Yoga Makes the Sun Come Out

One of my favorite life moments happened in January 2010 on a St. John beach where I was vacationing with a dozen or so dear friends.  We were giddy to be splashing around in the crystal clear water when our native Boston was buried under another ice storm -- this was the life.  The only thing that would have made it perfect was if the clouds would part, the drizzle would stop, and the sun would shine.  But even with the light rain, we were still having the time of our lives.  

Then something happened -- spontaneous yoga on the beach.

I'm not entirely sure how it got started.  All I know is it my friend Kathryn and I stood side-by-side on the beach doing a Sun A and we were quickly joined by half a dozen more of our friends until we were a line of yogis moving through a combination of warrior postures and Sun A's for ten or fifteen solid minutes -- only stopping when we suddenly realized that a new friend had finally joined us on this unreal beach -- THE SUN!  One of us pointed at the sky and said, "LOOK WHAT WE DID!"

Everyone on the beach, we realized at that moment, had stopped what they were doing to watch us salute our warming star and they were all part of the experience as we broke our formation and celebrated in a group hug.  

Yes, it's true -- yoga makes the sun come out.

That was before I was an RYT and was likely my first concrete experience with the true magic of yoga.  Since that January day on Cinnamon Bay, I've encountered this magic again and again.  I am a believer.

Fast forward to yesterday -- a Sunday in August in Somerville, Massachusetts on a hill overlooking the city of Boston.  This is the site of Dedication Yoga and the only thing keeping the day from perfection was the 60% threat of storms hidden in the clouds above our heads.  But we gathered for class, anyway -- a slightly smaller group than normal, but a wonderful group, nonetheless.  The focus for class was setting your intention -- what brought you to the mat today -- what did you hope to achieve either on the mat or off -- and after a few moments meditating on this, class was underway.  And by the time we came to the final vinyasa -- wouldn't you know it?  The sun came out.  I'm not sure I could contort my face into a bigger grin.

And after twenty minutes or so of writing and reflecting on our intention for the day's practice, we went our separate ways with the knowledge that no goal is impossible to achieve -- even a threat of probable rain can be overcome.

Namaste!

Sarah W.