Outdoor yoga and being strong!

Last night I went to the free yoga class hosted by the Esplanade Association. I liked this class a lot better than the first free yoga class I went to. The instructor Victoria Garcia Drago did what I think she called music flow yoga. It is a vinyasa yoga that moves slowly along with music. She was right…she moves slowly, and this made your body REALLY feel the moves! You were forced to engage your muscles and really work at it. I loved how she also got all the poses that my body was craving…pigeon, happy baby, windshield wipers, and a few others.  And, seriously, who wouldn’t want to do yoga with this view?!

I felt so relaxed after the class…until I arrived at the T to go home.  I was rushing to get to the stairs because I heard the train was coming and some man walking his bicycle who looked a little shabby and not put together said, “NICE ASS!” I turned around and got really angry and spouted some of my own thoughts at him. This was not a smart move on my part because it just encouraged him to say “YAH that’s a SEXY ass!” I just wanted to get home. I hate when men disrespect women, especially where I was not wearing anything provocative. I was wearing almost full length yoga pants and a t-shirt!

After I got home and had some time to cool off, I was disappointed in myself for talking back to this man. The best thing to do is to act as though it doesn’t bother you, keep on going and not let the other person have the satisfaction of knowing they bothered you. Dave also pointed out to me that it is dangerous speaking back to someone who might be a little out there. These people could get angry and try to hurt me. I know Dave is right, but at that moment, I just wanted to let that man know I didn’t want to hear it. Luckily, I stood up for myself in front of maybe 30 or more people rushing to get to the train too so if the man did try to hurt me someone hopefully would have helped! Regardless, this is no excuse, and I’m going to behave next time!

I think I get worked up when either racist or sexist comments are said to me. One of the worst things is when drunken people mock me by making up Asian words to me or can you believe that one time as I was waiting for the train a teenager said, “I think the train to China is on the other side of the tracks.” I just want to record them on my phone and show them later how dumb they sound!

I’m a strong, independent woman and like to show that and will continue to do so but in the right situations; showing your strong doesn’t always mean you have to speak your strong. Such an important thing to remember!

Have you ever spoken when you knew you probably should have kept quiet?

If you are a woman, how do you keep your cool when someone disrespects you?