International Lifestyle Magazine Issue 57 | Page 23
A Man
a n d H i s Yo g a
by James Dewar
I
knew nothing about yoga before I went on my first Radical Restoration
retreat.
I spend hours in the chair as a freelance writer typing, backspacing,
researching, writing, and then rewriting. Half the time I play the role of
the contributing editor; the other half of the time I eke out the subsistence
living of a struggling writer.
I didn’t spend much time thinking about the relationship between
physical health and mental acuity. I had been waving the Bohemian flag
for a long time. It fluttered from my pencil holder with a little photo of
Ernest Hemingway scotch taped to it. The ache in my right shoulder and
the pain in my lower back had always been there. Part of the price tag, I
thought.
But this is the age of no smoking, moderate drinking, safe driving and
smart choices. Those who love me suggested that I should visit the tropics
like my idol had done, but do something good for myself. Then along
came the Radical Restoration Writing and Yoga Retreat.
As a man, I was skeptical about going, and frankly, if my partner Sue had
not been the writing instructor, I would never have given it a try. So I flew
down to Costa Rica a few years ago with her and the other instructors.
On the flight down I had been coaxed into agreeing to participate in the
yoga class. But I awoke well ahead of the first class in a state of fight or
flight. What if paparazzi took pictures and I ended up all over the front
cover of Embarrassing Yoga Poses? The other men on the retreat seemed
to be unfazed, so I bit the bullet and wandered up the jungle path, the
strange fabric of a yoga matt curled under my arm.
The soothing voice and gentle restorative yoga practice led by Esana
Lofty changed not only my body, but how I feel about myself. The gentle
stretching and inward perspective took a few days to take effect, but the
results were beyond any state of wellbeing that I had experienced as a
middle-aged adult. The aches and pains disappeared. The weak left knee
that kept me from going on long walks strengthened. For the first time
in years I went on an excursion without my knee brace. Now I don’t need
it at all.
Don’t get me wrong. This wasn’t about finding religion. It was about
taking care of myself and loving myself just the way I am – so refreshing.
I wrote four short stories and sixteen poems on that trip. In the intervening
years I have reproduced similar volumes of quality writing each trip. And
the annual restorative yoga practice relaxes my body and soul and sets
my imagination ablaze. I’m particularly pleased with the new material
that I produced in Italy last year.
So I’m thrilled we’re going back to Le Torracce in 2015. I look forward to
sharing myself again in the stimulating symbiosis between writing and
yoga.
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