Flex On The Beach

A-sand-na

Things didn't look good for Saturday's yoga picnic when I woke up at 6 am. The rain was pouring down and not letting up. Luckily, it stopped by the time we got on the Island ferry mid-morning. The sun even peeked through the clouds now and then as we left port. But arriving on Ward's Island, the clouds had rolled back in.

It wasn't ideal yoga conditions as there was a constant brisk wind. But with warm-up stretches, it was bearable. Practicing on the beach was interesting, as the sand changes your postures. Some asanas became easier while others got harder, especially those requiring balance. Despite the ominous overcast sky, we got lucky again. It wasn't until our practice ended that the rain came down in a fine drizzle.

We decided to have our picnic underneath the protective pavilion over some empty wooden picnic benches behind the resident cafe. Those feeling extra chilly were able to grab a coffee or tea inside. The communal potluck spread consisted of fresh vegetables from the garden; organic corn chips and cilantro pesto; various cheeses, olives, and other munchies; a tasty kale salad; a filling pot of vegan asian noodles; fresh fruit salad of watermelon, tomatoes, and basil; and some gluten-free cookies for those with a sweet tooth.

Things usually come in three and so did our luck today. As we left the island, the arrival of a slightly soaked wedding party on the inbound ferry explained the presence of the vacant out-door set-up. For such leisure activities, I was surprisingly tired. After a quick hot shower, I climbed into bed and slept away the rest of the afternoon.