and I had to be corrected a couple of times, but another woman who’s been there a dozen or so times assured me it just gets easier.”

Thank you, another woman, for reassuring my mom! It feels good to think my mother will have a yoga community of her own; it’s fulfilling to spend time with people who care about their bodies, minds, and spirits.

And yes, it does get easier. Harder too, but then you are also stronger so it balances out. Balance, strength, flexibility. Focus, awareness, calm. Yoga promotes peaceful, joyful existence–and my mom is giving it a try! I am pleased and humbly hopeful for her, or, as my mom put it in the closing of her email:

“So far so great!”