Issue #154 I was lying on my yoga mat this morning at Be Well

I was lying on my yoga mat in Geri’s class this morning at Be Well.

After an hour of flow practice I was swept away by an intense peace and calm as waves of music fell over and around us.

My African grandmother name is aptly Go-Go. I move fast, eat fast, think fast, act fast, do life fast… I packed a bag and left home (for the first time) when I was about 3 years old.

So time spent lying, sitting, stretching, bending and balancing on a yoga mat is a highly unlikely environment for me but I have trained myself over many years that this is my downtime whenever I can get it.

We also had another Tomorrow Party at Be Well last week. A Tomorrow Party is where we ‘time travel’ into our future self with lightness, encouragement and support from others in the room (no drugs are even involved or required! ;-). 

It was quite incredible to hear the places people traveled to and the ideas and opportunities that evolved in a few short hours.

But what really inspired me was overhearing conversations a few days later with Members talking enthusiastically about their experience with other Members they hardly know over a cup of tea in the Well. 

All whilst I was doing Ming’s Pilates class.

Yes, we founded Be Well to improve our fitness, health and wellbeing. We are very clear about wanting to extend our health-span and, bonus, lifespan. We can track, assess and measure our progress in this.

But the benefits of Be Well go far beyond that which we can measure. The conditions for success in fitness, health and wellbeing are more nuanced than raw metrics. 

I have often shared in this blog that social fitness and connection are the most powerful complement to our exercise program.

I am not sure how to measure that restorative moment of overwhelming peace and calm on my yoga mat nor the impact of a meaningful and life changing Be Well Tomorrow Party conversation.

What I do know is that these things create and fuel energy and life into my body, mind and soul in intangible but deeply embodied ways.

I also know that the more time spent in my parasympathetic nervous system the less likely my body will be inflamed and the less inflammation the more resistant I am to disease.

This, in turn, enables me to do more pilates, lift weights and be GoGo!

So maybe I have answered my own question. Everything can be measured after all!

Looking forward to  seeing you all again at Be Well soon!