I can close my eyes and step back into Om. The rush of bodies before class and the calm stroll of those leaving class; the pride I felt to have a cubby bc it meant I had committed to this life changing practice, the sound of Brian padding around the room like a big lion cracking jokes, Frank’s endless patience with a beginner and SO many others who gave me nuggets of wisdom and mentioned words like “fascia” way before they were in every magazine. It changed my life. I still grieve its passing and probably the life changes that followed. I have never found a yoga home like it since. You were always like glimpsing a meteor and when I was able to make a talk or go to a class you were teaching, the words would linger and pop back at the time I most needed them. The physical items may be lost but the souls touched by your wonderful creation will always carry that message and meaning forward. That child lives on. Thank you!!
I’ve been introduced to your work by my wonderful yoga teacher/trainer Ian Davis. I’ve read all of your newsletters Cindy, always inspirational, relative and full of observant humility…… thank you for all your contributions.
I treasure your books and the time I spent learning from you, 20 years ago in San Francisco. You allowed me to believe anything is possible and that proved to be true. Thanks as always for teaching through sharing, it had guided me from most of my adult life and I am so grateful.
A very poignant reminder we are not our stuff. I'm in the process of completely purging my small abode. Breaking up with things I no longer need. It's amazing, though, the struggle with some of them. But I love the feeling of letting go and being free of those attachments. Sometimes the letting go is relationships that no longer serve either of us, or activities I once so passionately loved. But I trust this shedding is making room for something new and remarkable.
I know what you mean. The letting go is not about the object but what it represents for you - a period of joy or success or something like that which you still want to feel inside yourself.
Thank you Cyndi for sharing this beautiful gift of yourself with all of us-
I wish I had experienced the joy of being a student in one of your Om classes in NY, however I can feel the magic expressed by those who were there with you. What a positive difference you have made in the lives of so many, and CONTINUE to make for everyone you touch.
I am, as always, so inspired by your words, THANK YOU again for your wisdom & for opening your heart, bless you!
Kelly, thank you so much for your kind words. I wish you could have been at OM, too, but it is wonderful that we are together now and meditating together! xo
I'm an avid reader of Drip, drip, drip and always enjoy your letters. And I always find something to think about.
Especially today when all the memories of your Dad and my time with your family came back to me. And I liked the photo of 3546 - 43rd W. The house looks well kept now. It was a little dreary when my sister's family and I went to look at it about twenty years ago ...
I learned Yoga from you and I'm still doing it once a week. I enjoy it a lot and I'm grateful to you! I also enjoy our Shibashi classes.
If you have time to drop me a line - I'd love to hear from you.
I love these reflections, Cyndi! The last time I visited Strand (a few weeks ago) I found your books in the meditation section. It felt so special to find them that day, even more so now reading this; I had no idea OM’s roots were so close by, so reading this piece adds to the depth of that experience. I feel particularly resonant with what you wrote about not being diminished — “it all lives on in me” Thank you for sharing your stories!
Thank you for sharing this Cyndi! I feel so grateful to have my blankets, blocks, and a strap, I connect with Om when I use them. I also remember that desk and can see it now! There was really no place like it! It was my home from 2006 when I landed in NYC until you closed. Always sending you ❤️
“ My life has not been diminished by it.” The truth in every way, shape, and form. Understanding (as much as we can) impermanence is the greatest gift. We can grieve, be wistful, and remember all the things, but we go on with hearts full of love and compassion and empathy. This essay is a masterpiece and resonates with me as it will with others. A million billion thank yous to you from me.
This one really resonated for me as I am in the process of losing my mom day by day and also losing my home at the end of it and trying to figure out what that says about me and will I be alone with nothing at the end of this. And you have just shown me, quite literally, that all the stuff is just stuff and that my mom will live on in me. Thank you for offering me a bit of peace in knowing that in a time of such utter chaos in my life. 😍
Dear Cyndi You are a steel magnolia (street)! That grandest era of NYC yoga lives on inside all of us who were there, “the Initiates” (there’s a series title;) of the great western teachers, from the early venues to Union Square (OM on one side and Jivamukti on the other). This was helpful for me to read today. So many changes at once. Sorry for the loss of your father and friend. 🙏
Hi Cyndi! Long LONG time but I had to reach out and tell you that this piece landed squarely in my heart. And also my stomach. Beautifully told, deeply impactful for me. Thank you.
Cyndi, I love this email/blog/story about memories, especially the OM ones and of course, the ones about your life and that desk. Just yesterday, I wanted to hear your teaching again on action versus position and so Google sent me to a YouTube clip and there were you and the desk and of course, that valuable teaching. It made me realize I needed to go down that rabbit hall more often, watching some of your teachings there. I hope you’re well and I think of you so often. Sending love.💕
I can close my eyes and step back into Om. The rush of bodies before class and the calm stroll of those leaving class; the pride I felt to have a cubby bc it meant I had committed to this life changing practice, the sound of Brian padding around the room like a big lion cracking jokes, Frank’s endless patience with a beginner and SO many others who gave me nuggets of wisdom and mentioned words like “fascia” way before they were in every magazine. It changed my life. I still grieve its passing and probably the life changes that followed. I have never found a yoga home like it since. You were always like glimpsing a meteor and when I was able to make a talk or go to a class you were teaching, the words would linger and pop back at the time I most needed them. The physical items may be lost but the souls touched by your wonderful creation will always carry that message and meaning forward. That child lives on. Thank you!!
