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From the time I was a toddler until my teenage years, I was very slow in my walking and talking. I took life slow and easy. Didn't have any plans and just went with the flow. Then came college life, doing fun stuff, making new friends and becoming one chatty young girl. I still didn't have any plans for life. Jobs, relationships, marriage, moving to the US, divorce, new struggles, remarrying and then starting Almaden Yoga. In all this I became one hell of a hyper woman, doing as much as I could. Go-getter, confident, assertive, and focused. You might have heard me say in class, "so much to do, so little time". Well, that's me.
Yesterday, at the studio, I met this amazing human, Michael. We started chatting about his work, his teachings and how he can become part of Almaden Yoga. At the end I told him about my injuries. He heard me and asked if he could guide me through a short session. Well, I would not let go of an opportunity to feel better.
I lay on my mat as he guided me to breathe and relax. He asked me to move my arms and kept saying "slow it down". In my head I thought I was really slow but he didn't think so. I kept releasing tension in my muscles. I slowed my breath and started to let go. This went on for at least 20-25 minutes or I lost track of time. I could feel every muscle in my body relax. He then asked me to sit up and come to standing. As I I stood up I found myself feeling light and relaxed. I opened my eyes and he was standing in front of me.
He looked at me and said, "Anuja, your face looks different. Oh! I mean in a good way". :). He then asked me to walk. I was amazed at how much of a difference slowing down made me feel. My steps on the earth were softer and with awareness. My voice became soft and I was speaking slowly. My brain felt calm and I seemed to have created space within. I have to say this feeling stayed with me all day and as I sit today completing this newsletter, I am reminding myself to slow down.
I know most of us don't like to slow down. We want to keep moving as it stimulates us in every which way. I notice others and myself get out of class and speed out while checking our phones. I very rarely see someone walk out of the studio slow, relaxed and not looking into their phone. I want to become that person.
Oh! well, what's my point? It is that we should make an effort to slow down everyday. Maybe get into nature, laying on the earth, walking barefoot on earth, keeping our phones away from us for at least few hours a day, or taking a gentle/restorative class. In this day and age, it is even more critical for us to slow down. We need to reduce the rush in our minds.
April is here and I am excited to share our workshops for this month.
Leonard Shen who taught Qi gong at the studio is here to bring a series of 4 class where he will focus on Spring Cleaning our energy and emotions. Details below.
Maria Ortega used to teach at the studio and she has done a few sound healing sessions. She is back with her friend to bring you this amazing session where the focus is on sound healing, breathwork and healing touch. Details below.
My trips to India and Bali are slowly filling up. I hope some of you can join me. I do information sessions so that I can share the trip in detail and maybe it sparks interest in you.
Keep practicing and see you at the studio. Try taking some slower classes this month, maybe walk out of a class slowly and keep your phone inside until you get home. Let's all just try it.
In the words of Lao Tzu, "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished". Pause, close your eyes, repeat this simple yet profound line and see if you can slow down at this very moment.
With much LOVE and GRATITUDE
Anuja Chaudhri
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