DIAMOND POSE VARIATIONOne reason I do yoga is so I don’t punch
somebody in the throat. When I was younger,
I would get so angry I would have nosebleeds.
Inconsiderate people, liars, people who are
self-absorbed—they’re the worst. I do yoga so
when I’m confronted with somebody like that I
can stop, count to ten, and say, “How may I help
you?” I’m still getting there, but it’s definitely
easier. I can let things roll now.
A few months ago I was at a party with my
husband. I was in heels and had my hair wrapped
up. We got into an elevator with some white peo-
ple, and this guy said to me, “What’s up, Aunt
Jemima?”
He was about twenty-five and drunk, and
after he said it, he realized what he’d done. He
said, “That was inappropriate, right? OK. What’s
up, sista?”
I could feel the walls of that elevator caving in on
me. It was one of the most humiliating experiences
I have ever been through. I kept waiting for my
husband to step up to the plate and handle it, but
he did not. I am over six feet tall in my heels and
could have easily taken the guy out, but I didn’t;
this was a work event for my husband. As soon as
the elevator doors opened, I ran out and started
crying. I tried to let things roll, but even with all
the yoga I’ve done, I couldn’t help my state of
mind right then.
That little racial incident really hurt. I have
tried to let it go, but it still lingers in the back
of my mind. You know what it is? That’s just not
how I live my life. My community is diverse and
politically correct. My husband is Jewish; we’ve
got three biracial kids. My brother is married to
his white partner. I don’t have things like that
happen to me, so when it did, I was shook. Even
when I talk about it now, it still shakes me.
Sometimes I wonder what that scene in the ele-
vator would have been like if I didn’t have yoga in
my life. I’m sure it would have been different. Who
knows? It could have been a lot worse.