The Finish Line
June 30, 2009
Today is the day. Today is the wonderful finish line that I have been envisioning for the past 30 days. The day when my dues would be paid, my obligation complete, and my goal met. And those things are all true. I am finished. I accomplished what I set out to do. But now what? Every day for the past 30 days, my life was structured around yoga. Yoga silently dictated what time I would go to bed, what time my alarm would sound, what I would have for dinner. Each time I craved a cocktail, I would decline in exchange for a fresh glass of water. (after all, alcohol is dehydrating.) Each time I woke up needing a Dunkins fix, I would decline in favor of yet more water. (after all, the coffee would revisit me in class) And now that structure is gone. In a lot of ways, I wish this challenge wasn’t over. Because now, making it to class is going to be solely my decision. There will be no more posters in the studio quietly saluting my diligence, no more congratulations from fellow yogis on reaching partway through my goal. And yet, isn’t this what yoga is supposed to be? A personal practice founded on the belief that you can and will improve your own body, mind, and spirit utilizing nobody’s help but your own. And what a powerful practice that can be.
Looking forward, I know that my journey through Yoga is far from over. While it is yet to be forseen what my practice holds in store for me, I know that I have a lot to look forward to. Right now, my body is screaming for a sabbatical, but in a few days, I know it will be begging to be back in the studio, standing upon my mat, toes and heels together, spine straight and chin up, staring at its reflection in the front mirrors once more.
