I think I’ve mentioned before how I sometimes go into little worry cycles and luckily yoga really does help me stay calm but today I went to a most fabulous session of yoga nidra. I had not tried this before and it was bliss. If only I could take a class like that every day.
I’m reveling in those peaceful feelings and am going to just lounge around with some books this evening but I thought I’d leave you with a poem (I haven’t posted anything about poetry in long time – shame, shame). I think it’s a perfect poem for those of us who may have a bit too much on our mind. Read it and smile.
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I’m dumb in school?
Whatif they’ve closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there’s poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don’t grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won’t bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don’t grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
Whatif by Shel Silverstein
Oh and a little reminder, you still have time to enter the Traveling with Pomegranates giveaway. Winner will be announced on Friday, Oct. 2.
Great reminder that we can’t think or worry about all the “what ifs” because that robs us of our joy! Glad your yoga session brought you a sense of serenity!
I’ve loved this poem for a long time. I, too, am a ‘what-if-er’. 🙂
I miss Yoga! 🙂
I need to restart it next year for sure! The Whatif poem is so true 🙂 and yes thanks for the smiles.
Whatif I forget how to smile.
Whatif there is no rain and no sunshine 🙂
God! No… I am not starting on the Whatifs 🙂
Green hair on the chest? What have you been drinking, girl? Whatif is a dangerous trap. I have to admit, they creep into my subconscious, but then I have to banish them! I have a child that lives in the whatif world. As we are driving down the road, he is saying “Whatif that building falls on us? Whatif I threw this ball really hard and it hit the moon? Whatif our car could fly right over this traffic and get home in 5 minutes?” It really is enough to make me scream!
Kathleen – It was such a great session. I love my regular yoga classes but this was a free pass for another studio and I’m glad I got a chance to try it out. Just wish I could afford more of those classes! 🙂
Carrie K. – I don’t remember reading this one before although I loved his books when I was a kid. It is a good one isn’t it! 🙂
Veens – haha… Don’t start thinking of the whatifs! 🙂
Sandy – Haha… You need to read this poem to your kiddo! I get the feeling he will like it! Although it may make him think of more whatifs to ask you about as you drive around 🙂
Great poem!
Isn’t yoga nidra the best? I’ve been practicing it for about a year now and it has helped me immensely.
Glad you took the nidra class. I need to check out the link.
I like the poison one in the coffee. I worry about that when I buy food from street vendors.
They sell yummy pies, cakes, pralines, figs, etc. I don’t know why, but I trust them not to sell me poisoned food.
I practice yoga and always feel that savasana should be longer because I get up afterwards and I am still in the “zone” for about 5 to 10 mn more. I haven’t gone to any Yoga Nidra before and I research it into local yoga studios in Anchorage but after reading the link that you gave us Shiva Rae’s CD is being mentionned. I do have one of her CD and like it quite a bit, have you seen or heard anything about her Yoga Nidra’s one? That would be a good compromise if it is not offered localy.
Thank you as always Iliana for a most enlightening entry. I confess that I had to look at Isabel’s profile to see where she lives… I like yummy pies, cakes, pralines and figs… nothing like that except caribou and moose sausages in the street vendors around here…ahhaha.
Oh the poem is so true! I could do with practising yoga at the moment to combat all that stress.
Thank you for the lovely comments you left on my blog. It was really thoughtful of you.
Eva – Glad you liked it!
Jendeis – It’s wonderful! I went to yoga this evening and had a different teacher. She was nice but not my usual teacher (who is wonderful) but man, I really noticed how much I would have loved being in a nidra class today!
Isabel – I cannot recommend it enough! It’s wonderful girl. You would love the studio – very reminiscent of the MoveStudio we used to go to. Love your whatifs 🙂
roxane – I totally agree with you. Tonight for example the substitute teacher we had only did savasana for maybe 3 minutes?! Not good. I’m planning to look for a yoga nidra CD as well. The teacher yesterday did mention the Rae CD but she highly recommended the one by Richard Miller. Isabel is always finding the best stuff! 🙂
vivienne – As my husband says, worrying is my other hobby! 😉 Luckily yoga really helps keep me centered. Hope you have more calm days ahead of you!
This is the second reference I come across recently to yoga nidra, both from the US. I haven’t heard anyone mention it in the UK. I must ask my yoga teacher about it next week because I’m sure I would find it very beneficial.
I like doing Yoga 🙂 I havent heard of Yoga Nidra before, glad you enjoyed it. Great poem!
I’ve never tried yoga nidra, but it sounds great, and I’ve become such a yoga devotee lately — it really helps me deal with my own worrying a lot.
I haven’t attend a yoga class in much too long a while — my teacher moved away 🙁 I think I’ve found a new place to start up again, tho. The other day at work I told everyone I just needed to lie down for a bit. I went into an empty office and slipped into savasana for about 10 minutes. Ahhhh. Thanks for sharing your experience and the poem. It’s a classic!
Table Talk – I hope your yoga teacher can tell you more about it or better yet can find you a class so you can try it out. It’s so good!
bookworm – I love yoga. I’ve been practicing on and off for about 5 years now but this last year is when I’ve really gotten much more into it.
Dorothy W. – So glad to hear it also helps you with the worrying too. I know for some people yoga is more about the physical aspect but for me it’s more about calming down that monkey mind!
gwendolyn b. – Oh I hate it when that happens! I found a wonderful teacher at my regular gym of all places. Glad you were able to find a place to get in a bit of a rest at work! Hope you can find a new teacher soon.
I LOVE yoga nidra! I read Richard Miller’s book, but it did nothing for me, so I ordered the one by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, and it is much more like what I experienced at YogaYoga in Austin. My teacher at Lotus Studio uses his book when she does yoga nidra for class, too. Didn’t think anything could be better than savasana!
Good ole Shel…he knew how to please his audience! My children have never outgrown his books, and they have honored places on the bookshelves of my grandchildren.