Photo by: Kim Long Photography

I am inspired to write about my amazing students at The Cleveland Raquet Club. Not only are these students dedicated to showing up week-after-week, but they are truly committed to their practice.

This commitment was never more evident to me then at a recent class. I showed up early, as usual, set-up my mat, music and chime and suddenly the fire alarm when off. “What do I do?” I thought. Most of us ask the same question when an alarm goes off from our experiences with school fire drills. I remember how we had to put on our coats and trudge out in the cold every year to stand there for 20 minutes, only to find out little Jimmy set it off, again! “But better safe than sorry”, I thought, so I headed outside to wait for my students.

When my students arrived, we decided to start our class once we saw the fire department show up. We figured the alarm would be shut off in a few minutes, plus, the noise was muffled when we closed the door to our room. I chose to move our traditional opening 5 minute meditation to the end of class, and begin the physical practice. As soon as we began, a piercing RAA RAA RAA blared into our room as a strobe above the exit sign flickered a blinding, bright light, jolting us all out of our gentle neck stretches! Then, after a few minutes (which felt like the second we settled into the next posture), the alarm would blast into the room again, RAA RAA RAA with the strobe clicking and flashing. I offered to cancel class and let everyone go home several times, but the students insisted on staying. Maybe it was because they were already there and dressed, but believe me, after 20 minutes of this insanely loud racket, I fully expected a mass exodus. Nope. 

I can’t explain the concentration on these students faces. There was something different about the way they looked as they followed each prompt. I expected to see tightness in their faces and squinting eyes, an overall annoyed and distracted expression. As I observed them, I could see they were in a different place, each one of them. Each focused in their own way but, with gentleness in their faces. As we moved into tree, a student had one arm reaching for the sky and a finger to her ear in an effort to cut some of the noise and it looked so natural! Other students moved through the postures as if in a meditative trace. Hearing my voice, but their attention focused inward, blocking all the distraction, which was, at times, painful! It was beautiful and tremedously inspiring to witness their focus. Ironically, the alarm abruptly seized with a perfect 5 minutes left to enjoy a truly restful savasana!

To the students from this class reading, I hope you use this experience as an example of your inner power to focus, despite outward distraction, even when it involves pain. And to ALL readers, the next time you practice and feel distracted, simply breathe deep and bring your focus to your body, mind and breath. That’s YOGA at it’s best! Oh, and be glad the fire alarm isn’t going off!

Share your comments with me about your experiences with focus in yoga or life by clicking on the Comment button under the line below.

Peace, and a quiet practice to all!
Namaste,
Julie