Yoga studios, each and every one, seem to have little protocols that they observe whether it’s hand towels, (or lack thereof), waters, where to place your mat, etc. Nearly every studio I’ve practiced at had a little thing that I wasn’t necessarily keen on observing, but it’s not my house, so I *try* to play by their rules. In this case, it’s mat placement.
A week ago now, I walked in to class, and as per my instructor’s urging, did not set up in the front row, which is my favorite space. I thought I’d give it a whirl to practice close to someone, and see if it truly sucked, or if I was being a complainer. Now, in the past, I’ve definitely hit folks while swinging my arms under for eagle pose (Garudasana), or touched hands with my neighbor in locust (Salabhasana), even accidentally kicked someone in the head in a particularly crowded class. Today, the person next to me placed their blocks, and water bottle at the back of their mat, which I did notice, and thought, “Hmm, what an unusual placement, I’d better be careful”. But since I don’t have eyes in the back of my head, when they moved them around, I couldn’t have possibly noticed.
I was doing so well that day, killing it in plank, warrior I, and rocking the vinyasas at a great pace until it happened: neighbor decided to stop, take water, and placed the glass further away from their mat, and closer to mine. In taking the left side warrior I, I need to come around from the side, (my big boobs don’t allow me…yet…to swing my leg between my arms), and I heard a little “crack”. Instant pain. “Oh, shit!” I thought, “I’ve broken my toe! This hurt, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, and during teacher training! OK, well, I’ll finish the class and see what happens”.
What happened it that my left, second toe turned black, and blue, and I went to the doctor the next day. She called after the visit, and x-ray, to inform me that not only was it broken, but displaced, which meant I’m supposed to stay off of it, wear a delightfully savvy medical-looking boot, and no yoga for four to six weeks. Not exactly what I wanted to hear.