Growth – to arise as a natural development from an original happening, circumstance or source.

Purely from a standpoint of curiosity, I enrolled for an aerial yoga class. In the true spirit of yoga, I entered the room without expectation, and I exited the room with a new passion. But isn’t that the way we usually experience real growth – as a child, with genuine openness.

The room was flooded with bright natural light. Imagine buds of colorful flowers floating in a spring garden in the clouds. The buds were gentle, sensitive, flowing, unfolding pedals…soft to touch and to the eye.

At first, I sat inside the bud, bringing back countless memories of parks and playgrounds and my love for swings (also of my dad, his tender touch, pushing me to laughter in the air) – tearful emotions arose.

I absorbed deeper into the bud in Buddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose), the fabric melting around my entire being, floating without effort. I am surrounded by the color, comfort and confident in the strength of the silk, enclosed, not seeking the outside world. With simple movements, gentle swinging, changing into Dandasana (Staff Pose), folded in a series of buttery, warm folds.

With growth, comes new perspectives and new freedom. I move into Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand), seeing the world, bottom up, in total peace and ease. The bud, like wings, is wrapped around me. I am suspended in both space and time, jealous of the life of a bat. This brings an awakening for the spine and bones – a lightness throughout the entire body.

Finally, Savasana, I am a cocoon, ready for the metamorphosis, caterpillar to butterfly. Relaxing in a cloud of color, without movement, barely breathing, I am transformed through openness, experience, growth.

Seeing myself in the mirror, the afterglow, smiling from a new place, like I was 7 years old again, yet joyous to be 57 years old, and still able to capture that brilliant light.

Thank you, Neila Starr of Launch Awareness Yoga Centre, Kennesaw, Georgia; you are a true teacher. Thank you, Jason, my husband, who is figuring out the structure and placement for my new aerial yoga equipment in our home. He is always making my dreams come true. St. John, soon come, I am looking at Aerial Yoga Teacher Training in Portland in September and will share this amazing passion with our island.