5- Touch

More yin yoga tonight.  This time, it was with Deb Light at Namaspa.  There are two things that stand out in sessions with Deb.

The readings. During our poses, Deb recites verses from books that pertain to the pose.  Her soft, comforting voice allows for the words to ease into the mind while staying in the pose, in the breath and with your intention.  Her literary choices deepen the yin practice in a mindful manner.

Touch.  At the end of the practice, we lay still, prostrate in savasana. This pose, the anti-pose, is the final few moments of the practice. During this time, I find myself somewhere between sleep and waking allowing my body to settle into the newly stretched form.

While in this state, Deb very gently will touch each one of us with an adjustment of sorts. When Deb reaches me, she gently rubs my temples then touches me in the middle of my forehead.  I am unsure what she does to adjust others but I do hear very subtle sighs as she touches them too.

It is very hard for me to explain the magic of this touch.  It simply seals in the practice and somehow connects us to one another.  I am at a loss for words that will give it the credit due so as it pertains to yoga, I'll ponder it a while and see if I can convey the meaning in another post.

Touch, to me, is the language of love.  To touch another living being with kindness in your heart not only feels right to give, but also to receive. I touch my friends, family, children, GF all on a daily basis. Hugs, hand holding, kisses, pats, standing close, shoulder rubs, back rubs, facial rubs are in my daily repertoire.   Life without this kind of connection feels vacant to me.

When in yoga, having the instructor adjust a pose, massage a part of you that appears tight or pull on you to make the pose go deeper just ads to the magic of yoga.  Perhaps its just me.

I am very thankful for these adjustments at anytime as I feel my body respond as well as my spirit settles into the warmth of touch.

After 5 classes in three days, my body feels great. I feel taller, more balanced and more flexible.  I can actually see the difference in my posture when I look in the mirror.  I've not lost any weight but thats not really an issue for me. If 10-15 pounds shed, I would be delighted.  If my flexibility and posture continue to gain, I have succeeded.

I slept very well last night. This my have been the first deep sleep I have had in months. I imagine I will tonight and many nights to come as well.

Namaste-