Kudos to Paul Brown!

So if you want to be inspired look no further!

My friend, Paul Brown, had a terrible accident in early April. He was working at the Ordway on a bosun's chair about 35 feet in the air focusing theatrical lighting for the Minnesota Opera. He slid across the track as usual, which is how a lot of Opera sets are done since they have numerous platforms and such that make use of a Genie lift impossible, and when he got to the end of the track, instead of the stopper on the track stopping him, it allowed him to fall off the track and down 35 feet to the stage floor. Amazingly, his had and back were fine but he had shattered his heels in both feet. I have seen the xrays post surgery and it is like a teeny tiny jigsaw puzzle the way they put his heels back together. As of last week, Paul had 6 more weeks of healing to do before he could even bear weight on his heels! He is an amazing guy though, very philosophical and intelligent, and after I told him about Bikram Yoga and how much I loved it, AND with Patrice, the teacher in Woodbury, saying the studio could work within his capabilities, he decided to come to class.
Now Paul has been doing a lot of weight lifting with his arms since he has to propel himself everywhere in a wheelchair but he had not gotten much stretching in. He came to class this morning at 9:30am and Michael the studio owner was all ready for him! Michael has been teaching for ages and has such an easy way about himself. He said the basics, "Listen to the monologue" "don't push too hard, listen to your body", etc. He set up an armless chair behind a mat and gave Paul a lot of little hints throughout class. I was trying not to watch and just do my own practice but I have to say that Paul pushed himself harder than anyone I have ever seen in their first class. He tried every pose in one way or another, whether bending from the top or lifting his legs up to stretch. He gave 110% and after class said he really felt an emotional release as well as a physical one as he stretched. I can only imagine the amount of emotional issues he has coursing through his brain. Career threatening injury, long healing process, surgery, therapy, it seems like a long time to go before he can walk again. But I think his attending class and getting the energy that others emote and mixing his energy into it all, is one of the best things he can do. I hope he comes back! I know it felt like I had an energy boost after class today and I have been feeling a little dragged down lately. I guess I needed someone to look up to for a class!
Also got to see Michael's "daughter" so a beautiful Dandayamana–Dhanurasana. She has great balance and stretch and such a sweet personality! I chatted with her in the dressing room and would love to go to her studio in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada if I ever get up there!
I cannot overemphasize how much Bikram Yoga has changed my outlook on daily life and life in general. I used to take so much too seriously, like everything affected me and my life and now I feel so much more peaceful and know that I am in charge of my life and it is up to me to seek the peace which lies somewhere in the chaos. I hope that my friends notice it in me and find me easier to get along with too!

Namaste`