The Trouble with Ganesha

 On New Year’s Day, I went to Gitali’s Chant, Move, and Meditate class at Bristol Yoga Studio. We sang Ganesha’s chant, because, as Gitali said, Ganesha is the remover of spiritual and material obstacles. This seemed appropriate for beginning a new period of measured time. But she also said that sometimes Ganesha puts obstacles in the way to teach us that the world is sacred as it is, and that what we may interpret as obstacles or imperfections might provide us with something we do not even know we need yet.

 This was a reminder of how different the yogi interpretation of life is from the western perspective. As an American, I see obstacles as barriers to be overcome with effort and will, because they stand in the way of what I desire. Obstacles are, by definition, bad; things to be avoided or eradicated so that I can continue on a smooth path toward my goals.

 From the yogic viewpoint, obstacles are seen differently. Change and unpredictability are not foes to be vanquished or rivers to be dammed. Instead they are a given: an expectation. So, when there is a car accident or roadwork on 195 that keeps me from my usual speed, it is not an anomaly or obstacle, but simply part of life. When I can’t do certain poses because of tight shoulders, this is not preventing me from something I should be doing, but is an invitation to be attentive to how my shoulders represent what is happening in the mind. After all, Dharma Mittra says that there are no stiff bodies, only stiff minds.

 When Saturday morning rolled around at -1 Fahrenheit, I saw this as an obstacle to what I wanted to do, which was go for a run. This would be two non-running days in a row, with a half-marathon coming up that I don’t feel ready for. However, I had promised myself that I would not run if it was colder than 10 degrees (Nels had no such compunctions—he went running with other hardy folk). I happened to have a flier on my bulletin board for a yoga studio I wanted to try, and a vinyasa class started at 8:30 a.m. I bundled up and headed out.

Yogaloft is in the Cutler Mills off Child Street in Warren. The walls are exposed brick with tall windows, high ceilings, and a smooth natural wood floor. The entry opened into the spacious studio with props on one side and a door to the back that led to a bathroom shared with other businesses. Sharon, the teacher, was efficient, warm, and called me by name throughout the class. We started with stretching, twists, and core work before moving into sun salutations, warrior poses, balancing, and then to inversions, twists, and savasana. While it was a traditional class in many ways, some important things were reinforced. When Sharon asked us at the beginning of class to start with an intention, mine was “be present.” This supported me even as my mind went to various places that involved critiques of my flexibility, comparisons to other students, and wondering when the hell we were going to be done with Warrior I because my arms were freaking tired.

 I was reminded of how, when I’m practicing on my own, I like to move through most poses quickly. Nels recently teased me about my lack of patience, and I think that impatience is evident in my yoga practice as well. The only poses I like to extend are pigeon and savasana. This morning, though, Sharon reminded us to stay with the breath, so when moments of irritation arose, I was able to come back to the present, even as I was trying to avoid its unpleasantness. She did a terrific job with sequencing, encouraging, and adjustments, and I so appreciate that I chose, practically on a whim, to come to this class, on this day.

 Maybe because it’s a natural time for resolutions, but I hit upon a new intention for 2014 during the class: I want to visit every yoga studio in Rhode Island. I had resolved to work more intentionally on my yoga practice this year anyway, so what better or more fun way to do it? Ganesha will no doubt be at work, placing unexpected and perhaps unwelcome experiences and people along this journey. I’m already dreading Ashtanga and Bikram yoga, for example. If you have a favorite studio and instructor, let me know. I will share my experiences periodically.

 Judy McClain of Grace Studio once said that paradox is at the heart of yoga. Ganesha is part of that paradox as both the remover and placer of obstacles. No matter what our resolutions or intentions this year, he will be at work. So, if I don’t happen to get to all yoga studios this year, I’ll know whom to blame.