Holly, thank you so much for sharing these memories. It is wonderful to know that OM and sll it meant lives on in you, too.💙
I’ve been introduced to your work by my wonderful yoga teacher/trainer Ian Davis. I’ve read all of your newsletters Cindy, always inspirational, relative and full of observant humility…… thank you for all your contributions.
It’s nice to meet you! Ian is wonderful! How lucky you are to have him as your teacher. Thanks for reading!
I treasure your books and the time I spent learning from you, 20 years ago in San Francisco. You allowed me to believe anything is possible and that proved to be true. Thanks as always for teaching through sharing, it had guided me from most of my adult life and I am so grateful.
Nicole, thank you so much for these kind words. It really means a lot.
A very poignant reminder we are not our stuff. I'm in the process of completely purging my small abode. Breaking up with things I no longer need. It's amazing, though, the struggle with some of them. But I love the feeling of letting go and being free of those attachments. Sometimes the letting go is relationships that no longer serve either of us, or activities I once so passionately loved. But I trust this shedding is making room for something new and remarkable.
I know what you mean. The letting go is not about the object but what it represents for you - a period of joy or success or something like that which you still want to feel inside yourself.
Thank you Cyndi for sharing this beautiful gift of yourself with all of us-
I wish I had experienced the joy of being a student in one of your Om classes in NY, however I can feel the magic expressed by those who were there with you. What a positive difference you have made in the lives of so many, and CONTINUE to make for everyone you touch.
I am, as always, so inspired by your words, THANK YOU again for your wisdom & for opening your heart, bless you!
Kelly
Kelly, thank you so much for your kind words. I wish you could have been at OM, too, but it is wonderful that we are together now and meditating together! xo
Cyndi:
I'm an avid reader of Drip, drip, drip and always enjoy your letters. And I always find something to think about.
Especially today when all the memories of your Dad and my time with your family came back to me. And I liked the photo of 3546 - 43rd W. The house looks well kept now. It was a little dreary when my sister's family and I went to look at it about twenty years ago ...
I learned Yoga from you and I'm still doing it once a week. I enjoy it a lot and I'm grateful to you! I also enjoy our Shibashi classes.
If you have time to drop me a line - I'd love to hear from you.
Take care,
Sabine
Sabine, I have sent you a message through Substack because I do not have your email. Please check your substack private messages.
Yes, this was your home, too, for a year. I'm thrilled to hear from you. Sending you a message now.
Thank you so much for this personal sharing, a universal blessing.
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break." -- Shakespeare, from “Macbeth"
Thank you, Melanie, for sharing this perfect quote.
I love these reflections, Cyndi! The last time I visited Strand (a few weeks ago) I found your books in the meditation section. It felt so special to find them that day, even more so now reading this; I had no idea OM’s roots were so close by, so reading this piece adds to the depth of that experience. I feel particularly resonant with what you wrote about not being diminished — “it all lives on in me” Thank you for sharing your stories!
Thank you, Kelly. Nice to know my books are on book store shelves!🩷
Thank you for sharing this Cyndi! I feel so grateful to have my blankets, blocks, and a strap, I connect with Om when I use them. I also remember that desk and can see it now! There was really no place like it! It was my home from 2006 when I landed in NYC until you closed. Always sending you ❤️
Back atcha ❤️
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
“ My life has not been diminished by it.” The truth in every way, shape, and form. Understanding (as much as we can) impermanence is the greatest gift. We can grieve, be wistful, and remember all the things, but we go on with hearts full of love and compassion and empathy. This essay is a masterpiece and resonates with me as it will with others. A million billion thank yous to you from me.
All you have written is true. 🩷
This one really resonated for me as I am in the process of losing my mom day by day and also losing my home at the end of it and trying to figure out what that says about me and will I be alone with nothing at the end of this. And you have just shown me, quite literally, that all the stuff is just stuff and that my mom will live on in me. Thank you for offering me a bit of peace in knowing that in a time of such utter chaos in my life. 😍
Sending so much love to you and to Gramma Jean.❤️❤️❤️
She will love hearing from you. XO
Dear Cyndi You are a steel magnolia (street)! That grandest era of NYC yoga lives on inside all of us who were there, “the Initiates” (there’s a series title;) of the great western teachers, from the early venues to Union Square (OM on one side and Jivamukti on the other). This was helpful for me to read today. So many changes at once. Sorry for the loss of your father and friend. 🙏
Thank you so much for this. Love “the initiates..” It was, indeed, a grand era. 🩷
💚💚💚
Hi Cyndi! Long LONG time but I had to reach out and tell you that this piece landed squarely in my heart. And also my stomach. Beautifully told, deeply impactful for me. Thank you.
Stacey! What a joy it is to hear from you! Hope you are very well. Those were the good ole days, huh? Glad this piece struck a chord for you.
Thank you for the beautiful haiku.
You are welcome!
Cyndi, I love this email/blog/story about memories, especially the OM ones and of course, the ones about your life and that desk. Just yesterday, I wanted to hear your teaching again on action versus position and so Google sent me to a YouTube clip and there were you and the desk and of course, that valuable teaching. It made me realize I needed to go down that rabbit hall more often, watching some of your teachings there. I hope you’re well and I think of you so often. Sending love.💕