Smile and life’s a beach. Frown and life’s a b*#ch. Those are a few of the words of wisdom bestowed upon me this morning during my Tai Chi class. Our guide was one of the many spiritual masters who spun their web around me and my cousins this weeks at a spa in Palm Springs. Among others, I attended an angel reading, a shaman journey to your destiny session, a class on the hypnosis of attracting love (still not sure what that one was about), yoga, and a sound bath. I have to give it to each of these instructors. They practically vibrate with excitement about their chosen “thing” and truly believe they’ve found the way to peace and freedom. All are eager to share their experiences and unlock your inner spirit animal/arch angel/ power source.
It’s a miracle of optimism for me to keep trying these things, especially when I walk into each with such crusty cynicism. When this lovely shaman said she’d just come from a *soul retreval*, I could barely stop my eyes from rolling in disbelief. I think I secretly hope that one of these sessions with unlock some magical answers, like the shaman or angel reader promise happens all the time to those who believe. But instead, I enjoy the drums or card reading or whatever, follow the visualization, take some deep breaths, and leave no more enlightened than I started. But I always go back for more.
Besides the endless massaging and hot tub soaking of spa life, these wonky experiences with something I know nothing about are my favorites. Yoga just reminds me of my utter lack of flexibility and always reveals new parts of my body that kind of hurt or don’t bend right. The sounds bath was an awesome experience with a skinhead sound master playing huge Buddha bowls with pure joy and total commitment. He was so involved that after an hour and half of lying on the cement floor on a yoga mat, I finally had to declare my personal sound bath over. I started to feel like I was at one of those sweat lodges where they don’t let you out until you pass out. Anyway, perhaps some folks had a spiritual awakening there. I, along with several loud snorers, did not.
I think the truth for me lies in the slow, methodical movement of the Tai Chi master. Breathe in, breathe out. Build from your strong foundation–feet shoulder width apart, toes even, weight equally distributed on ball and heel, sink into your knees, shoulders down and back, head up. Then, we begin a slow ritualistic set of movements performed with attention and ease. No hurried motions. No rush to fix anything. Just enjoying the sight of the lush green oasis surrounded by palm trees. Breathe in, breathe out. A little bit each day. Slow and sure.
Be where you are. There is no where better to be. Simple wisdom that works for me.
Boonedoggler 