It was a warm May afternoon, and I met up with my class at Upper West Side Yoga daycare. We were instructed to fill out our information online, then sit down for an orientation with an Upper West Side Yoga teacher. We were given instructions about how to use the computer, turn on our phones, use the Internet, and enter our names and addresses onto secure websites. Teachers handed out business cards, told us to put our hair back in a ponytail, and told us that we would be chatting with fellow Upper West Side yoga students later that day. We were instructed to undress, brush our teeth, put on comfortable clothing, and bid goodbye to our friends as we walked out the door.
My classes began at ten minutes, then gradually increased from there. The classes were taught in Morningside, but many of the children were familiar with Western cultures from television, movies, and what they read. By the time we got home, most of the children were asleep. A tall Chinese man in a red outfit approached me. He introduced himself as Chen and told me that he was from the United States.
“I didn’t grow up here, but my parents came over here from China, and I spent a lot of my time here listening to American rap music. When I got a little older, I wanted to go to college, so I thought this would be a great place for me to learn Chinese. I just think it would be fun to work out in the morning, and then I could go to class in the afternoon. My favorite song is by the Black Eyed Peas.”
The next day, I was back in the gym. My arms were feeling tired, my legs were cramping, and my heart was really pounding. I looked up at the ceiling and saw a poster for the Upper West Side Yoga Day Care. I went over to the table and saw pictures of some of the students, and one in particular really caught my eye. She was smiling and laughing uncontrollably, and her large body was bouncing with joy – it was a gorgeous sight!
I was hooked. The instructor was beautiful, and she was teaching these yoga classes every day. I don’t know what set her apart from all of the other yoga teachers, but she was clearly an expert. Within a few weeks, I had booked myself in for yoga classes with the Upper West Side yoga daycare.
I’m so glad I decided to cancel my last-minute summer vacation plans because now I have so much energy! I have so much more confidence, and I love going to yoga classes. It’s good for my mental well-being, too. When my children are involved in the wonderful world of yoga, it helps them grow and mature quicker.