Matters of the Heart.

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013, I meet Mr Guruji Iyengar.

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2013, Mr. Iyengar grants me a spot in his institute.

This is a miracle. I’m still blinking my eyes to see if it’s really happened.

Somehow, and I really don’t know how, I’ve managed to charm the folks at the Iyengar institute. When Pallavi (my yogi friend) and I walked in today, without any appointment, Iyengar was sitting at peacefully at a desk, signing papers, drinking tea, talking with his adoring students. Mr. Pandu looked at me with a stern face and a sparkle in his eye. He took my paperwork without a word. He made me sit. He gave me a pen. He made me fill a form. He dusted his hands. I paid a fee (which was by far the cheapest amount I’ve paid for yoga in India). That was that. I was in.

After months of confusion and research and epiphanys followed by doubts over where to go, what program to do, feeling so lost about what I want to learn…and then in a span of three days, with no searching or expectations or force, BAM. In the blink of an eye. Signed up. Enrolled. Three months with one of the greatest yogis of all time.

Gosh, I am really speechless. I don’t know who or what is responsible for this. The waiting list is miles long and it takes a minimum of 2 years for anyone to attend this prestigious healing institute, unless you start at age 8 in the kiddie class. Mr. Pandu’s record keeper even smiled, patted me on the back and said, “You are a very lucky girl.”

And Pallavi was blown away. She wasn’t sure if it would be possible for me to get a spot, even with her world class yoga champ status. In fact, she wasn’t even sure why she helped me in the first place, as she had known me for, lets see four days? All she knew was that I was some crazy girl who was ready to wake up in the pitch dark morning to come hop on her scooter to do some yoga :).

And the funny thing is, I don’t even know if I will like Iyengar yoga! I mean, from what I know about it, it’s super peaceful, slow, and precise. You do things like hang upside down for 30 mins. You don’t even sweat…yeesh. Sounds interesting, but you all know me, running around, teaching yoga, hot yoga, marathons, baking, working 3 jobs, writing, dancing, singing, and balancing things on my head. I practically live to sweat. This is going to be a real mental challenge, but I do believe this is meant to be. Perhaps it will bring me the balance I truly need I’m my life right now? Yes. It will.

And the way this all happened was like butter. So smooth, so majestic, not a drop of doubt. It just feels right to be there, as when you enter Iyengar’s home, you are hit with a wave of energy. Everyone there is just glowing and I feel understood. This is an opportunity of a lifetime – To learn with this master whom I’ve only heard of and read books by. Wow.

This must be what it is like when the heart speaks. For when the heart speaks, there is no question of doubt.

I hope you all experience this someday.

Ok bedtime. Big day tomorrow. Pallavi is taking me to watch her students compete in the Indian National Yoga Competition. I’m bringing bananas for the boys.

Much love,
More later,

SONIA

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