Saturday 12 February 2011

Yoga and Cake

There are moments in life when you ask yourself questions. I had such a moment today when I was doing my best hot damp slug impression in Bikram Yoga. The question was ‘Why am I here?’ and it wasn’t one of those philosophical soul-searching moments, more of a ‘What’s really so wrong with slobbing about, anyhow?’ type things.

I doubt any of the super-bendy contortionists at the front of the room were thinking similar thoughts. I suspect they were At One with themselves (and the mirror.) This is probably where I am going wrong. I’m just not Zen enough - although it’s hard to be Zen and At One when sweating bare feet waft a perilous inch from your nose. Even harder when the person in front kicks their leg up and you can see what only their ever-loving partner should. Shorts that fit, now there's an invention. It’s not like you can close your eyes either, as you have to keep them open ‘so your energy stays in the room’. I don’t know where my energy goes, but I suspect it gambols down the front in amazement at the stretchy ones; it certainly doesn’t stay with me.

That said; I did come out of class feeling full of good intentions, and decided to go home via a different train route in order to finish the day with a three-mile walk. Sounds good, huh? Angelic, almost? I thought so too, and let me tell you it was just sheer coincidence that this route also includes my favourite tea-shop which sells cupcakes. I know! What are the chances, eh? You can’t let opportunities like this slide, so pretty soon I was safely ensconced inside, notebook open, pen at the ready, ready to rock the Mad Person Writing in Public look.


I’d just got to the part where you catch yourself mouthing part of the dialogue (never a good look when sat by yourself) when this poem came out of nowhere, plonked itself down and said ‘Are you writing me or what?’ So instead of working further on the short story, I spent the remainder of time happily scribbling a rhyme. Sometimes that’s just the way writing goes.

And in case you are wondering what the big surge of exercise is all about – take a look at this:


There may be a holiday on the horizon. *grins*

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Would make a wonderful short story!

Margo Benson said...

Lovely post! I find I get the giggles in yoga classes - I'm spritual enough, I just hope I don't possess *that* face when being in a Zen moment.

Cake is Zen enough....

J.B. Chicoine said...

You just confirmed why I shy away from groups that require the sharing of personal space--even if it's visual...
You painted my fears perfectly!

Maggie May said...

A three mile walk and then cake...... errrrrr, I think the cake might outdo the good of the walk. LOL.
Such a lovely thing to do though.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Kenda Turner said...

I love the part about the poem that came out of nowhere--"plonked" itself down??? I wish a poem would do that to me :-) Fun post, thanks!

Old Kitty said...

Rhyme scribbling is fab!! And so is contorting one's body to the shape of an upside down turtle on skates to achieve nirvana!! Yay for you!!!!!

Tea and cake - can't get more writerly than that!!!

Is that a cycle holiday I see before me?!?!!? Take care x

Dolly said...

What a delightful day. I think taking a different way home is always a good idea, and if it involves cake even better. Curious about the poem though! I am with jbchicoine on group stuff, but a lovely day in spite of the sights at yoga :-)

Happy Frog and I said...

I've never really got the whole yoga thing but I totally get holidays and cake!

SF said...

Ha, 'sweaty slug' is my favourite yoga pose, and I don't even do the hot yoga.

Some of my most Zen moments have involved tea and cake, so stick with it!

Natascha said...

YES! I can't wait to break my board out for the season. Mt. Charleston hasn't seen much snow :(

Out on the prairie said...

While working at a prairie out along a lake area someone notified me there were two lovely bakeries in a nearby town. each day I rode my bike in and ate some of the best pastries and then wondered if I consumed more calories than the ride to and from.

Paula RC said...

You made my much beloved and I LOL. What amazing picture you painted in the Yoga class.

Hannah said...

I love yoga...and cake. One a little more than the other...:P

hosted BES said...

That was indeed a lovely post!

Pat Tillett said...

Maybe you will find your zen on the mountain...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Priya Parmar said...

hot damp slug? that is a fantastic phrase.

Bee said...

Please share the name of the favourite tea-shop that also sells cupcakes! Writing and scoffing cake sounds like bliss to me.