Labyrinth

Blog Posting: Roger Fallecker

I had the opportunity recently to do a walking meditation in a labyrinth. Samantha Shields constructed a concentric, four quadrant labyrinth in her Back to the Beginning Studio, in Chicora, PA.

I've never been fascinated by labyrinths, and although I'm open-minded, especially when it comes to yoga, I wasn't expecting much.  Still, I opened my heart and my mind and proceeded into the labyrinth.  I walked slowly, paying attention to the feel of my bare feet on the floor, and I held my hands in "chalice mudra"...just in case the labyrinth had something to offer.

To my surprise, I began to feel centered and grounded.  I let go and allowed the labyrinth to take over.  Thoughts passed through me, but soon, my mind came to rest on an issue I have been struggling with lately.  I am passionate about yoga, and want very much to share it with anyone who is receptive.  I came to believe that the best way to share yoga on the scale I'm interested in meant becoming involved in a yoga studio.  One of my instructors (Shauna McChesney) and I came to a meeting of minds and began to develop what is Mind-Body Yoga, in Butler, PA.

I knew this would require a great deal of time and energy (and money) from both Shauna and me.  What I didn't understand at the time was how much developing a yoga "business" would distract me from my private practice, and from what I love about yoga that led me to want to share it in the first place.

I have for years, and still do, believe that commerce has no conscience.  So, to me, a yoga "business" exists in conflict with yoga as a pure endeavor.  Still, operating a studio seems to be the best way to share yoga with a large number of people who otherwise might never be exposed to yoga.  And, a business of any kind can't exist if you don't at least meet expenses.  Until I walked that labyrinth, I didn't understand how deeply troubled I was by this conundrum. It lay churning in my consciousness deeply enough that I simply didn't understand it, and yet I was still struggling with it on a level that gave me no opportunity to resolve it.

The labyrinth walking meditation helped me to understand my feelings on this issue, and in the 90 minutes it took to do the meditation, I came to some conclusions:

1.  Being a partner in a studio doesn't change how I feel about yoga.  The passion, the fire in my belly, is still there, undiminished.

2.  I'm less a businessman, and more a yogi, but I can compartmentalize the two when I want, and blend them when I need to without compromising my yogic values (yamas and niyamas).

3.  I'm fortunate to have a yoga business partner with whom I share the burdens of the business as well the love of yoga.

So, if you get the opportunity, walk a labyrinth...and come see us at Mind-Body Yoga!