The final day! Our instructor told us yesterday that there would be no early morning yoga so I used my early time to pack things up. I was surprised to learn that some people asked her to still do it and she consented. I just didn’t know it was happening. So I was a little disappointed that I missed it.
My flight was scheduled for 1:30 pm so I need to leave a little early to get to the airport on time. Another woman in the class, Maura, had a Noon flight out of Asheville and needed a ride to the airport so I said I would take her since my flight was just one hour later.
During the first hour of class, our instructor introduced us to the four paths of Yoga:
- Jnana Yoga, which focuses on intellectual wisdom;
- Hatha-Raja Yoga, the eightfold path we have been exploring this week;
- Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action and service, exemplified by figures like Gandhi and Mother Teresa; and
- Bhakti Yoga, which centers on devotion, joy, and singing—such as chanting “Hari Krishna” in celebration of the divine.
The instructor shared several extra resources and reading lists. Our reflection question for the morning was:
What do I need to know? What is the next step in my development? What brings me the most joy?
My Answer:
I want to learn self-understanding to identify my deepest sources of joy. My focus is on developing techniques to slow my mind and clarify my thoughts, which will lead to a profound sense of self-knowledge.
At 9:30 am, it was time for our farewells. It’s surprising how quickly perfect strangers can turn into friends. After plenty of hugs, we went our separate ways.
When we reached the car, I tried to start it and pull forward, but instead, the car kept rolling backward. The parking spot was tight and on an incline, so every inch backward brought me closer to the car behind. It took me a moment to realize the engine hadn’t actually started—the car was in neutral, not drive—so that’s why it was rolling. Once I got the car started, I managed to pull out without any trouble. Maura and I enjoyed a nice chat on the drive back to Asheville, and I dropped her off at the curb. Afterwards, I stopped for gas. I searched for the lever to open the gas tank but accidentally popped the trunk instead—eventually, I found the right switch for the gas door. Then, the car’s sensor insisted the trunk was still open, so I drove the next five miles with the alarm sounding. When I got to Hertz, the attendant discovered it was actually the hood that hadn’t latched, not the trunk. I felt a little silly, but at least it all got sorted out.
Flights back to the Twin Cities were pretty uneventful, thank goodness.