Challenge: Wooden Leg
By Corey Ann | October 13, 2009
So for the past few months I have been offering yoga to the patients at the rehab where I work. The kids love it, and the adults do too. However, after being advised by Geeta, I do not call it “yoga” for the adults, I call it “Strength Building and Relaxation” because, we’re in the south, and there are already enough prejudices against yoga. But then they get in the room with me and mwah-ha-ha they’re doing yoga!
Anyway, tonight I offered a Strength Building and Relaxation group for the adults and this old man shows up. I’ve been working in support groups with him for a while, so I ask,
“Are you physically healthy? Any back problems?”
“No, no no. Perfect health.”
Fantastic.
Let me give you a little background on this man. The first time I met him I was leading a group on the stages of relationship, and at one point he got a bit confused with what I said about marriage. He raises his hand and asks me quite pointedly, “WHO MADE MARRIAGE?” I immediately know where he’s going with this, but don’t want to say - SOCIETY and GOVERNMENTS so I say - Who?
I guess he wasn’t expecting this response because he gets flustered and ends up going on a rant about God and a man and a woman and how what I’m saying is ridiculous and then he says, “All this women’s lib and women’s rights and it’s just insane. It’s just insane.”
Somehow I calm him down, clear up the confusion, and everyone is ok. The next day he comes back and apologizes to me about making a scene and being so mean. Apology accepted. Ok, now we’re cool.
Back to today - so we start, and thankfully it’s just a few people so I’m adjusting, guiding, etc. And I notice this man is standing kind of awkwardly. I ask him if everything’s ok and he says,
“Yeah I just have a wooden leg.”
Ohhh k. My mind is racing while I’m (hopefully) keeping a calm, straight face. What can I do with a man who has a wooden leg, and as I look down - sure enough - no foot! Down dog? No. Cobra? Probably not. Tree? Def not. Any standing position? Not really… CHAIR! Let’s all sit in chairs!
So, I finagle some stuff together - we do a lot of things in chairs - spinal stretches, arms, back, etc. I just finished reading about the spine last night so thankfully I drew from that. Then we sat on the floor and did abs and ended. Phew. Somehow snuck by.
The funny thing - only to me really - is that this morning on the way to work I was thinking about this upcoming training. I was thinking - you know, Corey Ann, you’re pretty fantastical and really smart and you honestly know most everything about yoga, so really this training will just solidify what you know already and make it more detailed. You’ve got this.
Alright, universe, I understand more clearly than before - no I don’t “got this” and yes I thankfully, humbly, desperately have a lot to learn.
Like what to do with a recovering alcoholic who fought in Vietnam and has a wooden leg. Message received.
Topics: Uncategorized, Yoga Adventures |
November 15th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I have those days when I realize how much of a badass I am. Sounds like you are having more and more of those days and for that, I am happy for you. One Love