Yoga Talk

Last week, a great friend of my lovely man died/passed/took-off-the-tight-shoe, and we gathered at a funeral home to send him off.

I was in that horrid lineup, the reception line or whatever it's called, trying not to cry, being one of those unfortunate saps who cry at all funerals and weddings whether or not I know the star of the show. It's the intensity of grief (or joy for that matter) floating around the room. It unhinges me.

A woman from Los Angeles, completely unknown to me (some member of the star's family), reached a hand forward to take mine. I started crying. We introduced ourselves. I wiped my nose.

"Are you the one who does yoga?" she asked.

"What?"

"Yoga. I hear you do yoga. Is that right?"

"Yes, I do yoga."

"I love yoga," she said. "We both do," she added, pointing to her husband. "I'll find you later," she said. "We'll talk." I moved down the line, wondering whether I'd imagined the whole thing.

Less than 30 minutes later, I introduced myself to the guy who runs the funeral home.

"You're the one who does yoga, aren't you?" he said.

"I'm one of them. There are lots of us," I said, starting to wonder what the hell was going on here.

"I did yoga in 1978, way up by James Bay. There was no gym on the reserve. I found some Richard Hittleman tapes. Twenty eight days of yoga. It really worked. Before that, I thought yoga was a kind of ice cream."

Yoga at funerals.

Something is changing. We all know that yoga's star is on the rise, that yoga is spreading like a kind of gorgeous plague at an unprecedented rate.

It seems that around that surge is an even larger wave of conversation about yoga, a conversation taking place in grocery stores, in movie lines, at weddings and funerals. Yoga has become an ice breaker, a grief-breaker, a happy bonding glue.

I'll bet you've had some bizarre yoga conversations of your own. Between fishing huts? In helicopters? Submarines? On safari? In armored vehicles? How far does it go? I'd love to hear.

Thanks to the lovely and charming Ferg, who is now breathing more easily. Thanks to yoga for showing up everywhere, and thanks to you for the conversation,

kristin

Dr. Kristin Shepherd is a chiropractor, actor, and speaker (About All Things Wonderful) in North Bay, Ontario. Join her on the web, on Facebook, and on Twitter, and on iTunes.

Comments

I have those conversations everywhere! Not only do I have those conversations, but my husband even has those conversations about how his wife does yoga. Most people feel the need to tell their personal relationship with yoga once they find out I'm an instructor; how often they do or don't practice; whether they've tried it before; whether they like it not; the style they prefer, etc.. Tons of them have questions that I'm happy to answer. For the past two years, my niece (she just turned 5) always talks to me about yoga... how she does yoga with her mom, how we're going to do yoga together and how much she loves yoga... "Aunt Amanda teaches yoga!" she tells EVERYONE we come into contact with and she's always happy to show me her downdog pose. All of these conversations are wonderful. These conversations are why I love yoga so much.

Posted by: Mandi | March 22, 2011 12:03 PM

I was doing DVD Yoga for 6 years... I had no idea, Kristin. No idea at all that it could be so amazing, and healing. I'm obsessed now with everything about it.. the practice, the poses, the different types, and the people who teach it. I go to different studios around the city to find the great one that offers what I want most and that's 1. Fitness and 2. an amazing teacher who really speaks to you.

I have Yoga conversations all the time.

Everyone should do Yoga... and with the right teacher, the world will be a better place.

Posted by: Mari | March 23, 2011 10:49 PM

Yoga is amazing. It is the best way for me to relax. I think everyone should try yoga. It is best for all ages. Good thing for me, I have yoga teacher training. I experienced the best of yoga that time because of the training. Because of the right and proper training of my teacher, I am inlove with yoga.

Posted by: Karina | March 27, 2011 11:38 PM

I am very happy to see this Yoga Talk. Really you provide a well guidance for a good health. This is advances in medicine; education and lifestyle continue to help humans enjoy longer and healthier lives. Thanks again for a nice information.

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