I thought I had a straightforward road in front of me. Go to school. Become a teacher. Live a good life. Sounds simple, right?
So that’s what I did. I’ve always been a bit of a nerd, so I read. I read and read. I read and wrote papers. I kept my nose in the books, reading and writing so that I could get a good job and live a good life. Because filling up my brain is the path to the good life, right?
Somewhere in college, the road took a turn I hadn’t expected. The path stopped working for me. I felt something in my body. What? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know how to name my discomfort. It wasn’t a physical discomfort. It was a discomfort at the way I was living my life. It was build up frustration of my body having been forgotten. In my aim to live a good life, I had left my body behind. I had forgotten I had a body.
This realization sent me down a different path. While I still couldn’t name the discomfort, I began seeking to join my body with the life I already had. I sought to spend more time outdoors. I began dancing more. I practiced yoga. I stumbled my way into finding more and more union between my body and my spirit.
I’m still on that road. I’ve not arrived at a destination. Rather, I’ve found joy in the journey. I’ve discovered a playfulness that comes with the practice of yoga. I’ve learned that every day is a new opportunity to continue seeking that wholeness of life. And I’ve figured out that part of my call is to help others find that union of body and spirit.
I still read a bunch. That’s not gonna change. But I discovered that my brain is a part of my body. I discovered that I can find balance. I discovered that I can care for my body as I keep doing the things that bring me joy. I’m learning not only with my mind but with my body. Said another way, there’s nothing like falling asleep under a tree as I read a good book.
I’m glad our roads have brought us together for now. I’m excited to share a bit of the journey with you.
Yoga with Andrew 