Off the Mat, Into My Life
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I stand 40 feet in the air, heart pounding; I’m terrified and about to attempt to fly. In seconds I’ll willingly jump off this platform, swinging from a trapeze. The plan is for me to fly through the air, hook my knees to the trapeze bar, let go with my hands and connect hands with the guy on the trapeze across from me, completely letting go of my trapeze. Some plan. Did I mention that I’m terrified?
The call for me to do all of this will come at any second. I don’t have much time to get in the zone, so I go to the one thing I do have with me up here in the air: my breath. I pull air in through my nose and slowly release it. I breathe deeply, calmly, deliberately. My heart rate slows; my focus sharpens. This yogic breath is working. As incredible as it seems I’m 40 feet above the ground, about to fling my body into space, and I’m meditating. More incredibly, it’s working. I’m suddenly calm.
“Hep!” The man on the other trapeze shouts. That’s my cue. I jump into the air, grabbing the trapeze with both hands. I tuck my body and bring my knees up in one fluid motion, hooking them on the bar. Gratitude for all the yoga classes that allow me the flexibility and grace to do this flash through my mind. As I swing out my hands let go of the bar and I arch my back. If I can’t arch my back enough and get the length and height in my swing, I’m going to miss my partner’s hands. I backward bend deeper, just like in Camel Pose. I’m a flying Camel! Suddenly I can see my partner and I find the inner strength to bend back a bit further… almost there….Suddenly our hands connect! YES! I let go of my trapeze with my knees and as I fly though the air I am pure exhilaration!
Back on the ground I have more time to reflect on all the ways yoga helped me both physically and mentally. Something as simple focusing on the breath made it possible for me to twist and flip through the air. Because of yoga I had the strength and flexibility of body and mind that I needed. I’m also touched by the parallel of connecting with my partner in the air and people in real life. It’s so interesting that in order to make the connection I had to backward bend and literally open my heart. What if I moved through life with an open heart and outstretched hands, happy to connect, the way yoga teaches? Any and every thing would be possible. Even more amazing feats than flying through the air with the greatest of ease.”
Laura C, Trapeze Artist, Hot Yoga Instructor
