Yesterday, February 5, 2017, I received my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate in psychotherapeutic yoga. It was going to be an amazing day. LISPY had a fun day for us, including a morning yoga practice, a homemade lunch from our teachers, a little graduation ceremony with our family and friends, and then a chai latte gathering afterward. Then I was going to come home and finish filing all of my paperwork that had to wait for the certificate and watch the Superbowl.
Well, Robert Burns said it best.
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an ‘men
Gang aft agley,
An’lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
The morning started off great. I woke up early (which is huge for me, I must add), showered, and dressed like usual. I was even inspired to write a new poem, which happened while I was in the shower. I then had to repeat the lines over and over again so I wouldn’t forget them. As soon as I wrapped a towel around my hair, I ran for my poetry notebook to write it down. After I sat with my family for a few moments, I headed off to the bathroom to dry my hair. That’s when the bed kicked me.
Yes, IT kicked ME. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
My last three toes on my foot took the brunt of it. The pain was incredible, and the little piggies did start to swell. After I dried my hair, we decided that I jammed them pretty good. I texted my teachers to tell them I couldn’t fully practice this morning, and then limped my merry way to my car. I was not going to let this spoil my day. Yes, my toes hurt like a sonofabitch, but that was no reason to not have fun with my fellow colleagues.
I didn’t take my sock off until I returned home. I was afraid to look at it, to tell you the truth. The fourth toe was swollen like a cocktail wiener. It was also black and blue. Surprise! You broke your toe right before you’re opening a new yoga business! Don’t you feel like a genius?
I had to laugh. For starters, what else could I do, and secondly, it’s rather Murphy’s law, wouldn’t you agree? A few friends asked if I was going to delay opening because of my toe. My answer is OH HELL NO. You don’t need to stand to do yoga. You can get plenty out of sitting, lying on your back, or lying on your stomach. To prove it, I recorded a brief 30-minute yoga session and posted it on Facebook.
That’s one of the beautiful things about yoga. When the best laid schemes of mice and men do gaft agley (translated as “go oft awry”), then you adapt and carry on. Modify the poses. Honor where you are that day, accept it, and most importantly, embrace it.
