I remember being given a key to the studio by Jacqui, Om Tara’s loved and respected founder. It felt like one of the single greatest achievements of my life. When I started there I had never taken a single yoga class and now I’m one of the teachers— with my own key!
I use the key to enter the studio. Today I’m not there to teach a class or take a class. I’m there to say farewell.
The first thing I see is the sign-in book on the front desk. It is open to March 15, 2020. Of course it is empty because classes were cancelled that day. Everything was cancelled that day. We were hearing words like quarantine, isolation and social distancing but they were not yet part of our everyday vocabulary. Everyone was prepared for a rough few weeks but no one expected it to turn into months. Sadly, my beloved Om Tara was one of the pandemic’s many casualties.
I venture into the studio alone. I light some candles, burn some incense, and make myself a cup of my favorite tea that I only drink at the studio. (I’ll spare you the part about me trying to turn on the air conditioner, located up by the ceiling, without the remote control. Let’s just say it involved several props and was probably my finest yoga pose ever achieved at the studio.)
Finally, I roll out my mat, get myself into a comfortable seated position, close my eyes and I start to reminisce. If my life was a sitcom (lately more like a drama series) this is the montage episode.
My face blurs and ripples like I am going into a trance.The music starts to play (I envision “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong). Then the flashbacks begin. The class is moving in beautiful unison doing sun salutations. Next we’re listening intently to one of Jacqui’s Dharma talks. There we are at a magical Reiki healing circle and now at a beautiful candle lit Winter Solstice ceremony. I see us meditating with Lama Gursam. Next we’re chatting animatedly during a book club meeting. I smile as I recall dangling from the rope wall. I clearly see us sitting on the floor during teacher training surrounded by mounds of papers and books. I remember stringing malas and getting Henna at our graduation. I recall the laughter and the tears brought on from a stirring or recognition from within.
But most importantly, all of the above would mean NOTHING if it wasn’t for the beautiful souls of the Om Tara community. It’s the people, not the four walls that make a space sacred. I mean, if we maintained a connection on Zoom these past few months, then we can do it anywhere! Fortunately, Jacqui has the perfect space in her house for us to gather and her dream of teaching from her home will be fulfilled. We will bring our light and love with us.
Feeling content, I roll up my mat, blow out the candles, grab a bunch of my favorite tea to take home, then I remember I have to turn off that darn air conditioner! Ugh!
I am finally ready to leave, and like Mary Tyler Moore on her series finale, before I close the door behind me, I take one last look around. I am not sad. I am grateful for everything this space has given me over the past eight years. When one door closes, another door opens. Goodbye, Om Tara. I look forward to the spin-off.
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