Although I practice hot yoga several times a week, one of the greatest benefits is the mindfulness I’ve gained when outside the hot room. The beautiful thing about life is that one never knows when yoga practice will transform into a life-challenge strategy.
A friend invited me to attend a monthly storytelling show at a popular venue. Due to recent thunderstorms, the torrential rains damaged the venue’s AC. Even though the repairman fixed the AC unit minutes before the show began, the space was still too warm for most people’s comfort–except for me.
As we lined up outside to pay, one of the producers handed out appetizer-sized paper plates to use as makeshift fans. I declined to take one. He assured me that I would need one. I insisted I wouldn’t.
Envision the air becoming cooler, I suggested to some people before the show began, but without hot yoga training, they fanned themselves in frustration. Throughout the entire show, I felt encapsulated within a bubble of calm, sitting among an audience of agitated energy. I witnessed warm air futilely whipped around with so much aggression, I wondered if the fanning action itself negated their cooling process.
During intermission, the so-called heat worked in my favor. While everyone else flocked outside for relief, I used the bathroom without having to wait in line. I even helped myself to water and made an ice water for my friend without any waiting.
Keeping my cool under the circumstances enhanced my viewing pleasure. As usual, I want to extend that calm mindfulness to other challenging situations. How much more enjoyable could my overall life be without figuratively fanning the flames?
I failed at the next opportunity I had to test my mindfulness. As much as I hate working on Saturdays, I love seeing the extra money deposited by the following Tuesday. Mindfulness went out the window when that money didn’t show up in my bank account. About the only thing I managed to hold onto was professionalism when I communicated both in written and verbal form.
After the bureaucratic run around with my supervisor, the payroll company and my bank, I gave the same supervisor I’d begun the whole process with a summary of my efforts, which had solved nothing. I tried to calm myself down with the thought that eventually, the situation would be resolved. That was my rational mind at work. My subconscious took over as I fought the conflict in my sleep.
And the next day, the money appeared.
The journey continues.