Feelin’Groovy

Plane tree line road in South West France

Rocking down the Covid flu bare country roads, heading for a lovely job in the countryside on a rainy Tuesday morning.   My mind meandering with my wandering thoughts were brought up short by a heavy goods vehicle manned by an unconfident driver making his way uncertainly along the plane tree lined winding country road.

Disconcerted by having my meanderings interrupted my first reaction was impatience at having my momentum disturbed and my thoughts interrupted. So, I sat grumbling behind the truck and silently berated the poor nervous driver for not letting me pass. Until, suddenly, I laughed.  “What on earth am I doing?” All I have to do is to slow down, take my time and enjoy the countryside. Did I mention it’s pretty fabulous around here.

Slowing down to soak in the lush green vegetation dripping its fat spring juices on the verdant grasses, wild poppies and orchids flourishing beneath. Round each bend a moody sky hanging over another vista of unfolding valleys fading into the distant horizon. This journey is a daily gift.

What I’ve observed about myself in the past, especially driving, is that it’s not the other persons lack of speed or poor driving that bothers me but that I have to bring my attention to driving rather than following the vagaries of my galloping mind.

Spring Morning around Durfort Lacapelette

 Sharing space with others, adapting to their pace, requires my presence, rather than unconsciously running along with anything passing through my head and travelling from A to B with zero recall of the journey in between.

This is Rajas in the Vedic tradition. The overactive member of the three states of mind, Tamas is the dull one and Sattva, the grand master of clarity and harmony. Rajas is synonymous with pain, this excessive movement creates a kind of mental friction that generates heat and stirs up trouble in the form of hot emotions, desire, restlessness, frustration, impatience, anger, jealousy, stress, confusion and fear among others. We are not in possession of ourselves, we are the minds plaything rather than it being our wonderful and useful life tool. The tail is wagging the dog

So, here I am now on my countryside days, slowing down, enjoying the fantastic views, the plump generosity of the lush Spring growth and what pops into my head is Simon and Garfunkel’s

Vibrant Spring Orchid

“Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy”

This returns me to my Uncle Rory’s beautiful voice accompanying carefree teenage car journeys to relaxed, fun days on the beach.

And that’s the thing, slowing down, just soothes the body and mind and lets enjoy the moment. It just leaves me feelin’ groovy.

Ann Johnston is a Yoga teacher in the Viniyoga tradition trained by the wonderful Sadhana Mala, UK. I have had great the influences of Hanne Gillespie, Peter Hersnack and Navtej Johar among others.

Ayurvedic Practitioner and Trainer. I have studied with Atreya Smith, Dr. Sunil Joshi, The School of Ayurveda, Kannur, Jaleel Gurukkal at PKM Ayurvedic Hospital and Kerala Ayurveda Academy. I have been teaching, writing, giving treatments, workshops and courses since 2003.