It is no secret, at least to my family, that I don't like to be touched. Apparently, at some point when I was a perfectly behaved toddler (hahahaha that's for you Mom), I decided I didn't like being touched, loved on, hugged for longs periods of time, you name it. Touching was out. However, there are times that even me, supreme bubble girl, needs a kind touch, a hand to hold, a hug.
What I didn't know was that a surprise touch could calm even a person like me for a day.
I go to yoga, it is my strength training and helps me breathe. Yoga is hard. Breathing is as important for some of us, if not all of us, in distance sports and with asthma, well let's just say I need help and leave it at that. At the end of yoga, there is the most amazing part of the practice, chavasana. This is where you are done with your hour long practice and you lay at peace on your back, connecting with the earth, with each other, and being grateful for your ability to share in the practice with others. At Reef Point Yoga the wonderful yogis place a cool lemongrass towel over your head which, for me at least, helps me to forget all the worries and to dos for the day and just be in the moment. What does this have to do with my touching issue? I am getting to it right now so just be patient.
This week, Kathi, who I have know since the boys were little as she was their assistant principal, came around and not only put the blessed lemongrass towel over my forehead and eyes, but she then rubbed my upper arms and shoulders with this amazing gel. I am sure it has natural relaxation powers and that is why it didn't bother me one bit to have someone rubbing my upper arms and shoulders while I was laying still with closed eyes. In fact, between the lemongrass towel and the eucalyptus smell of the gel I was reminded of a hot bath (which I am huge fan of) and the fabulous lemongrass and eucalyptus soaps I use to take me to my happy place.
All this rambling to say, we all have something that makes us uncomfortable - mine is being touched - yet if we just let it happen once in a while, we might just be surprised. We might just find a new happy place. I did, and not just because yoga was done for the day. Yoga is hard.
