Yoga Undone

Don't you hate after class when you are feeling your yoga buzz and then something comes and bites you in the ass and totally destroys it? That happened to me the other day. I thought I would venture down to the South Loop studio for a change and check out a hot vinyasa class I wanted to take. I knew that it would take a little extra time to get back up to Lakeview, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

The class was amazing. It was one of those divine yoga classes where your mind seems in synergy with the instructor and she flows you through every posture you are craving to heal sore muscles. At the end of class, we did a bridge/wheel sequence that left me craving plow pose and low and behold: it was the next posture! I was floating on a cloud when I got out of class high on my yoga buzz.

After showering, changing and saying goodbye to my Yogi friends, I stepped out into a cold Chicago night. I have been taking hot yoga in the city long enough that the drastic temperature change alone does not affect me. Still flying on high on my yoga cloud. What I didn't realize is that my supposed quick 10 minute walk to the El included walking over a long, creepy dark bridge over the Chicago river; in poor lighting.

I walked briskly with paranoid glances over my shoulder. It's crazy how vulnerable you feel walking over a bridge! There's nowhere for anyone to pop out at you, but there's also nowhere to run if they come chasing after you. Paranoid, I know - but I was in a new neighborhood alone.

I got across the bridge just fine, but the cold air zipping both over and under the bridge and my mounting paranoia has pulled me down out of the cloud and plopped me right back in the reality of my freezing city. And walking the rest of the way to the El with my philosophical feet planted firmly on the cold ground, I heard the train rumbling and dashed down the stairs to try and make it in time. By alas, I turned the corner just in time to see the red lights of my train heading up north without me. An unnecessary adrenaline rush.

It was 15 minutes before another train and once I was on it, it seems to do more stalling than moving. The electronic voice kept coming on assuring me they were waiting for "signal clearance" which in my short two-year Chicago life I have come to realize is a blanket comment for, "We don't know when, but eventually we will move again." Every time I hear the little beep signaling the voice to repeat the signal clearance mantra, I felt annoyance creep farther and farther into my enlightenment.

By the time I made it home, a full hour later, I was officially stressed. All the little adrenaline spikes, the paranoia of my walk, the annoying little beeps on the El train got to me and penetrated my little yoga bubble.

This is when I need to learn to practice city yoga. The pranayama and posture adjustments that take the sting out of hour train rides. It's part of my life as much if not more than taking class, and I need to practice yoga right there on the train in each little breath and movement if I am going to truly benefit from all these classes I am taking.

Next Monday I am heading back down to South Loop with $5 for a cab to the El station and a clear head for pranayama on the train. Wish me luck.