A Yoga Experience

I am alone in a solemn introspective mood,
desiring to feel the capabilities and limits
of my body and of my mind.
I begin by playing music appropriate for the time,
music of the deep emotional kind.
I begin with slow seated stretches,
to warm the body and slowly unwind.
First forward bend, one side then the other,
feeling my limits, relaxing my mind.
Taking the breath in, expelling the breath out,
the mind calms, the body relaxes.
I deepen into the stretch, I deepen into my mind.
As the music ascends, I stand .
Saluting the Sun, with forward bend,
downward facing dog, into lunge,
plank pose, up dog then back again.
I follow with warrior one, triangle, half moon,
side angle, forward bend and then soon,
the mind becomes the body,
the body becomes the mind.
With the mind reaching out, 
the mind reaches within.
The oneness becomes emptiness,
no beginning, no end.
This is the yoga exercise, I begin. 

Larry Mixson June, 11, 2000