Yoga Teachers Don't Get Sick….

Jun 22, 2015 | Healing | 7 comments

 

… except when they do.

namastay

Lurgy Time*

I’ve been suffering from a nasty cold/cough for three weeks now. Finally and at last, I’m on antibiotics, and I’m quietly hopeful.

I’ve been up and down. I thought I was getting better and then crash-kaboom! That has been discouraging.

The worst thing about this period of time is how my world has shrunk.

Well, apart from teaching in Byron Bay, managing our household, teaching a one-day workshop on International Yoga Day, leading my regular classes, doing my everyday practices, shopping for food and cooking….

I did stop having beach walks, doing free weights, choir singing, having sex, going to luncheons with girlfriends…. Gee, all the fun things! Today, I feel marginally better, but I’ve thought that before over these miserable three weeks.

But I think I’ve learned something about physical illness.

It gets you way down after a time, even though three weeks isn’t that long. I felt like I was barely able to hold things together at different junctures, especially with the teaching. How do people with chronic illness get along? Some manage to go on engaging with life every single day, sometimes even cheerfully. Hats off!

Oh, there is another source of misery in my spin on being sick. I don’t like asking for help and support. There’s a characteristic resistance. Practicing being receptive is by itself a spiritual practice. People in my circle have been so supportive and loving that I’ve opened up as much as my Small Self has allowed me. 

Swings and Roundabouts

I give so much, like many yoga teachers. To balance the equation I could spend the next 30 years receiving, letting love in, maybe even as much as I give out. That would be an amazing practice.

I hope I’ve learned a little more about surrendering through this recent illness. 

I’m also hoping these little white pills do their medical magic.

*Click here for an explanation of lurgi, the fictitious disease (but in my case real) invented by the scriptwriters of The Goon Show.

7 Comments

  1. And that’s what I call A TRUE YOGI !!! OM SHANTI…….

    Reply
  2. Hi Eve sending you much love. Just lately I had a moment of engaging in my experience of physical challenge/ my left hip…… or is it the scare iliac joint….. Im not 100% sure… has been griping at me. Anyway my voice in my head went to feel blue about pain and I had a flash of memory of all the people in wheelchairs in the solstice festival parade this weekend at Katoomba …. there beautiful costumes and warm s
    smiles…and it suddenly occurred to me that Ive had 50 pretty pain free and unburdened physically years and isn’t that a blessing and that well if my hip wants to hurt theres no point having an aversion to it.
    Hope you feel heaps better real soon.LOVE Kate

    Reply
  3. The ‘scare iliac joint’, very good Kate. I’m not advising you because that would be unprofessional, but if it were me, I’d want to see an X-ray…. A picture’s worth a thousand words 🙂

    Reply
  4. Eve! So sorry you’ve been ill !!!…. sometimes those germs just catch you by the short and curlies and won’t let go (I’m an old hand at it). Sleeping a lot is great and reading… and thinking in a quiet way is actually quite nice. And letting others take care of you! Wish I was there to give you a mustard plaster — it helps move the congestion. Want the recipe? I know you’ll be better than ever in no time. Thinking of you, with love as always. Mardi

    Reply
    • Oh, Mardi, I’ve cheated and the antibiotics are knocking this wog on the head, even as we speak. But do send the mustard plaster recipe. I hope I never see this much mucus again in my life (even if I have to swear off ice cream), but just in case, I’ll have the recipe tucked away.
      Miss you always and hope you stay well! Love, E

      Reply
  5. I know how you feel. Had a nasty annoying cough for two weeks and taught all the way through with codral and strepsils. On International Yoga Day was in Perth to teach an inversions workshop and managed to get all the way through without losing my voice but the dreaded cough arrived just I was bringing them out of relaxation. Hard to let go of the teaching schedule as you feel obligated to your students to turn up and be on the mat regardless of your situation.

    Reply
    • Thanks for your comments, Astrid. There’s a narrow line between thinking we’re indispensable and stubbornly forging ahead and being responsible for our health (and others). Unfortunately, it’s not black and white. Each time we have to figure out which mode we want to be in. One time we practice self-care and stay in bed; the next time we’ll see how far we can push our well-being.
      Hope you are better. I’m so appreciating my good health!

      Reply

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