YOGA FOR THE SOUL

I have returned to my yoga classes. After a couple of years away, I finally got back to the serene, quiet studio where my favorite yoga teacher guides us through stretches and poses that make up the ancient practice.

Try to imagine this. I finish a long day at work. I drive to get to my yoga class like I'm the conductor of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Through London at Disney. I arrive, typically nearly late, and a little bit wild-eyed from the traffic. I walk into a darkened room filled with ladies of all ages and an occasional open minded man who are quietly doing stretches to the sound of ocean waves embedded in some gentle music. There are candles flickering. I find a spot, unroll my mat, sit down and begin to do some gentle stretches.

In the process my breathing slows, my blood pressure drops, and I begin to feel the sense of peace that my teacher has created in the room.

And that's just the start of it. After about an hour of stretching and holding different positions, the class ends in a ten minute relaxation exercise where she guides us towards absolute and complete relaxation.

I had pretty much forgotten how great that feels.

And it really isn't the yoga class itself that impacts my life. It's how I feel on the days between classes.

In this round of classes my teacher, Christine, is really emphasizing the relaxation part. Sometimes, we'll hold a posture for a little longer than what feels comfortable, but after we release the hold, she encourages us to relax and really feel the impact of that posture on our bodies.

This stuff works great for me. And I'm going to be using it this holiday season as I try to check off all the things on my 'To Do List.'

Heading in the heart of the holiday season I am more determined than ever to use what I am learning in the class to keep myself calm and peaceful during traffic jams, gift shopping, party planning, and the other duties where I am acting as a fill in for Santa Claus.

In fact, Santa, himself, would have made a great yogi. Always relaxed, unfazed by the stress of delivering all those presents all over the world. And surely yoga would help him jimmy down all those chimneys.

The rest of us, and me especially, can surely benefit from what my yoga teacher calls 'yoga off the mat.'

It involves, mostly, the idea of remembering to breathe. Consciously breathing. Full rich breaths from the belly, not from the lungs.

So, when I am feeling stress creep up on me, when I late, or working on a deadline, or not meeting someone else's unreasonable expectations, I am now remembering some of the lessons I learned in yoga class.

If you see me in the supermarket checkout line, five carts back, you might notice I am standing taller than usual. Actually, I just might be in a yoga pose, with my shoulders back and relaxed, my spine straight, my chin lifted. Trying to remember to breath slowly and consciously from my diaphragm. And hopefully, smiling, peaceful, calm and content. With plenty of reserves to enjoy the real reason for the season, and hope in my heart for peace on earth and good will towards all men.

Pipe dream? Maybe. But, it's really all I want for Christmas.

Contact reporter Michele DeLuca

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