Yoga Rocks the Park! OM~aha! wk #6,7,8

I’m playing catch up on YRP after going to the beach for 11 days so I’m combining week #6 & #8, as well as my version of Yoga Rocks the Beach for week #7.

What’s interesting is that we went to week #6 on our way to  Beaver Lake & we arrived at week #8 on our way home from Lake McConaughy. Both times we had our dog Luna with us. We thought she could just hang out next to us while we yoga’d, but she was not up for any 'doga’. She was way too excited & was making all kinds of doggie noises, so Fletch decided to spare all of you yogis & chose to just walk around Midtown Crossing w/ her while I enjoyed YRP.

 
I showed up dressed in my usual 4th of July outfit, which included my vintage american flag bell bottoms that Fletch gave me when we first met 19 years ago(I’m glad to say they still fit), my blue w/ white stars vintage vest given to me shortly after that by my friend Lara, the sister of our very own yogi, Alex Jochim, and my big american flag hat that I got in the parking lot of the ’94 Soldier Field Grateful Dead show. Half way thru yoga I stripped down to my yoga gear that was underneath; as it was getting a little too hot for all that fabric.

      

YRP was led by R.R. Shakti of Yoga World Reach. She has such a beautiful spirit & led a very different type of yoga w/ lots of interesting chants. It was very enjoyable & it went well with the sounds of multi-talented & long time friend Jason Horacek of African Culture Connection. It also brought back memories of days gone by; specifically the years I spent gathering my outfit.

In between week #6 & 8, we spent 11 days on the beach at Big Mac. We tried to keep up on morning yoga in the sand & even did our version of Yoga Rocks the Beach on that Sunday, which consisted mostly of a whole lot of Savasana.

Fletch promised me he would get me back in time for the 8th week of YRP, and we made it just in the nick of time. On our way home from the lake, I kept checking the map on my phone. At one point it showed we wouldn’t arrive until 4:20, another time it said 4:11, then it said 10 minutes early & then miraculously at 3:50 it said 10 miles & 10 minutes till arrival. Right on time!!

We had crazy Luna, my little lululemondrop, with us again so Fletch stayed in the cool comforts of our truck w/ her while; once again, I enjoyed YRP. I was so looking forward to this week w/ Carole Westerman, who's smile & aura I just love, which was why I insisted Fletch get me back in time.

About 45 minutes before arrival, I had started to breathe & focus. In fact my intention was to “not focus” on the 100 degree temperature. Also on my way, John Lennon was mentioned on the radio & then Carole mentioned him as well. I can’t recall what either one said about him as I truly feel my brain melted that day.

Carole started us out w/ some calm poses that didn’t take too much exertion. It reminded me of her Monday night Yin class at Lotus House of Yoga. It’s a very relaxing experience (unless the tornado sirens sound) with some deep stretching. It’s described as “great antidote to an active day”, and on this Sunday in July underneath this heat dome, it was exactly what was needed. I tried really hard to just imagine I was back on the beach I just came from & that the slight breeze was cooler than it actually was. And when they came around w/ water, I poured it over myself imagining I just stepped into the lake to cool off. This all worked until about the second OM. After that I had to excuse myself, leaving all of my belongings, to seek some relief under a shade tree. I seriously thought I was going to pass out.
After maybe 15 minutes, I felt I needed get back to my phone & have Fletch come get me, yet I was so affected by the heat that I could barely text. Carole then asked us to get in groups of 8 & form a circle. I was still attempting to text when I heard Mary Clare’s sweet voice say “Are ya in Vic?” I uttered a no, but after my unsuccessful attempts to text Fletch, I crawled over to the circle & was welcomed by my fellow yogi’s w/ cheers. It miraculously gave me the strength to carry on. We did some synchronized clapping, an 8-way patty-cake if you will, in conjunction w/ the Omaha Drummers, which also brought back some hippie memories. It was fun & nice to laugh & smile. After that I was able to carry on & enjoy savasana.

Normally I hang out & socialize afterwards, but I had to go. I was overwhelmed from the heat & I couldn’t even roll up my mat. I just grabbed it & dragged it to the car w/o getting a chance to say good-bye to anyone. No Cantina Laredo either, as I hadn’t been home in 11 days.

Next week is the last week for YRP in OM~aha, which reminds me, I still need to get myself a Spiritual Gangster tee. If you have one, you are asked to wear it! It will be led by Libba Harmon & Tres will be djing once again. Unless there is a major break in the heat I really don’t think I can put my body through that again. I will still be there; I just don’t know if I will be hanging out under a tree, dancing under the tent next to Tres or sipping on a margarita at Cantina Laredo. But I will definitely be a butterfly!

Peace & Love & Sandy Beaches!
~Namaste