When Everything Feels Just Right – It’s Time To Move On

Friday night yoga class has a special place in my heart.

When Haribhajan and I were courting, we went to a class almost every Friday night at Yoga West in Vancouver when it was on Alma Street. After class we would fold ourselves into the little red Honda civic I was driving at the time. Then, we would fight. I don’t mean tense words and lack of eye contact. I mean we would explode in conflict – shouting over each other, hands waving. It’s a miracle we never crashed.

Those classes were working on us – changing our lives in ways we could never imagine. Our egos were freaking out. But, every week we went back because we loved Kundalini Yoga.

Then we moved in together. I became a teacher. Haribhajan became a teacher. We got married. In a few years, Haribhajan would be teaching that same Friday night class – now at the new Yoga West on 4th Avenue. His classes were packed and the energy was incredible. It was a sweet, sweet full circle.

Everything was going great. We’d made it over the first seven-year hurdle of our relationship. I loved my job. I was close to my beautiful nephew Taigan – the closest thing to having a child for me in this life time. Haribhajan’s business was starting to take off. We were part of a huge, wacky, loving (sometimes frustrating) tribe of Kundalini Yogis.

And when everything feels just right – it’s usually time to go. Yogi Bhajan (the Master of Kundalini Yoga) used to tell couples to uproot their lives and go to some crazy location like Italy or Alaska and start teaching Kundalini Yoga. He’s no longer walking this earth in physical form – but he is still giving the orders.

So, we left everything and set out to find the community in BC that was calling out for Kundalini Yoga. Within 30 minutes of arriving in Penticton – it was clear. We had no jobs, no money and not a single contact in the area. It was time to start building from scratch.

And so, Haribhajan started to teach. For months and month, we’ve patiently waited for the classes to show signs of “taking off”. We’ve sacrificed a lot. I missed my job, my family and we miss our tribe. Unless you have a tribe – you won’t know how lonely that can feel.

I wanted and needed things to take off quickly. I wanted proof that we made the right choice. When you leave everything behind – you have to forgive yourself for wanting signs that this wasn’t some crazy mistake.  On more than one occasion we’ve asked ourselves “why did we do this again?”.

But, last night something shifted. We gathered at the beautiful Re:flexions Studio for Friday night yoga. There were only seven of us but the room felt like it was bursting. For the first time – instead of sounding like a bunch of stray cats — our voices sounded clear and strong and merged as we tuned in with Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.

The sweet sounds of the Shabd Guru played. Hearts opened and my mind perceived what the room was full of – gratitude. They were drinking in the experience like a thirsty bird receives the drops of rain after a long drought. They were being changed – as I had been changed. I felt like I would weep with relief that we had made the right choice.

We came to serve and it matters and it’s needed. And so, to my tribe, I ask you to ask yourself this question. Am I where I’m supposed to be? This world is full of communities with no Kundalini Yoga – students with no teacher. Time is of the essence now. There are many ways to shift the consciousness – but this is our way.  This ride called life is about to get really wild –make sure you’re at your post when it does.