GRACE

While riding I came to the realization that when my breath is calm and I am comfortable I am more graceful. Grace is beauty. Grace feels good.

Grace is what I was daydreaming about when I crashed. My attention was returned when I realized I was going too slow to peddle over the rocks and roots in front of my tire. I was turning a corner at the same time as the obstacles presented themselves. I awoke from my daydream as my bicycle started to fall to the right. I attempted to unclip my shoes from my peddles as I have done thousands of times in the past.

My body and bike hit the ground before my feet came unclipped this time. The force of hitting the ground jolted my feet from my peddles. Once I was released from the peddles my body followed the path of a stream that was finding its way down the mountain. I think the friction of my skin scraping against the rock slowed me down and I was able to use another part of my body to put on the brakes before continuing further in the direction of the stream.

My arm hurt. I could feel a goose egg beginning to form near my elbow. The areas where my skin had been ripped from my body began to sting. I bent over to pick up my bike and access what happened.

It felt very similar to my last crash that hurt (the only crash that ever took me to the hospital). I wasn't paying attention. It wasn't that I was trying something difficult or pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I simply wasn't paying attention.

It caused me to reflect on all the talk these days about 'being present.' 'Be here now.' 'Live in the present.' 'Focus on the now.'

Yesterday my yoga teacher said, "what can you give right now?" "Not next week." "Not next year." "RIGHT NOW." "Wow," I thought. Here it is again. A reminder. I like reminders. I find it easy to get lost in my thoughts.

No time like the present to start focusing on being here now. Right now I would like to give my attention to grace. Seeking the calm breath that provides beauty in my movement through life.

Grace: n 1 ease of movement 2 acceptance 3 beauty

Mountain Biking as Meditation

I took a meditation workshop this weekend in which the teacher told us anything can be meditation. "It is about awareness," she said. "Witnessing ourselves is the practice," she reminded us.

I have often refered to knitting as meditation. I've tried to meditate sitting and I find myself quite antsy. Sometimes yoga class feels like meditation. The movement. The concentration. The breath.

Then I found myself on a long ride. Four hours, a lot of climbing, and obviously a lot of breathing. I didn't realize that I could reach a meditative state in mountain biking. But I did. It is why I love riding up hill. In order to continue going up I focus on breathing. I become more tired if my mind wanders. If I concentrate on breathing I am transported up the hill as my breath fuels my legs. In the moment all I have is my breath. But I do have more and it makes me happy.

The reward, although I will attempt to not become attached to the outcome, was joy. I felt so happy. Happy. I love mountain biking. I love being outside. I love that I have the ability to play. I want to share these experiences and this joy with others.

* Those Crazy Fixed Gear Folks *

My friend Rainier won his first Alley Cat Race. He races thru the city of San Francisco -- dodging vehicles, pedestrians and other bikes on a bike with no brakes. Cool, huh!!!! In case you haven't heard or have never been -- San Francisco has some steep freakin' hills. They are so steep that I often swear or let out a little scream when I'm driving a vehicle on them. Oh, I also forgot to mention -- his bike only has one gear. ~~~~~yikes, watch out for those cars!!!