Yoga at the Bus Stop
I took a lovely trip into downtown Seattle the other day. From my house, it's one bus and about 20 or so minutes. Without a real agenda I wandered about, enjoying the weather, the people, shops, coffee. People here are so friendly. When the sun is out, folks reflect it. There is kindness and camaraderie.
As my adventure was coming to a close, I decided to stop into a coffee shop and use the restroom. I'd just had coffee, and wasn't in the market for anything; just a convenient place to refresh on the way to my bus stop. I walked in and saw a worker emptying a garbage can. There was maybe one other person in the place. I asked if I could use the restroom.
Without looking up she declined, saying I must buy something to use it. I immediately felt stunned (is she really denying me the ability to use a toilet?), and I just stared at her. She didn't meet my gaze. I took a breath.
"Ok." I mumbled, then walked out. I walked slowly, halfway thinking that I should go back in and yell at her. Or maybe she would realize how stupid she was and come running out to apologize.
I'm sorry, I fantasized her saying. I was being dumb. Of course you can use the bathroom!
The further away I walked, the more steamed I got. It's a basic human right to use a proper facility when needing it. I've spent plenty of money at that coffee establishment- it's the least she could have done. Etc. Etc. Etc.
When I arrived at my bus stop my stomach felt ill, my blood was still boiling, and I had to stop. STOP. Took some breaths. Then I began to rationalize.
It's probably policy that customers buy something to use the bathroom. As far as as she knows, I may have been a "secret shopper" or some other equally obnoxious corporate spy. I used to work in a coffee shop- well plenty of them actually- and I know how annoying it can be. I also have worked for corporations and know how utterly soul-sucking the culture can feel. P.S: she was emptying a garbage can. That is never fun, and her job requires that several times a day.
The more I rationalized, the better I felt. I began to feel the steam literally dissipating. After a minute, I had totally expelled the hatred and my stomach was no longer tied in a knot. It was a physical manifestation of my mental state. It amazes me what power we have over how we feel. Just by some deep breaths, and a simple change of thought.
This is one way to use yoga outside of the studio. The more one practices the techniques for "letting go," the more time can be spent on positive thought and feeling mentally healthy. I don't care if I have to lie to myself during rationalizing- heck, maybe she made up that rule, just to be mean! But it is more important to me to release her ability to affect my mood. I simply took the power away. And created space for new, fresh thoughts.