|
Ah, paddleboard yoga!
The ideal way to connect with nature, find your inner peace, and discover just how big a splash you’ll make if you lose your balance.
I recently signed up for an early Saturday morning paddleboard yoga class with one of my favorite instructors, Laura of Pensacola Beach Yoga. (It’s happening every other Saturday if you’re interested – message me or see the link below.)
The day started beautifully - sunshine gleaming off the glassy water, a gentle breeze, and the faint sound of seagulls in the distance.
A heron sat on a nearby dock with its wings spread soaking up the early morning sunshine.
I was ready to release the stress of the week, channel my inner yogi, and connect body and mind.
It was bliss.
Downward dog? Check. Warrior pose? Check. Headstand? Double-check!
For a moment, I felt like a serene goddess, achieving perfect balance while the world melted away. I even caught myself thinking, “This is the life! I should do this every day.”
Little did I know that the universe had a different plan for me.
As I transitioned from tree pose, I noticed the skies darkening, the sound of distant thunder replaced the seagulls.
Our instructor, either blissfully unaware of the impending storm or not nearly as anxious about being struck by lightning while in the water as me, continued to guide us through our practice.
Deep-rooted childhood fear, unlocked.
“Focus on your breath,” she said, while I focused on the ominous clouds gathering overhead.
And then it happened.
Just as she guided us through our last pose, the wind picked up and the rain came in sideways.
As the rain began to fall, the other folks in the class looked so peaceful as they allowed the rain to cool them down from the heat. They slowly returned to a seated position and said things like, “how peaceful,” and “oh, this is perfect.”
I’ll be honest. I completely panicked.
I maniacally began to paddle back to shore. Having pulled my anchor prematurely, the wind pushed me further out, and no matter how hard I paddled I made no progress.
My calm demeanor gone, I dropped to my knees in an attempt to gain more leverage with my paddle. I paddled like something was chasing me. I broke a sweat despite the rain.
Alas, I reached the shore, drenched, with my zen a distant memory.
As I stood there, dripping wet and panting like I’d just qualified for the Olympics, the wind died, the clouds parted, and the rain stopped just as quickly as it started.
I looked out at the rest of the participants gracefully making their way back to shore, and I wondered to myself… “Why am I like this?”
Statistically, was I going to get struck by lightning?
No.
But did that make it any less frightening at the time?
Also no.
Many of our clients admit that they put off getting their affairs in order because they are scared to talk about death.
From one person with unjustified fears to another, I totally get that.
But just because you talk about dying, does not mean it is going to happen any sooner. It simply means that when your time does come, your loved ones will have less of a mess to clean up and your assets will pass to whomever you choose in a streamlined, cost-effective manner.
Plus, by putting a plan in place while you’re “young and healthy,” you will have time to make thoughtful decisions and have important conversations before it becomes urgent.
At My Pink Lawyer®, we hope clients feel a sense of peace after they’ve planned with us.
Many clients report a sense of relief after their affairs are in order. Rational or not, we know it can be hard to take the first step towards planning, and we are as compassionate as possible when discussing sensitive matters.
We try to take the fear out of planning by creating a friendly, engaging environment for our clients, and we use a tried-and-true process to deliver comprehensive, efficient planning.
If you're ready to get your affairs in order, you can schedule your initial consultation here.
Had I slowed down at any point during my mad dash to the shore, I would have realized that if I waited mere minutes, the storm would pass, and I could easily paddle to the shore and end my practice like a normal, sensible human being.
Where’s the fun in that, though?
After all, nothing says “relaxation” like a healthy dose of adrenaline mixed with a side of laughter.
Amanda “I’ll Learn One Day” Lynch Elliott
P.S.- I highly recommend you check out the paddleboard yoga at Key Sailing on Pensacola Beach! Whether you're a beginner or have practiced yoga your whole life, it's an experience you don't want to miss. Click here to learn more. |
The instructor, with her calming voice, led us through various poses that I wondered very seriously if I would be able to hold while balancing on a paddleboard. To my amazement, I did not fall in.
