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The Tunnel

We've all heard the phrase "a light at the end of the tunnel", but how many of us have actually experienced it?


Last summer, that old cliché was literally brought to life for me. My husband and I took a few days off for a visit to West Virginia. During our time there, we took a bike ride on the North Bend Rail Trail, which contains several old rail tunnels. One of the tunnels was much longer than the others and had a slight curve at the end. After we rode into that tunnel, we were engulfed in complete darkness. We were riding blind. I could feel the pedals under my feet and the bike seat, but the bike tires no longer seemed to be on the ground; it was like I was flying through space. Hurtling forward into the darkness, my chest tightened and my heart began to race. Not knowing what was coming was frightening and the sensation of floating through space was unnerving.


At that point, I had a choice: I could panic and stop riding (and have a much longer walk through the darkness) or I could just keep going. I took a few deep breaths and told myself to keep pedaling and moving forward. When I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, a wave of relief washed over me. Suddenly, I was grounded again, I could feel the tires on the pavement and my body relaxed. I was proud of myself for keeping it together and for keeping going. When I saw that light at the end of the tunnel, I knew things would be okay.


It's been a little over a year since we stopped offering indoor classes at Explorer Yoga. I fully expected to keep my indoor space closed for an extended period of time because of the pandemic. As an RN with years of experience in public health, It was the only logical choice for me. I was not willing to put the health of my patients or my students at risk. Thankfully, we now have safe, effective vaccines for COVID. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel! As more folks choose to be vaccinated, that light gets closer. However, we are not out of the tunnel just yet. That is why I am choosing to keep the studio space closed for now. Instead of indoor classes, we will enjoy the miracle that is Spring and begin regularly scheduled classes at our outdoor location adjacent to Maple Grove Prairie and the Paint Creek Recreational Trail. We hope that you can join us for practice!

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