one yogi's version of a smoke break

Sometimes I feel like I need a smoke break...or some kind of break.


Not that long ago I was sitting in my office and I had a vision of my head exploding. I could see it in full color in my mind. It was going to be loud and messy.

The message light on the phone was blinking, the phone was ringing, fifteen emails to return, a project due and a gargantuan meeting to prepare. This was related to my day job, not related to teaching yoga or managing the studio. I stopped long enough to realize that my breath was shallow and that I either needed to raid the chocolate dish outside the office door, begin smoking cigarettes, leave and take a nap or shut the door and do some yoga. My office mate was out of the office that morning and so I closed the door and rolled out the yoga mat I keep in the corner. I turned down the ringer and decided the next ten minutes were going to be my version of a smoke break (does anyone even get smoke breaks anymore?).

I turned on some soothing music and slipped off my shoes. It was really cold out that day, but the sun was shining directly onto my mat. I laid on my back for some three part breathing. I gave myself permission to move extra slowly and to move in whatever way felt good. After some gentle stretches I did a few energizing backbends and then headstand. I made sure to end with a twist and some relaxation time at the end. After savasana, I sat in seated meditation posture with the sun shining on my face. I felt like a cat who had found the perfect spot in the warm, safe house.

The practice time was about ten minutes. It felt like forty five. I no longer felt the need to raid the chocolate, take up smoking or leave for home to hide under the covers. I found myself working at a steady pace the rest of the day. I noticed I no longer felt the need to complain about being so busy and overwhelmed and I was again open to hear and connect with my co-workers.

I have a colleague who lives in Chicago who talks about his three rules to live and work by. The third rule is to remember your own humanity and the humanity of the person sitting across from you. Some days this practice allows me to follow rule number three. That’s way more than a cigarette break can provide.