10- My Yellow Bicycle

This marks the tenth in the series.  There is something special about ten. I am not really sure but somewhere, some numerologist could enlighten me. If that is you, please do.

When I was a lad of 10, I received a bike for my birthday. It was yellow.

Certain times in your life, freedoms are gained that are milestones in your development: The expanse of your neighborhood once you have a bike; The expanse of your city once you have a drivers license; The expanse of your world once you have a passport. New opportunities create new possibilities if you are willing to take the steps to embrace what is before you.

My yellow bike and I went everywhere.  I rode it to school, got lost, crashed, jumped creeks, tried to convert it to a banana-seated-sissy-bar-stick-shifted status symbol and when that failed, converted it to a BMX bike that ultimately garnered much criticism.In hindsight, it really was meant to be a cruiser, not those other incarnations I was forcing.

It was MY yellow bike and we had been through a lot together.  When it came time to say goodbye, even as a 12 year old, it was difficult.  I actually didn’t own a bike for a few years after that. I had to borrow my moms.

Some things in life are difficult to work through. We have had them (things/habits/what-have-you) for years and can’t imagine life without ‘them’.   Yoga has reminded me that my old postures were just fine. They suited me well. They served a purpose at the time. These old ways are now making the room necessary for the new. Where there is a void, something new will fill it. Hopefully, wise choices are made and the new choice is more adaptive for the new life.  

Today, my new yoga experience was at Asmi Yoga in Bend. The studio was by far the largest in Bend and possibly the city’s best kept secret. It is a converted wood shop or metal shop of some sort. Think high ceilings with massive old growth beams, vibrant purple and mustard walls with deep rustic wood grained floors with a warm polished glow. The sound system is so well tuned that you actually can’t define the source of the sounds. You feel the warmth of the sonic wave covering you with.

In yoga this morning, I was really struggling. My hamstrings are as tight as a steel drum; my hips are rigid like granite.  In my own judgment, I sound tight and a parody of middle aged deferred maintenance.

Trying to stretch my problem spots wasn’t working. The kindness and patience of Deb Light allowed me to not connect to judgment of myself but listen to her smooth voice allowing the support to just relax and let it go. I let it go, for a moment, and could feel the stretch reaching deep into my muscles and connecting tissues.

The time spent with Deb was enjoyable, but today more so. She allowed me to work through my habits and found ways for me to find their obsolescence. From this place I could then look to what new opportunity was being offered.

Oddly, I am a shy person.  In my job I come into contact with, I kid you not, a thousand people a day.  I am social, engaging and animated. When it comes to my own needs and my own ‘issues’ being met, oftentimes I feel too self conscious to ask for help or even express a need.  For me to express these, I must be very comfortable and confident with the situation.

Yoga provides a place that has proven to be supportive and if anything, void of judgment. So long as you are there, no one really notices if you have a banana-seated-sissy-bar-stick-shifted status symbol. They are just happy to ride with you.

Namaste.