the long time sun

At the end of my first week on Haida Gwaii, I dropped into the Sun Yoga Studio in Queen Charlotte to try my first ever Kundalini yoga class. It was a juxtaposition to say the least.

It was March, darkness fell at 5 and everything was closed by 6. You could easily feel lonely if you let the sinking fog, heavy rain and silence get the best of you. When the sun met the horizon, if you didn’t know better, you would think the town was empty or abandoned. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Between chanting the mantra Satnam and pranayama exercises, in a room filled with strangers, I felt so connected. Awakened. I belt out the words of the Long Time Sun next to a grown man who looked equally kissed in bliss.  With walls bright yellow, mats lime green and the aroma of steeping lemon tea. This little studio warmed our hearts.

There were moments when I tried not to catch the eye of the lady to the my left, in fear of breaking into uncontrollable, contagious laughter as we walked on our elbows and knees. Thankfully it passed.

It was one of the first of many moments I’ve had here, where I was completely aware and glad to be exactly where I was.

I walked out feeling radiant, into the darkness of the north. High on the energy from the room at the edge of the world.