Lori, Charlie, and I are on a spontaneous road trip to visit her parents, who winter in Lake Havasu. We enjoyed a few days in Sedona along the way. Lots of fun, beautiful sites and experiences, but what makes this email relevant to Avita Yoga is a stop at the Route 66 Museum in Kingman, AZ.
As you probably know, Route 66 went from Chicago to LA. It became the migratory route out of the dust bowl during the depression and became the backdrop for John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. But in the 50s and ’60s, loaded with small-town charm and character, it was known as the Main Street of America.
In 1956 Dwight Eisenhower, inspired by the German Autobahn, signed the Federal Highway act, which gradually replaced Route 66.
Travel has become faster and “more efficient.” But we lose the charm and depth that comes with authentic travel. It asks, “Am I a traveler or a destination seeker?”
To “stop and smell the roses” is a state of mind. It does no good for the soul to run along, stop, sniff, snap a photo, get back in the car, and speed to the next destination. “The need for speed” has become a deterrent to a meaningful life. The one with the most destinations “wins the race.”
It takes practice to slow down! And…you have to want the benefits. It’s our yoga to confront our fears of a slower, simpler life.
I do my yoga, and the more I slow my mind down, the better I feel. It is not until our 50th or 60th decade before we begin to value a slower pace, but many in these golden years still try to excel in all kinds of ways.
Contemporary yoga and most fitness models have become the Interstate Highway system of the body and mind. The slow, deep, and meaningful have been replaced with fast and superficial. You won’t see it if you’re in it!
Don’t rely on your insurance policy. Don’t rely on an injury to get your attention. Don’t rely on arthritis and old age to slow you down. They surely will, but why wait?
Why not enjoy the journey? Enjoy the yoga that helps your mind slow down along with your body.
Take action now! Slow down. Bad things happen at high speeds. The ego mind thrives on fast and furious because it blocks out the meaningful.
Avita Yoga is a pathway to sustainable health and everlasting peace. We know the value of a meditation practice, but few take the time to drop in and reap the benefits. Enjoy this video from Cyndi, a long-time student who enjoys a thoughtful Avita practice almost daily.
Route 66 is still out there! In fact, the longest remaining stretch is in Arizona. How many songs have been written about the interstate system? How many songs have been written about the depth of character, soul, and time?
I hope you’ll join me on the Route 66 of life. It’s interesting, fulfilling, and loaded with revelatory experiences. Robert Frost would smile, knowing we can take the road less traveled by wherever we go.
