Brooklyn, a love story.
It began the same as many great romances, a warm evening….. Love at first sight. I am a born romantic, I love simple love stories. I arrived here one month ago and so I suppose this must still be in the infatuation stage. I look around everyday waiting for the striking beauty to loose its effect. When I think I may get comfortable with the beauty we go to Dumbo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbo,_Brooklyn) for dinner and I see the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and cobble stone streets. I buy a pineapple. My neighborhood is Williamsburg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg,_Brooklyn) mainly known for being where artists live. Like everything this is changing, the rents are going up and artists have to move further out, I love it here. On my way home from the J, the train I take to Soho, I walk through what seems to be Puerto Rico. When I go to the back to deposit the rent check in my landlords account I am the only non Hasidic Jew in the place. Out my door you hear Spanish, out my window you can hear the train, you can see the East River. Walk down Bedford Ave and you can get whatever you like, it’s all here. I had vegan pizza and a vegan doughnut delivered last night, best ladies holiday ever. This love keeps growing.
I started teaching yoga again last week and this week took over Ashtanga Yoga Brooklyn from the amazing Elise Espat. She is moving on to her next adventure and mine is just beginning here, and thanks to some mutual friends we found each other. I have a whole 2-minute commute to work. I bought my first rode bike, it weighs less then my yoga mat, we too are in love.
There are so many amazing things around each corner, literally each corner. One thing is the CSA, I will be getting my fruit and veggies directly from the farm for the next 22 weeks. We pay first so the farm can do what they need to do and then every Wednesday my food is delivered. The pick up spot is one block from my work, all my veggies are grown in NY. I am growing in NY.
I practice now before I teach. I get up at 4am and make my way to the studio on my bike. I am alone, feeling so alone and so connected. It feels like a different practice, like something greater has been tapped into. It is a different practice. I have had to look deeper to see the truth of it for myself. I feel so blessed. Elise and I talked about the strength that comes from this sort of practice, gifts hand delivered discipline. I am sad she is leaving, the students in Albuquerque have some karma. I think of Kino practicing in her parent’s garage, Emily riding her bike in the middle of winter, seeing Harmony and Jeff at the Shala in -30 weather, of Sharath up in the night practicing. I have so much inspiration to draw from, thank you.
I have heard it said many different ways, this idea that if you have the courage to do what it is that you really want that something greater comes along to help you. I don’t know if it’s something outside or deep within but it has certainly come together here better then I ever could have imagined. I do not suppose it matters what it is so much, I will accept my gifts with gratitude and be thankful I am given opportunities to pass it along.
