Meet the Ashtangi: Chris Montgomery

About a week ago at the end of one of Sharon's full primary classes I announced that I had just put it together - "This week marked six months since I started practicing Ashtanga Yoga!" I have to admit I immediately felt a little foolish with my proclamation; realizing I was in the same room with people who have been working at their practice for years rather than months. "I am a babe in the woods, a deer in the headlights, what in the world am I going on about?", I thought.

So when Rusty asked me to write a little something about my six month journey (smile), I gladly accepted his invitation. I figured I could maybe add some substance to my beginner's exuberance. On the way home from class that evening I thought "What in the world have you agreed to Chris Montgomery? What are you going to write about? Do you really have anything new to share?"

In my real life (or maybe unreal - I haven't figured it out yet), I work with deaf and blind kids through the Texas School for the Blind. I travel to different schools around the state (sometimes other states too) and try to assist teachers and families with questions and issues they may be having, as we learn how to work with these very unique and wonderful kids. I find that the most pressing need for my students is learning to communicate - to have a conversation.

During a recent trip to Ohio for the Thanksgiving holiday I took a side trip to visit a boy named Ray at the Indiana School for the Blind. His teacher had contacted me and had a lot of questions. I thought that since I would be close I'd drop by, try to offer some suggestions, and meet the little guy. Ray and I immediately hit it off and even though he doesn't talk and is just learning sign language we had an amazing amount to say to each other.

At some point during the day we had been playing on some drums in the music room. I suddenly realized there were a bunch of Ray's teachers around us watching. We were having such a good time beating these huge drums, playing, and causing trouble in general, that we had lost all sense of time and had tuned the rest of the world out. Ray's teachers were amazed; they had never seen him communicate so clearly or be so interactive before…. As the day went on and the teachers and I talked, it became clear that they hadn't taken the time to slow everything down and focus on the simple act of having a conversation with him.

OK, I hear you - what in the world does any of this have to do with yoga? Well, I can tell that I'm just starting to scratch the surface of understanding any of this (the beginner thing again). But, I am realizing that this slowing down and taking time thing is something I am becoming much more aware of throughout my daily life. And it seems to be a direct result of my daily yoga practice….. Crazy, I know!

I started yoga as an exercise program, and it really has been an incredible vehicle for getting my body into better physical shape. This other part - the more focused mind, inner calm, and kindness to myself and others stuff - I hadn't bargained for.

I feel very lucky that I have found Sharon as a teacher, too. As I am more able to focus on my breathing and bandhas, and the deeper I can get into postures, the more the things she says and reads in class resonate with me. It was a conversation with a one of my students - a kid that at first glance people might not realize has too much to say. Through this wonderful thing called Ashtanga Yoga I am learning to slow it down, see the beauty, and discover the hidden conversations that I may have been missing before.