Sunday 8th November, 2009 - Sidewalk yoga

This afternoon, whilst I was waiting for a yoga class, I picked up a copy of yoga journal magazine (tryingt to mentally prepare myself!) and came across an article entitled 'sidewalk yoga'.
It concerned the fast paced naure of life in New York where everybody appears to be constantly rushing everywhere, even women carrying yoga mats en route to yoga classes, where the goal is supposedly to be relaxed, calm and peaceful.
It propounded that we should all slow things down and practice 'sidewalk yoga' ie taking the concepts of yoga mentality and applying it not just in a yoga class but in our day to day life.
Although the article was based in New York, I think it is universally applicable which is why I wanted to share it. I am constantly constantly in fear of taking out some elderly woman who refuses to walk much faster than a shuffle and so many times I get so frustrated with people apparantly aimlessly wandering and stopping in the middle of the street - indeed, I have often thought that my road attracts these sorts of slow walkers who like to take an aimles amble along the pavement. However, I think its a really interesting lesson to be able to slow everything down, especially in a city where the pace of life is so fast surrounded by constant traffic of all kinds and just try and be calmer. As I was badly attempting to bend and contort my body in to the correct yoga postures during the class, under the disappointed eyes of our teacher, who speaks to us as (somewhat understandably I think considering our group!) a teacher who is both slightly exasperated and disappointed in the performance of their class at school!.I was thinking how much it would help you to be able to keep hold of an inner calm and peace despite the rush outside.

I'm positive it is easier said than done and easily forgotten in the daily commute to and from work and school, and for me I would try and keep a little bit calmer and try and s l o w t h i n g s d o w n a little.