Posts In: keep calm and yoga on

guest post by Missy DiDonato

During this month of November, we’re reminded to give thanks. I count myself lucky that I’m grateful for my family, friends, my body and breath. These things are so important, but also obvious in a way.

I was taught to look for the good in everything. This year, I’m trying to find the positives in the unpleasant and downright annoying experiences of life. Here’s my top three unexpected situations I’m grateful for this season:

TRAFFIC: The sound of the word alone probably sparks an ugly feeling inside you, as it does me. Like many other San Diegans, I drive a lot, so being stuck in traffic happens often. I use traffic and driving in general to practice patience and compassion. I’ve come to the realization that no one wants to be in traffic – we all have destinations and other places we’d rather be. So instead of complaining and yelling (which is my first instinct) I simply put on some mood music and try to enjoy just being. I am grateful for the time to relax and listen to good music.

JERKS ON YELP: We recently got a yelp review that rocked my world! The guy was a pretentious asshole who didn’t have any traction for his opinion of the teacher whose class he almost attended. My first response was to be defensive, angry and sad. After I calmed down, I asked myself why a rude comment on the internet upset me so much. I realized it was because I have created a life filled with people who are supportive and non-judgmental. I am grateful for my family, friends and colleagues who show me their love on a daily basis.

DIVORCE: Now this one is pretty unique to my experience. Divorce may have had a different impact on your life. The divorce in my life happened to both of my parents before I was born. They were both married and divorced before they met each other, so I wouldn’t be here without it! They both had children with their previous partners, which helped create the large family that I have today. I embraced their exes as parents, so I got double the love. My second mom has taken me around the world which has been a huge influence on who I am today. My dad’s ex-wife remarried a man who was also divorced and had two sons whom I now consider my brothers. We are lucky because there is a mutual respect for all the ex and current spouses. As hard as it can be for families to separate and recombine, I am grateful for divorce because it has given me the loving family that I have today.

Missy DiDonato
Guest Writer

Missy began practicing yoga at home when she was fourteen, following along to a DVD in her living room. She has since completed two separate 200 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings with UCSD and Yoga One. Missy loves helping others find their own yogic path and students of all levels appreciate her warm and friendly teaching style.

I came in to class on Tuesday with sore shoulders from a recent vigorous Vinyasa practice and a tight upper back from hours spent hunched over my computer keyboard. My breath was shallow and constricted from breathing out of just one nostril. The funny thing is, I didn’t notice any of these things before class. It was yoga that brought them to my attention and initiated the remedy.

I’d decided to go to the 4:30pm Yoga Basics class, probably because my unconscious was telling me I needed to take it slow and unwind. The instructor, Wren, greeted each student individually, asking how everyone felt that day. She has a gentle way of talking that makes you feel instantly welcomed, cared-for and safe. She started the class in savasana. Lying on my back with my eyes closed, my hands resting quietly on my belly, I let my breath take up all of my awareness. I could feel the exchange of oxygen; the outside taken inside, integrated and then released.

“Yoga is such a private experience,” Wren said to us while our eyes were closed. “Let your breath nourish your body.” Her voice was soft but clear. We lay on our backs for awhile, gently stretching and then flowing in and out of bridge pose with the breath. As the class transitioned to seated and standing poses, Wren reminded us to rely even more on the breath during challenging postures. The slow, steady pace of the class meant that I didn’t have to think about what was coming next. I could concentrate on breathing – and it’s amazing what breathing consciously for an hour will do for the body and the mind.

Of course, Yoga Basics is the perfect class for beginning students, but it was a welcome oasis for this experienced yogi. It’s always beneficial to really hear everything the body has to say and to communicate internally each day. The only way to do that is to slow down, find a steady breath and inquire. Wren makes space for each of her students to make those inquiries and gently encourages everyone to respond to the subtle messages of the body; providing well-timed suggestions to take you deeper into the experience of connection with the self.

When I left the studio, I felt so calm. My eyes were soft, my shoulders had receded back to their natural state and my breathing was full and open. If you’ve never been to yoga before, Yoga Basics is certainly a great introduction and if you’re a more seasoned practitioner, the tumultuous Fall season is the perfect time to get back to basics.

To all our readers, Keep Calm and Yoga On! Hope to see you around the studio soon!

namaste,
Laura