Heart Wide Open

I haven't been venturing out after work due to my low energy level from the persistent illness. But I wanted to make a special effort for a free yoga event Thursday night. The National Ballet was opening its practice studio at 470 Queens Quay West for a special class. There will be live music from a trio of National Ballet orchestra players. Perhaps some dancers might join as well.

Enough people were also interested that even though I went down an hour before the 7:15 pm start, thinking it was early enough, the line was already a hundred long. I got in but apparently some people were cut off when the 150 limit was reached. With so many, we were packed tight mat to mat. So it wasn't the spacious dance space that we all no doubt envisioned, but there was a special vibe when practicing with so many people.

Or rather with so many women. In that crowd of 150, there were less than 10 men. The class started with the instructor asking us to write down on a paper heart our thoughts on love: what is love, what do we love, who do we love? Keeping that intention in mind, she led us through an hour-long class concentrating on heart and chest opening postures. The trio of cello and violins played throughout the practice excerpts from Sleeping Beauty (the show starts in a few weeks) as well as other pieces including Greensleeves and Four Seasons.

After savasana, everyone got a chocolate heart on their mat. There were also light snacks and drinks afterwards in the reception area. Oddly, the practice left me feeling more alone instead of feeling more connected.