Some years ago, a friend suggested we try yoga together. Neither of us had done it before so we signed up for a cheap adult ed yoga class at the nearest college not really knowing what to expect.
I thought yoga was for trendy and flexible people, which I assure you I was and still am neither. Apprehensive, I attended the first class and was pleasantly surprised. While I was probably the least flexible person in the class, I was able to follow along. The poses, which looked effortless as an onlooker, were actually tremendously challenging. I sweated, I relaxed, and I realigned parts of my body I never knew weren't.
Now 4 years later, I am still a devoted yogi. While on first thought I would say there is nothing geeky about yoga, I am here to claim it is actually a great fit for a geek! You see, yoga teachers talk throughout the class; They tell you which poses to take, they remind you to breathe, and because there's a lot of quiet time while you hold poses, they also tell stories. The stories fall into two categories:
Build me up
I'll be the first to admit I think all yoga teachers are total hippies. Hippies are not geeks, right? Yet their message is surprisingly well built to support the geek spirit. While there's a number of yoga teachers who say things I consider utter nonsense, like "open your third eye" and "feel the breath going all the way to your fingers", some teachers actually do make sense. Those are the precious ones whose classes are full. The good ones remind you to be yourself, to embrace your body in its true shape, and to stop caring about what others expect of you. Isn't that what we geeks have been saying all along?
There's a universal message of freedom that tie us and hippies together until one big mass of rebel energy. It's a powerful message I am glad to hear over and over again: Work hard (for what you want), play often (unencumbered by embarrassment), and roar loudly (for what you believe in).
Tear me down
For me, being a geek is a combination of the acceptance of science, a passion for knowledge, and a restless mind. Geeks have a thirst for facts, challenges, and overambitious projects. With this definition in mind, I love yoga because that's where I am reminded to temporarily turn off the overbearing aspects of being a geek so I can recharge my batteries.
Yoga teachers will frequently talk about techniques of meditation. The first step is to clear your mind: stop thinking about everything you have going, forget your to-do list, let go of worry, and disconnect from the world (virtual or otherwise). While I'm still terrible at clearing my mind, hearing someone tell me it's ok to let go every once in a while is chicken noodle for my geek soul.
