Happy Birthday Emily

I paid extra attention to the last class. Mostly because I wanted to capture a moment in time that had come to mean so much. It's really a picture of how, over time, I was impacted by something truly special and rare- A great teacher.

I started taking Emily's yoga classes in February of 2012. At first, I knew only that she was patient and kind and willing to encourage me.

Classes typically begin with Emily talking about her playlists and small talk. The thing is she always has great
music. Almost legendary playlists are her pride and joy. Over the past year we went through the phases with Lana Del Rey (somewhat extensively in the fall) a little rap, Grease soundtrack hits, and my favorite a cover of Erykah Badu's Tyrone.

But the music is always beautiful. Then just before we get started she asks if anyone has any injuries that she should know about. Then she asks for any requests. The funny thing is we never have any requests. Sometimes you will have someone drop in to the studio who really does have a request. But the regulars just know that whatever she brings will be wonderful and challenging. She didn't ask us for this last class. I was a bit of an emotional wreck so I was playing attention to those sorts of things. We started out in child's pose which was not unusual. The only thing is that when you're face down on your mat and it's your favorite teachers last class then child's pose might induce some tears. And it did. Then Emily reminded me to breathe. Well, she reminded everyone to begin breathing in through the nose and out through the nose. I was reminded that she taught me how to breathe in the first place. Months ago. We had a strange conversation in the hallway after class and she said I was doing great, but she wondered if I was breathing. I was trying, but my breaths just didn't time with her inhale/exhale directions. So I held my breath to try to get with the pace. Which is absolutely the wrong thing to do. After that I realized I needed to breathe when I needed to breathe. Her words became suggestions and things just got better.

Now breathing is my favorite.

Then we walk our hands over to the side, first the right and then the left. This is a move that I am always trying to figure out. It never seemed to do anything for me. Then we come up into a box and do a few cat/cow poses. I love cow pose. My abs love cow pose. Just lower that belly and lift your face.
All that's missing is the moo. Cat pose does make me feel like a cat a bit, but unless the next step is a nap in the sunshine, I don't love it.

We flowed through the rest of the class with some classics, sun salutations, starting from down dog you bend your knees and look forward. Then walk step or jump to the front of the mat. You are then in forward fold. Almost immediately you lift halfway up with a flat back and look forward. Then fold. Bend your knees and then come up to standing maybe a slight back bend. Then swan dive with a flat back. Straighten halfway then fold completely. Hands to the mat, back into plank pushup or not downward facing dog. Now the first time I heard "Pushup or not" I immediately said in my head "not" as in not ever doing that. But the funny thing is now I almost never do it without. I remember when Emily taught me the proper way to do a pushup with my elbows in and brushing my ribs. It was the first thing I practiced at home. I did a lot of the practice ones on my knees and sometimes I will still do that in class if I am feeling like I can't do it well otherwise. That permission to give myself a break and have a little compassion for myself was something that Emily encouraged a lot in the early months. In yoga as with the rest of my life, I struggle with that compassion for myself. The rest of the flow that night was pretty standard. Tiffany in the front row singed her bangs on a candle early in the class. The place smelled like burnt hair for quite a while after.had to have that last class excitement. It reminded me of the other strange and exciting classes we had. Like when they were redoing the roof and the place smelled strongly of tar. Or when the power went out and we just kept going. Or when we were having a class and a huge hailstorm hit nearby and we were oblivious as until after because it didn't hit in the area. The time the building alarm went off and the police came out like a movie SWAT team and swept through the building. Classes which turned into "down dog dance parties". Too many to really recount.

The only strange transitions I noted were when we went from half moon (my favorite pose) to chair. It was befuddling to me, but you gotta spice it up sometimes. I was really excited about the fact that we didn't do any twists. So very excited. Twists are my nemesis.

There were other Emily moments like when she made us laugh. She's the only teacher I've experienced who regularly incorporates humor as part of the class to such a great degree. It's a unique style. It's never distracting, but just anticipated. She'll even laugh at herself for mixing up lefts and rights and Sanskrit errors. Creating a safe place to really enjoy the practice.

We finished up with reclined pigeon. Kind of glad we didn't do it the other way as it tends to be emotional and I would have sobbed like a big old baby I am sure. I did a great shoulder stand which I cannot always do. Savassana was beautiful and I cried. Tears mixed with sweat = beauty.

When it comes to the part where we wiggle our fingers as wiggle our toes, you know it is almost over. Hug our knees into our chest and rock from side to side and then rollover to your right side in fetal position using our right arm as a pillow. Then lift to easy seated position. Hands by your side or on your knees palms facing up. Inhale, raise your arms up and out, exhale Bring your palms to your hearts center. Together we bow and say namaste.

After class I tend to be slow to get up, but tonight I get up relatively quickly. Need to go wipe some tears and compose myself. I hate goodbye.

Everyone is talking about gong to sushi afterwards. The only thing I want is to hold the door one last time as she locks up. She sets the building alarm and the I hold the door while she drags the impossibly heavy gate over to lock it. Just like any other class. Only for the last time.

Now I have held onto this account until now. Not sure if I would ever actually post it or just keep to myself to reread and smile. I decided that maybe the other Emily class regulars would like to see it, to relive it. But mostly I want Emily to have it as a birthday gift. We all still miss these times, but appreciating just how great they were. Appreciating the adventures we shared.