I went to see The Arcade Fire at the Ryman a couple weeks ago.
I have loved this band for years but have never seen them live, so I was really excited to go–despite the fact that the show was on a Monday night. I’ve been to the Ryman before, but not for more than five years, and never since moving to Nashville about a year ago.
[I know you may be thinking, what does this have to do with yoga? Don't worry. I'm about to get there.]
As I sat crammed into the aisle seat of the pew (yes, pew), I anticipated what the show would be like. I fully expected everyone to sit down during the show; I’d heard through the grapevine that that was the usual crowd behavior. A 7′ man (I don’t even think I’m exaggerating) sat in front of me (I’m 5’4″), though, so sitting was not an option.
It didn’t end up mattering either way because as soon as the band came out, everyone got on their feet and didn’t sit back down.
I started out with my too-cool-for-school dance: a slight knee bend and head nod. I even got a little wild and clapped to the beat for a few moments. I continued this for another couple minutes until one of my favorite songs came on. That’s when the energy of the band, the momentum of the crowd, and the pulse of the music just swept me away.
I didn’t care who was looking (but I didn’t think many people were). I got loose. I raised my arms in the air (and waved ‘em around like I just don’t care). I let go like I haven’t in quite some time. I was in the moment.
After the show I felt like I’d had an otherworldly experience. My husband and I went home and had an Arcade Fire dance party because we just weren’t done rocking out.
A couple weeks later, still thinking about the show, I realize how much yoga had prepared me to fully enjoy it. I’ve lived much of my life in the seated/barely dancing mode, but as I get on my mat more and more, life is revealing itself to me in several ways:
- Opening my heart: Yoga practice has the uncanny ability to not only pry open stuck places in our physical bodies but also in our hearts. When I step out and try new things in my practice, I often find the same thing happening in my life.
- Balancing effort and ease: We often talk about striking this balance in our asana practice. It’s something I try to remember off the mat, too, whether I’m dancing my heart out or trying to make it through another busy day at work.
- Being present: I have a tendency to live in the future. I’m always plotting out my next meal, plans for the evening, what I have to do at work tomorrow, etc. When I let myself truly experience the present, though, it feels like nothing else.
It feels like home.
Anna Guest-Jelley is an advocate for women’s rights by day, a yoga teacher by night, and a puppies’ mama all the time. She is making her way through life with joy, curves and all. Visit her at her website and on Facebook and Twitter.
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I love this post, Anna. I had a similar experience at a Michael Franti show. It was like I had somehow forgotten how DIVINE dancing can be!
Recently on the show, So You Think You Can Dance (guilty pleasure!), one of the judges, Mia Michaels, said, “Every Day is a gift to move and to grow.” This struck me because it totally sums up in a most beautiful way what I love about hatha yoga. Your post struck me in the same way. I especially love the last line, “It feels like home.” Yes!!
So, thank you.