Traveling for life and traveling for vacation are two totally separate concepts. When you travel for vacation, you often look forward to ditching your daily routine and 9-5 job. When you are traveling for life, you regularly lack routine and I’ve found myself seeking routine and balance more and more as the months pass by. They are hard to find when you are constantly on the go.
For quite some time I’ve wanted to add yoga to my life, to have one piece of stability and balance on a weekly (if not eventually, daily) basis. Pretty much no matter where you travel, you can find yoga classes. They may be cheap or expensive, they may vary in style, but the core values of yoga remain the same – Looking within yourself, seeing the beauty, grounding yourself to the earth and making the practice about you, not about competition. It embodies life balance while both strengthening and relaxing your mind and body.
About two weeks after arriving in Bocas del Toro, I attended my first class with Laura Kay at Bocas Yoga. After a series of difficult situations that day, I was left tired and emotionally drained. I’ll be honest, it was a struggle to make myself go to class that night. Not every day you travel can be perfect, especially when you are on the road all the time. I was on the brink of tears as I stepped into class and held them back throughout the class.
Interesting day here in Bocas del Toro with Habla Ya Spanish Schools ... Started out with some tour confusion and rain,...
Posted by Shari Tucker Photography & Adventures on Sunday, February 5, 2017
From the moment I walked in to the big purple house, I felt welcomed and encouraged. I told Laura in advance that I was a beginner. Although I have been to classes before, it’s been a long time since I’ve gone with consistency. With only six students participating it was a small but multi-cultural group spreading from Canada to Peru to Chile to Germany.
As we began our practice, we were reminded to try our best with each pose and our best is good enough. We are good enough. Yoga is about doing what feels good for you and is not a competition.
As we went through the first series stretching motions and poses, our bodies started to warm up, and Laura’s soft words and reminders, were full of encouragement. Within the first 15 minutes of ‘looking within’, I felt a change in my emotions. No longer did I want to cry out of frustration and sadness for the circumstances of my day. Instead, I wanted to cry to cleanse my mind and let it all go.
As we progressed throughout the poses, I tried each one to the best of my ability. I didn’t feel ashamed when I had to touch my foot down from tree pose or when I needed to modify several other poses. I felt power from within when I moved into Warrior Pose.
When we got to bridge pose, Laura explained that if we wanted to take our practice further, we could move into wheel pose. As a couple of the class members arched their backs, lifted their heads off the floor and held the beautiful pose, I said ‘Geeze, I haven’t done that since I was about 10 years old.’ Laura stood by me and encouraged me to try it, reminding me that my best is perfect. Surprisingly, I was able to do it! Although my head was barely off the ground for two seconds, she congratulated me and told me that I was doing it correctly and safely. I was proud for having tried it. I returned to regular bridge pose as it was more comfortable, but Laura gently encouraged me to try wheel pose again, reminding me that practice is what makes us stronger. Sure enough, the second time I was able to push further and get my head off the ground further and hold the pose longer. Next thing I knew, the entire group was doing it one more time so that I could get my third attempt in. Nothing like feeling encouraged by the people around you in silent support of your efforts.
As we finished our last poses and moved to Shavasana (where you lay flat on the floor and relax in stillness), Laura reminded us that we have the choice to react positively to every situation. This really resonated with me, especially on this particular night.
I walked into my first yoga class feeling timid and emotional from a series of events that had passed through my life that day. One hour later, I still wanted to cry, but the emotion behind the tears had changed from frustration and negativity to an emotion of thankfulness, proudness and feeling like letting the tears fall would wash the negativity out of my mind.
Between the physical activity, the release of a few good tears and the calming powers of yoga, I slept exceptionally well that evening and woke up with a more positive outlook the next day.
Me at Cayo Zapatilla, Bocas del Toro, Panama!
Posted by Shari Tucker Photography & Adventures on Saturday, February 18, 2017
For anyone considering starting yoga, go for it! It is not a competition. It is all about you. “Do your best and it will be perfect.” Laura Kay reminds us. If you are traveling long term and need stability, like I do, yoga is a great option to center yourself and if you are in a tourism-driven community, you’re likely to meet other like-minded travelers from around the world.
If you find yourself in Bocas del Toro, Panama, check out Bocas Yoga. Classes are only $5 USD and are offered twice most days.
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