Cozy Hugs & Techno Heart Parties

In the early years of Cherry Blossom Yoga, I often taught several classes in a row on Sundays. Some Sundays, I taught every class we had on the schedule for the day — and those days lovingly became known as ‘Sundays with Sara’. I was always tickled by the alliteration of that phrase, and considered a regular Sunday blog posting in homage to those days where I taught sometimes 3-4 classes in a row on a beautiful Sunday at CBY.

So with this inaugural posting on the new CBY Blog, I present Sundays with Sara. You can look forward to a new post every Sunday from me (with a few exceptions during the year due to illness or vacation).

Before I go too much further, I want to ask you to please share with me the things you’d like me to ramble about in this blog — whether it’s related to yoga asana, philosophy, anatomy, tea time, family time, etc… I want to bring you what you want to read, so please don’t be shy in letting me know!

So now, let’s get into what I plan to share with you today…

It’s been over a year in this pandemic, with physical distancing, masks, and isolation. Hugs are a rare commodity these days. I miss hugs, and I’m not a huge hugger… but I miss hugs. I definitely hug my quaranteam pod, but I miss hugging students after class. I miss hugging teachers when they came in and were having a bad day or wanted to hug in celebration of something spectacular happening.

On Friday, I had my first dose of the vaccine. No major issues, other than a tender arm and a light headache. My slothy nature is still intact and am enjoying the required rest. While in line checking in at the CVS, the guy confirming my arrival and taking my temperature asked what my chronic condition / comorbidity was and through the mask I said, “tachycardia.” It wasn’t until I was in the booth with the woman who’d be inoculating me that I noticed such a gem that I think I’ll henceforth rename the ’T’ part of my POTS.

I was showing her my vaccine card for the second dose appointment date, and I commented on how small the guy wrote the date. Then we both noticed at the bottom of the card he wrote something else — my chronic condition. Technocardia.

Wait, what?

We both had an uproarious laugh at this. Not a laugh at the gentleman who likely misheard me through my mask, but at the thought of my heart having a dance party raging so hard it was causing an ever-present elevated heart rate. I always describe my tachycardia to others as if I’m always running a marathon, but now, it’s all about the dance party.

I love a good dance party.

My nieces and I had two days of dance party fun earlier in the week, and now my heart is dance party all day, every day.

But what does this have to do with hugs?

I came home after the shot and embraced the super sloth within. Snuggling up on the couch with a cuppa tea underneath an extremely special blanket. A blanket handmade by a student, gifted to me upon the closure of the physical location.

The blanket was accompanied by a note wishing me the feeling of being in a warm and cozy hug every time I snuggled underneath it. It’s so fluffy and soft that it feels exactly like warm, snuggly hug,

I made a cuppa tea, snuggled under the blanket and felt the warmth and love of the CBY family. Like a giant hug from all over the world in this tiny blanket, extending beyond the confines of online classes, time zones, and physical presence.

I loved this hug.

I thought of memories in the first studio, in the early years, hugging after class in that back dressing area. Sitting around in our tea area in the hallway having laughs over Liz Lovely cookies and warm mugs of tea in our hands. Having tea with one student, Lynne, who showed up for one of the weekday morning Ashtanga classes after being out for a while due to a long-term injury. She, being the only one that day, we instead decided to sit in that front room with the light streaming in through the slender windows as we talked of injuries and returning to practice. She cried, I cried, we laughed, and we hugged.

I snuggled under this blanket thinking about times in the new space. Holding students in my arms as they grieved over the deaths of loved ones, smiled ear to ear over some personal difficulty or challenge being met with success, or simply a ‘welcome home’ embrace after being gone from the studio for a while.

One hug comes to mind pre-lockdown, with another student, Shuba. After a time away from being able to take practice with us, she came back in. I happened to be at the front, and after she checked in at the desk, we met eyes and I could see the internal crumble of heart. We hugged. And hugged. And hugged. I’m not sure how long the hug lasted, several minutes at least, but for that moment in time it was only her and I in the world. I was there to hold her when she needed me. We exchanged only a few words — her offering gratitude, exchange of love, and nothing more needed to be said.

That’s what I love about hugs. They have the potential of saying so much without speaking a word.

It wasn’t only in that moment that Shuba became a part of my heart, but in every class she took in the first space, every time she showed up in the second location, and every time I though of her off the mat. There’s so many members of the CBY family that I’ve held in my arms as you broke down in tears, crumbled in physical exhaustion, and felt completely invisible to the world around you. I held you in my arms, and you felt safe to break down, crumble, and decorporealize into my heart. Within in my arms you transformed, feeling a little more put together, a bit stronger, and a bit more seen.

That, my friend, is the power of a hug.

A transformative hug.

A hug from a chosen family member — a family member not borne of blood, but one brought together by the twists and turns of life.

Who knew a blanket could do so much?

So, this love letter is not only to the entire CBY family, reminding each of you that you’re in my heart always, but to Terri, who knit and gifted this blanket to me when we closed our doors.

It’s holding me in a big hug every time I nestle underneath it, and it allows me to continue holding all of you near and far.

Sending each of you a warm and cozy hug today.

Love.

-Sara