WelcomeOmDC

In Sanskrit, the word samskaras can be translated to “habits or patterns.” Though this usually describes habits or patterns of the mind, I’ve been thinking about the samskaras of my schedule a lot lately.

Like most hard-wired, constantly on-the-go Washingtonians, there is a distinct pattern to how I lay out my week. I always try to run on Tuesday mornings with friends (heLLo, GLEE is on Tuesday nights), I hit up Lana Beex’s class at Down Dog on Wednesdays, and I round out the week with Brittanie’s Flow 2 on Thursdays at Flow Yoga Center (ok, maybe I actually round out my week with a beer from Stoney’s after Britt’s class, but you know what I mean!).

If I can commit to these three things, any other run or work-out I squeeze in during the week is a total bonus. Go me.

However, my erratic work and travel schedules for the crazy month of May have forced me to miss my usual work-outs and think outside my samskaras box. And its been… well, frustrating.

As it happens, the anguish I’ve wrestled with over maintaining a semblance of normalcy during my week has reached its breaking point right here at the threshhold of DC Yoga Week and I’m issuing myself a challenge. Really, a mantra for the week.

During DC Yoga Week, I will try at least one new yoga studio and teacher in the District of Columbia.

What better excuse than $5 yoga and a community of awesome studios coming together to try something new. Really, what better excuse than the fact that I’ve never been to Spiral Flight Yoga Studio, or tried a class taught by Faith Hunter (other than her awesome DC Yoga Rally class, thanks Faith!) and I really want to do both of these things, and more. But if I can just try ONE new thing this week and break out of my samskaras I will consider myself successful.

Maybe I’ll fall in love and add a new element to my weekly routine. Maybe I’ll make a new friend. Maybe I’ll just get buzzed from a nice community Om and walk away with a sense of accomplishment for meeting my goal.

Regardless of what happens, will you consider joining me? Use DC Yoga Week as your excuse to examine your own samskaras and see if you can choose a different path this week.

If you don’t like it, you can go back to your previously scheduled programming next week. As long as it includes GLEE, I’m cool.