While I find myself back in LA for the next couple of months I am trying to make the most of it. Though I am not 'home' I am in a familiar place and spending time with friends. The discomfort of not being in my home every night is made easier by the comfort of doing the things I used to do when I lived in this city - things I did to occupy my time until I could escape to my next adventure in wilder terrain.
One of the activities I became quite fond of was spinning. When I couldn't join my friend Marci for a ride through Topanga Canyon or Malibu, I made sure to make it to the gym for a spin. Though I consider myself a rider first, I see the value in spinning. It's quite zen - that repetitive motion - and engages my creative side. Three weeks ago I joined TriFitLA for two months. It caters to triathletes, has a pool, spinning and yoga: The perfect combination.
What's even cooler - I have become addicted, once again, to the act of spinning. More appropriately, I have become addicted to Merle's class. He's a rider and brings that to his class. Lately we have been watching stage footage from The Tour; it rolls on the the big screen behind him at the front of the room. It's makes it easy to stay motivated during a seven minute hill climb when you are watching Lance and Levi power up a section too: Smooth pedal strokes, centered positioning and consistent cadence. What I also like is Merle brings a certain yogic technique to his class - we do sun salutations at the beginning and end, focusing on deep, effective breaths and relaxing the shoulders and toes. Drawing in our energy and lifting through the length of our spine. Staying light on the pedals - centered and balanced. His schtick is always the same and he ends his class with the phrase - "And make sure to nurture your joy." Our arms are raised, palms facing the heavens. I don't tire of his routine, though it's always the same, I find motivation in it every time he says it.
Which brings me to my own schtick when I teach yoga. After savasana I always end practice the same way - "Thank your body for moving the way it has; thank yourself for coming to practice today; and bring this sense of peace and wellness into your communities - your work, your home, whereever you may travel; Namaste." It is something I always say and always wonder if people tire of it. But I do believe we should be thankful for the way our body moves - that we are able to move at all because that may not always be the case. I do believe we should honor ourselves for attending yoga practice or working out. And I know that if we choose to bring our own peace into our daily lives we can make this world a better place.
Merle's schtick works because it comes from an authentic place. I know mine does too and, I can only hope it rings true for others the way Merle's does with me.
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