Not every 6am start is a good one, but this one is. Driving quietly through the empty streets under a rare blue sky. The brightest of suns. The crispest of mornings..
Friends are waiting under hats and hoodies, mats rolled tightly in place. We drive to North Berwick for an 8 am yoga class on the beach with Jo.
Before I knew of yoga or meditation, before I could name feelings of threat or peace, I would steal something special at the beach. I would sneak a few moments of resting on my back with my eyes closed. I sometimes also did this in the garden, and sometimes in the woods. But resting at the beach was my favourite. For how long has lying on sand, closing out light, listening to waves and birds, caressed by breezes, been a place of peace? I hadn't thought of it until today. Even after years of savasana.
I lie down after moving and stretching. Laying on top of years of rolling and rocking, of hopes and fears and of living, it can take a while to get comfy. But comfort comes. As I close my eyes, I meet that little girl who lay under the sky and listened to
waves, birds and distant chatter. She is still there, finding calm on the beach.
Today, I am with friends. It is a treat to practice outdoors with others. It is rare. So much has to align. The weather. The time. Who's around. Other things. You know. But we made it.
For an hour and a half, regardless of who was passing, we soaked up the salty air, rested into the damp sand and breathed in the beautiful Saturday morning.
My friend, pushed away her mat so that she could feel the sand under her feet and toes. As our teacher wrestled with a wind break and a falling gong, we closed our eyes and thought our thoughts. We finished with some gentle chanting, which always quietens any onlookers.
This yoga started during lockdown, when classes indoors were halted. It continues because practicing together, outside and on the beach feels better.
Afterwards, we ate egg rolls and simnel cake, drank tea and spilled milk. Back home by lunchtime, airy, open and tired. Some sand sticks to my yoga mat. I know I'll keep finding it. And it will keep reminding me of this morning and of yoga set free to breathe in the breeze.