Another Way to Take a Break

For two years between the ages of 18 and 20, Billy no longer took what is referred to as a “break”. The totality and severity of his pain made the reality of taking any break moot. Gymnastics, swimming, skiing, ice skating, working out, taking walks on conservation trails, jumping on the trampoline nightly ceased to exist.

Billy’s life as he knew it was now an amorphous haze of former shadows. Bedridden and thrashing spiritually and physically from pain, the structure and routines of his day incinerated. It was replaced by a bevy of local and out of state meetings with doctors of diverse specialties, x-rays, MRI tests, hospital procedures and emergency room visits.

Yoga had been introduced to Billy two years prior to the onset of his medical morass. During that period, he learned that yoga was a space he could enter that was calm, and quiet. Methodic and mysterious yoga chants selected by Billy infused each practice with a meditative quality. In time, yoga became an experience in learning about the parameters of his body as well as how he could extend the physical possibilities through breath, trust in his teacher and his youthful body. As his body failed him, the yoga of sun salutations, warrior poses and downward dogs were no longer accessible. Restorative yoga became Billy’s serenity prayer. For two years. Restorative yoga was. Billy’s “schedule”. Supported by layers of blankets and covered with the secure weight of wraps and eye pads shielding his eyes from the world, Billy surrendered his mind and body. Instead of trembling lamentations, there was the glorious sounds of rhythmic breathing.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”