being peace

i live at the bottom of a rather steep hill... and at 4 o'clock every morning, i climb up this hill to the yoga shala.

the only sounds i hear are the flip flopping of my birks... which seem to echo in the stillness of the early morning. the rustling of a bush from some unknown creature or the creaking of a house gate sound a lot louder than they should... and for a brief moment, a b-rated horror flick flashes through my mind.

far off, i see the silhouettes of other yoga students also walking in the quiet darkness. as i get closer to the top of the hill, i find that i'm breathing a little heavier and my heart is beating a little faster.

when i arrive at the shala, some of the yogis have already started their practice. the air is filled with the rhythmic humming of their collective breath. everyone flows to their own pace... their own rhythm. inhale... arms float over head. exhale... the torso falls gracefully forward, nose touching the knees. some people float through the air, light as a feather. others are a bit heavier in their mind... and it reflects in their practice.

the energy here is tangible.

i lay out my mat and step to the front. standing with my feet together, i feel the balance of my body. i bring my hands to my heart and close my eyes. inside, i pray for the peace and strength to let go so i can heal. deepening my breath, i melt into the meditative rhythm.

for the next two hours, i am lost in breath and movement. i feel a calming peace wash over me. for a short time, my mind is free from thought. here, i feel complete happiness, complete truth. this is what i've come for. to be able to let go of everything... if only for a moment. "Being in the now"... step four.