My first yoga experience was last year, when a friend invited me to join a class. Miguel and I were newbies, so it was no surprise that while doing some exercise and poses, we could hear our bones squeaking and creaking while we silently moaned and groaned. Sometimes we were whispering curses to each other, “why the effing thing are we doing this?” or “we're too old for this, can't we just do something fun like zumba or pilates?” But it was an experience, and life is a collection of experiences that adds to your story.
After that, incident, I did yoga at home by buying some books and listening to dvd's...I didn't want to embarrass myself by falling every time I lost my balance. But when a good friend, Ximena invited me for some yoga and food, I could not refuse...plus there was an added feature of wine tasting which was just too good to pass up.
Ximena is a great teacher and she adds spice to her instructions by giving metaphors that coincided with the different seasons. At one time I imagined myself as an asparagus just plucked out from the winter season. Sturdy and crisp and if you tried to bend me, I would break. That was what my joints felt. Hard and unyielding. But in time, like an asparagus after being plucked and left exposed for some period, would eventually be pliable—well almost.
The class contained 3 rows with 4 students in each row. I was in the middle row and so even if Ximena was saying something I couldn't understand such as saying all the 'sana-sanas' or animal poses like dog, baby, or cow which I have no idea what they were, I relied on people around me. I would look in front and I would follow whatever they would be doing. From standing with legs apart and bending through the waist all the way down till the head would touch the floor. From this pose, I would then be able to look at the last row of students from between my legs. I would follow whatever the back people would then be doing, from raising their legs up in the air to balancing like an airplane with hands apart or so it seems.
Then there was a time when we were all told to lie down. I thought to myself, now this is easy. But when the next instruction of raising our butts was ordered, that did me in. I did try to raise it a few times and tried to support it with both my hands, but my butt just wouldn't yield. And short of embarrassing myself and putting too much pressure, I just laid down and looked up at the ceiling, playing dead. Ximena came over and asked if I was all right and I smiled and put a 'thumbs up'. I wanted to tell her that I probably sat on Elmer's glue and it was the reason my butt won't budge! Ximena sensed my predicament and came to the rescue. She told me to raise my butt, which I did, and in seconds, she inserted a wooden block right under my tailbone. Yehey! I said to myself, at least my butt is above ground. Now I'm making progress!!!!!
After the yoga session which lasted about an hour and a half, we prepared ourselves for the meal. The studio was cleaned out of the yoga mats and a circle of folded blankets were used for seats. At the center of the circle was a tray of wine glasses filled with either a pinot gris (white wine) or a pinot noir (red wine). Yogi-sommelier Dennis, who also co-coached the yoga exercises with Ximena discussed with us the wines served, from its origin, how it is labeled as organic or if it is biodynamic wine. He also taught us the art of how to drink by defining it through smell, color and taste.
And Chef Jason presented us with a sumptuous ensemble from the Black Olive Crostini appetizer, the Roasted Beet salad and the entree of a root vegetable stew with couscous was just divine. And who would think that the chocolate mousse was made of tofu and bananas. Simply flavorful and nutritious as well. The experience of a yoga workout, then eating such healthy food and downing it with wine is worth repeating. And to Ximena, David and Jason, hats off to a great team. Congratulations! Thank you for all the awesomeness!
