You walk up to the terrace and immediately go to the railing to look at the skyline. It was a beautiful day, the clouds were fluffy, asking to be interpreted. You look up and see… a frog?
People starting piling in with their yoga mats, greeting the instructor. The instructor, Yara waves at you with a warm smile. She tells you to grab a free blanket in place for a mat. You find space behind everyone else to place your blanket and sit. As a gentle wind rolls by, the instructor turns the music on to get everyone comfortable. The music isn't blaring but it is loud enough for your body to melt within the beats of the first song. The instructor greets the class and starts straight away with poses.
You did not expect yoga to make you feel this way. Yara was gentle and inspiring. The poses got hard a few times but she would come and correct you with no judgment attached. What affected you the most was her soft voice and words mixed with modern indie music. She asked enlightening questions all while reminding us to breathe. Your brain has always been a cluttered one. Some many thoughts and anxieties raced through your entire body every day but today was different. It all came crashing down after Yara made a simple statement.
Be gentle with yourself
That stuck with you. Next thing you knew, you could not tell if you were crying or just sweating. It was one and the same at that point. With each catching breath, a daily worry was compromised. The soft acoustics of the music and the gentle winds picked up your worries with them and flew away.
After the class everyone piled out quickly, saying goodbye and you pile with them. You say goodbye to Yara and she gives you a warm smile, noticing your change. You smile back. You walked home in a state of peace. You take a detour to look at the more scenic parts of your neighborhood even though it was a much longer way home. You come along a bench and sit with your thoughts looking out to the sunset.
Inhale. . .
...Exhale