Liberation

“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.” -Thomas Jefferson

This past weekend, I had the unique opportunity to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. It was an amazing experience all around. During the run, I relied heavily on my yogic practices: methodical breathing, mantra, karma and trusting wholeheartedly in the Universe. During the first half of the race, I repeated one mantra over and over again until there were moments during the run that I didn’t even think about running…my body was just moving. During the third quarter of the race, I began to send out a little karma to fellow runners. I told people that I liked their shorts or their shirt and if I saw a struggling runner, I sent them some shakti love. Finally, in the last quarter of the race, I had to pull out the most magical, sure-fire, get-it-done ritual: any and all Madonna on my IPod. Works every time!

This race was particularly meaningful and moving, especially during this historical Presidential election. Erika, my good friend said: “What an exciting time to be in our Nation’s capital!” And she was right. We started at the Arlington National cemetery and ran across the Francis Scott Key Bridge into Georgetown. We traveled along the Potomac River and around the Thomas Jefferson Memorial down Constitution Avenue to the Washington Monument. The course took us along the front of the Capital building where a marching band played patriotic tunes to motivate the pack. One last time over the Potomac, we finally crossed the finish line at the Iwo Jima Memorial and I was grateful to live in a country where I am free to run (in a running skirt, no less), and I was reminded of the goodness of humanity… the hundreds of spectators who spent their Sunday morning handing out tissues, Twizzlers and Tylenol at their own free will…just to help us finish.

Our country is not perfect and we are certainly facing uncertain times, but we are free. Free to choose our vocation, free to choose our religion, free to protest and free to run. Celebrate your freedom and take advantage of the opportunity to vote…to make a statement for what you believe in. My teacher’s teachers, Sharon Gannon and David Life say: “You can’t help but be political. Every action, every choice you make affects us all. To say that you are political is to say that you care about the world we live in.” My little rituals helped me along the way: mantra, Madonna…oh…and did I mention those Marines? But it was liberation that I celebrated as I crossed the finish line.

Celebrate your freedom this Saturday, November 1st with an invigorating asana practice.