A note to my yoga teachers, know
on the days you see me, more often than not I am present for basic survival
reasons. I come to yoga because at least I know I can do this. I can go to a
room with other human beings, hear a real human voice, be at least peripherally
observed that I still am alive by human eyes and move my body to accomplish something
small. At least today I can do this.
I can be in yoga near other human beings and not feel like I
am violating other people’s space to succumb to either rejection or complete
invisibility. I can smell the scent of visibility even if no one directly
speaks to me in the entire before, during, or after process or I to them.
One of you, my teachers, may be
the only human I speak with face to face all day, and cumulatively you may be
the only group all week in whatever perfunctory politeness or genuine exchange
occurs. You are the modern American therapy for the bargain price of less than
a hundred dollars a month.
The radio reminds me physical
isolation and lack of relationships is a greater risk to shorten my lifespan
than lack of exercise or an unhealthy diet.