4
years ago today, on May the 4th, I finished my yoga teacher training. Sunday
was mother’s day and after lunch, William, Wayland and I went to the reject
shop, one of our favorite pass times, browsing the shelves and rifling through
the throw out bin. One of the isles had lots of yoga mats. Something had come
over me during yoga teacher training, an awakening, a desire to follow a path
in life that I had discovered. To go with the natural flow of the universe with
the absolute belief that it would lead me in the right direction. We went and
got a trolley from Franklin’s and filled it up with 20 yoga mats. I thought I
might do classes in a hall somewhere or something like that. Wayland wheeled
the trolley out to the car but something caught my eye and I stayed behind to
buy it.
It
was a 3 dimensional picture of a white Tiger and dragon entwined, or two
dragons in combatant or a dragon under the sea, it changes as you walk past it
hanging on the wall. Japanese dragons, symbolic of the martial arts, my sensei and myself. I just needed a wall to hang it
on.
The
next day was Monday and I was out for a walk. I looked up at an old building that
had a for lease sign propped up in a dusty top window. An idea formed in my mind.
I could open a school, I could teach yoga and karate. The real estate who’s
name was on the sign told me it was only there to seal up a cracked window and
pointed me across the road to David William's. The young lady behind the
counter told me that someone had already put in an application for the lease. I
was about to walk out when I turned around and asked if they had any other
properties for lease and she pointed to a black folder on a little table. I sat
down and started flipping through. When her customer left I said I was thinking
about opening a yoga studio. She lit up and came out from behind her counter
and pointed at the page I happened to have open in my lap. She offered to take
me over and show the building to me, We had become best friends before we left
the office.
She
told me how much she loved yoga as we walked up the street. Also that she
wasn’t going to be at the real estate much longer as she was about to spread
her wings and start training as a airline stewardess.
An
old Greek man was up a ladder doing repairs to the walls when we arrived. The
big empty room was in a pretty bad state, with holes in the carpet and walls. It
had been a gun shop but they had neglected the premises and to pay the rent.
I could see potential. Later I came back for
another look. The Greek man was so cranky about what had been done to his shop.
When I told him I was going to fix it up and turn it into a yoga studio his
demeanor changed and his face lit up. He came down from the ladder, he was so
happy and he asked me what colour I would like him to paint it. I asked for
mauve inside and blue on the outside.
The
picture of the Tiger and the dragon was hung on the wall as inspiration for my
karate school. New carpet was laid. And my son's helped me hang my paintings in
my own personal art gallery. I ordered blocks and bolsters and blankets, took
out insurance and a business number. And I burnt A LOT of incense to clear out
the smell and the negative energy.
I
set a date for opening and though no one came to my first class, I did it
anyway and waited for my first customer
Now
4 years later, 700 students have come through the door. My studio is more
beautiful than ever with a giant Persian rug on the floor, stars on the ceiling
and gold glitter on the walls, paintings have been hung and sold and most
exciting of all, I woke up today knowing I am at last going to get my black
belt in karate. Who would have imagined what would happen because I needed a
wall to hang picture on.