yoga etc. #15 (three little birds)
yoga etc. #15
Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua (Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers)
- Hawaiian proverb
The other night, after a cookie date with a friend (yes, we got together so we could eat cookies), I scrolled through Spotify in search of a soundtrack for my bike ride home. I didn’t look too hard—I started playing one of my go-to playlists. A few minutes later, I tapped through to another playlist on my regular rotation, and then another and another.
You’d think the problem of “nothing good being on” would have been solved with the invention of streaming, but I found myself completely uninspired by the music the algorithm was feeding me. So I opted for a Throwback Thursday playlist in hopes of something more unique. Then a Bob Marley song came on.
The sound of steel drums flowed out of my AirPods, and waves of nostalgia, optimism, and comfort crashed into me. My mind was filled with memories of my angsty teenage years and sun-soaked afternoons in San Francisco. Memories of escaping my problems by driving down Highway 1 and stopping to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Memories of an impromptu trip to visit my brother in Hawaii during a rough patch. Memories of when everything wasn’t alright, but I knew that it would be one day.
Since that bike ride home, I’ve been playing a variety of reggae and soul songs—old and new—as well as traditional Hawaiian tunes. I’ve been exploring the drifting sounds of the ukulele, slack-key guitar, and Pahu drums, and songs with names like Moe’s Lullaby, Honu’s Dream, and Li’i’s Song bring comfort and warmth to my living room.
As I listen to these songs, I feel my jaw soften, and my shoulders melt away from my ears. I feel the rhythmic drums reverberate delicately in my chest, and the plucking of guitar strings peel away the armor I put up to protect me from pain.
Listening to these sounds has been my most significant moment of self-care in recent history. Better than anything the #selfcare industry has tried to sell to me. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to tune out of the chaotic energy of the city and 2020, and tune back into a previous life. These sounds have taken me back to a time in my life where I needed to grieve and process and work through challenges. They offer reassurance and acceptance of wherever I am on my path. And they remind me to find grace in the process of healing. ✨
Be gentle with yourself this week. Hope to see you on the (virtual) mat—class times below.
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