Present

Posted by Carolyn Smaka in Stories - Uplifting on 29-6-14

After a particularly rough week, I arrived at my favorite yoga studio for a class with Flo, one of my favorite teachers. On the drive over, I was thinking about how badly I needed a dose of “Flo-ga”, my name for Flo’s blend of workout and spirituality that always left me both exhausted and uplifted. As I was signing in to the class, a gangly teenager came running into the studio screaming, “I’m here I’m here! Flo I’m here I’m gonna take your adult class Flo!” It was apparent that he was autistic, and that my Zen Flo-ga experience was not going to be happening tonight.

I heard his mother explain to the woman at the desk that Joshua had taken Flo’s children’s class for years and now she wanted him to try the adult class. “Once the class starts, Josh’ll be fine,” she said. “Really,” she added with emphasis. And then she left.

I exchanged awkward glances with other students in the lobby. We’re yogis and it’s all good, our half-smiles seemed to say. But I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking – crap.

As Joshua bounced around the lobby like Tigger, I slinked into the class and strategically placed my mat between two other mats that were already on the floor. Not because I’m trying to avoid sitting near him or anything, I told myself. A thin, pretty yogi sat on the mat to my left. Students were filing into the room but the mat to my right remained vacant. Flo entered and took the teacher’s seat at the front of the class, and then Joshua ran in screaming. “Flo Flo hi Flo!” he exclaimed. “Hi Joshua, good to see you!” Flo said brightly. “Please take a seat on your mat.” Which just happened to be the one to the right of me, of course. Great.

Today’s theme was about being present. “How do you show up in your life and where can you be more present?” Flo asked. She said to consider when we pause the movies in our heads – those old movies of the past and those movies of the future – and embrace the present moment. In the present is where we really experience freedom, she explained.

Flo instructed us to close our eyes and sit for a moment in silence. Joshua opened his water bottle. “Ha ha I just spilled water on myself!” he shouted. Flo gave him the “shh” sign. Joshua smiled.

Asana practice began. While trying not to glance to the right, I couldn’t help but notice that Joshua stood during standing poses, sat during sitting poses, and lay down during supine poses. He approximated down dog a few times. At one point, Flo came by to help him with tree pose while he was sitting on his mat. “This is tree pose, Joshua,” she said. “You have to stand up.” “I know,” he answered. “I’m resting.” Thin pretty yogi and I giggled.

“I have to go to the bathroom!” Joshua declared and sprinted out of the room as the rest of us were holding side plank. After a challenging series of arm balances, during which Joshua sat watching patiently, he yelled, “Are we almost done yet?” The whole class laughed. Joshua smiled. “Almost,” said Flo.

Savasana. Finally. This wasn’t so bad. He’s so joyful and a cute kid. Man, do I have work to do. “Let’s end class today with a rolling Om,” Flo said. “I’ll begin.” But before she could begin, a loud Om came from my right. “Ommmm!” We all joined in.

“Let’s give gratitude to ourselves for practicing today. And to our teachers,” Flo said. She paused. “And to all the people who have taught us.” “Thank you Flo thank you Flo I am grateful for you Flo!” Joshua cried out. He ran to the front of the class and threw his arms around Flo. Then he skipped out of the room. I could hear him shouting in the lobby, “That was a great class! I’ll be back next week!” Me too.