Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Dear Late Girl...

I was late for my Yoga Teacher Training class last Friday night.
Ugh.
 
Our classes begin on Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. – except for sometimes on Friday we start at 6:15 p.m. The Friday-night-start-time hasn’t been consistent, and well, you could say I botched it last Friday night.

I was pressed for time on Friday and I knew I was cutting it close – I thought class began at 6:30 p.m. and I walked in the door at 6:28. “Plenty of time,” I was thinking, as the teacher rarely starts right on time. Imagine my horror/disappointment/confusion when I stepped inside the yoga studio and the entire lobby was quiet and empty. Where were all of my classmates?

Turns out, they were already behind the closed glass door, sitting with the lights off, 15 minutes into a guided meditation.
What the…?!?!

I missed the actual start time.
Now, I pride myself in being punctual, especially for yoga classes. Yoga classes typically begin with a warm up and centering session – the room is quiet as the students prepare for their yoga practice. Arriving late means disruption to the class and I think it’s disrespectful to the teacher. That’s just how I feel about it.

And I don’t care how quiet you think you can be, when you tiptoe into a silent yoga room even your bare feet on the wood floor make noise. {squish-squish-squish} Rolling out your sticky mat as gently as possible... {chiiiiiicccckkk-flop} Lowering your keys as softly to the floor as you can... {CLINK-CLANK!}
Latecomers to yoga classes have always annoyed me just a little, and now, sitting outside of my yoga teacher training classroom while all of my classmates enjoyed a delicious round of pranayama on the inside…I was that girl. I was Late Girl. The inconsiderate, can’t-be-quiet, Late Girl.

I sat out in the lobby for a while, feeling embarrassed and ashamed and beating myself up for being late. I decided I would wait until the lights came on before entering the classroom so there I sat. Waiting. And thinking.
It wasn’t long before one of my classmates slipped out through the door and headed down the hall to the ladies room. “Yes!” I thought. This would be my opportunity to slip back in with her and go semi-unnoticed.
So that’s what I did.
Just inside the door I gently sat my book bag down and decided I’d wait until the lights came on to roll out my mat – I was pleased that my entrance had seemed super quiet!  “I’ll just sit right here on the floor for now,” I thought. Super quiet. But lowering myself to the floor, the joints of my body revealed me - knees and ankles and hip joints popping all the way down. {POP!!! POP!!! POP!!!} ~sigh~
Breathe, Deb, breathe!!! Slow inhales…let it go…Late Girl…breathe…let it go…you’re in…it’s over...Late Girl…breathe…
Later, during a break, I apologized to the student next to me for being late. “That’s ok,” she said sweetly, and then she told me she had been pressed for time herself as her little girl was crying when she left her with the babysitter.
Well, hello lesson.
Late Girl is every single one of us. Late Girl makes mistakes about the class start time, or she has to spend an extra minute giving her 2-year old hugs, or there’s car trouble or kid trouble or traffic to battle. Late Girl isn’t always late on purpose – who would want to do that on purpose? Late Girl is every one of us, at any given time, maneuvering through time and space on planet earth – doing our best to piece it all together.
Dear Late Girl, I’m sorry for all the times I’ve felt exasperated at your tardiness. I’m sorry for judging you and labeling you as “Late Girl.” You probably need that yoga class more than anyone else already on their mats, waiting in silence for you to settle in. You still can’t unroll a sticky mat in complete silence, but you can take a deep breath and let it go. Receive and enjoy your practice… Namaste. xo

11 comments:

Rhona said...

I know exactly what you mean! Lesson learnt, it happens. 😊

traci said...

great post. i hate to be late too but it does happen sometimes.

scrappyjacky said...

I love this post,Deb....it really made me think about how often I judge people for being late.....I hate lateness and am often early....just to avoid the risk of being late!!

Susi said...

Hey, it happens to most of us every once in awhile but it is a little embarrassing. My daughter had a teacher in high school that told her "if you are early you are on time, if you are on time you are late." She obviously doesn't agree, she arrives late 99% of the time.

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

I really hate to be late too. From personal experience (usually in the form of a melting down boy who needs me to reassure him) I know it is unavoidable at times and try not to be tolerant of tardiness in others. Except my husband!

Ruth said...

I'm not sure if I was supposed to laugh at this? Sorry! I am punctual to within an inch of my life and can actually feel panic building inside me if I think I'm going to be late. I suppose that's a left-over from my military days. Anyway, my point is, don't be too hard on yourself. :)

Abi said...

Thank you, thank you for this reminder Deb. I am like Ruth, super punctual and I too often judge people when they come in late to a lecture or seminar at uni. You have reminded me that there is always a reason, and most of the time it isn't actually laziness or tardiness.
Hope the yoga is going well. You are doing an amazing job!

Sian said...

I'm thinking back to Pilates class last night and how the door creaked open at the last minute and a friend slipped into class. It was good to see her. better late than never :)

Audrey said...

Growing up, my mom had to arrive every place 10 minutes early. It drove me insane. It's never on purpose but I'm often Late Girl. I honestly don't ever judge other people who arrive late, maybe because I understand how it is....especially with young ones in your/their care. But I really enjoyed your post!!! (What I really cannot stand is when I have no choice but to leave a meeting/appointment or whatever EARLY. That mortifies me!) XOXO

alexa said...

Beautifully written ... I have enjoyed reading this. I guess it behoves us not to judge :).

Karen said...

Wonderful post, Deb! You're right; it's all of us at one time or another.

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