So be it
January 31, 2011 § 6 Comments
The first time I ever did yoga was in Bangalore, India on a business school exchange after grad school one summer. Yoga wasn’t quite as popular 10 years ago in SC as it is just about everywhere today. My expectations were that it would be a lot of stretching and flexibility exercises, which it was, but there was also something the teacher kept saying that has stuck with me: “so be it”. Anytime we’d be doing a series of poses that would push us, she would say “if your breathing quickens, so be it.” Her tone was more of a “whatever” or “no worries”…shit happens.
My friend Adair and I traveled around India and Nepal for a month afterward and that phrase became our funny short-hand reply for whenever something would happen that wasn’t quite as planned, which was pretty much a daily occurrence. It was our Indian adventure version of “C’est la vie” or “lo que sea”. It is what it is.
I decided after all of last week’s winter activities that yoga would be the perfect thing to pick up again to work out all those sore muscles. I’ll also be working in LA this week, so yoga is something Boulder and LA have very much in common. So be it.
My aim is to try different forms of yoga and see which one feels right for me. When I did yoga in LA it was very much to cope with a stressful job and to get a little exercise. I didn’t think about it much beyond that. I’d like to pursue it a bit further this week. My friend Alicia, talks about yoga in her blog as a practice. I’m hoping by the end of the week that I might find yoga to be something I see as more than just a little exercise but as a practice I can incorporate into my life.
I think “so be it” can mean a couple of things. Since that yoga class it’s always meant “go with the flow” to me, which is something I need to remind myself of. I think there’s another interpretation of it I’ve gotten a glimpse of in yoga before, which is “just be”. To me, the former is a way to cope with things as they happen to you while the latter is adopting an approach or a philosophy to life. I may be splitting hairs here, but it’s something I’ll be thinking about as I’m doing yoga this week.
I will be starting with Ashtanga Vinyasa tonight at the Yoga Workshop in Boulder. It will be fun to compare Boulder yoga with LA yoga. Something tells me Boulder will be more my speed, but we’ll see!
52 To Do 
I found yoga at my health club and attended “gym” yoga classes for a few months. Experimented with studio yoga (or what I’d call “real” yoga) after those few months when a local place opened up near our house. I would say yoga found me and I practice as often as I can (5+ days a week), wherever I can (have studios in all the cities I visit for work), and look out for advanced workshops I can attend. Still a beginner but love what it’s done for my head AND my body. Namaste.
Trish, that’s so great you’ve become so dedicated. I’ve run into a few people now that feel they couldn’t live without yoga once they’ve gotten to a certain level with it. it would be a shame not to take advantage of what i have here in boulder. maybe you’ll have to come for a visit? 🙂
Anusara is my absolutely favorite and the sect of yoga I dedicated myself to in SF. I haven’t pursued it much in Boulder, but depending on when you are back from LA I would check out a class with you at OmTime.
let’s plan on doing some yoga this weekend? are you in town? i’d like to try Iyengar somewhere if possible too.
Hey Darcie! Your post reminds me of our conversations about your time in India. I know a few people who practice Yoga and this is pretty much what they maintain- Yoga helps you to observe your emotions- good or bad- and breathe through it all. Simply witness them as they flit through your mind. If you can train yourself to observe your reactions, you are much better equipped to deal with them. Its so tough to be a detached observer, but apparently it works!
Keep writing, I love reading your blog!!
Riddhi! it’s so good to hear from you! I would love to catch up sometime and I’m glad you are enjoying the blog. One thing I love is reconnecting with old friends like you! i hope you are well.