Last Thursday I spent my afternoon in a Starbucks Coffee Shop. Starbucks always looks appealing for scholarly work and has a nice atmosphere for group projects. Sometimes Starbucks plays loud and interruptive music but for the most part it has an appealing ambiance.
Sitting in Starbucks last Thursday was rare because I have never been a fan of coffee due to the strong smell and taste. Coffee breath, stained teeth, dehydration, rapid bowl movements and acidic stomach pains describe my experiences. I enjoy some teas but for the most part I avoid caffeinated hot drinks. GT's Kombucha is my beverage of choice and I prefer to sit at New Leaf Market to do my work because it does not smell like coffee.
Right after my group project at Starbucks I headed out on my bicycle and road to Prana Power Yoga for an advanced vinyasa class. I was really excited for class but as soon as I went in the studio all I could smell was the coffee scent on my shirt. The smell was overpowering and it kept interrupting my practice. Too much chita vriti (a previous blog)! Not to mention this was the day that my instructor wanted to give me extra adjustments. As a product of American culture, I am always aware of my scent. I do not wear obnoxious perfumes but I try not to have any profound odors. The coffee was blowing my mind and I was so concerned with my teacher's reaction to the smell that I could barely practice the asanas.
My practice was completely disrupted by the pungent smell of coffee. My lesson was to avoid coffee shops in general. I have such a strong resistance to them that I just need to choose different locations to study.
Please enjoy your Yoga practice and your beverage of choice.
namaste yoga lovers,
Whitney Schnarr
