The Tranquil Vintessa

As I entered the classroom, I was a nervous wreck. I prefer to practice in the comfort of my home, but I thought maybe getting some outside help wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, right? I quickly found my spot near the back of the classroom and heard a group of women laughing as they walked in. My anxiety flared: “Do they know I’m new? Maybe this was a mistake!” I thought to myself. “No, no one is thinking about you,” I reminded myself as I took a long, soothing breath. This is exactly the way I do meditation. My mind races with thoughts and emotions, and sometimes I just need to chill out.

Once I collected myself, I looked around the room to take it all in. It was small but well-lit, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a busy street. While outside was busy, you wouldn’t be able to tell once you entered the space. The calming ambient music filled the room, and there was a light fragrance to it. Eucalyptus? Lavender? Patchouli, even? Who knows? Unfortunately, this was a cell phone-free area, so I wasn’t able to sneak any photos, but it was nice not being attached to the world for a moment—a nice little oasis.

The instructor entered, greeted the class, and sat in the front. This was a beginner’s guided meditation class. We would be doing basic meditation practices along with some breathwork. I’ve done meditation on my own before with YouTube videos, but I wanted an immersive experience. As we meditated, I began to relax and see how much tension was being held in my body. With every breath, I began to relax, and my thoughts slowed. I felt my mind almost melt; it was a different experience than what I had done in my own practices. While I felt at ease in those practices, this immersive experience turned my mind off and my soul on.

As the practice ended, we were welcomed to do some light stretching to reawaken our bodies and reconnect to our physical form. One of the biggest mindfulness lessons I learned was: Mindfulness is the practice of acknowledging your thoughts and letting them pass through you instead of staying with you. With that in mind, I finished my stretches and set back out into the bustling city. Amongst the busy city streets, I embraced a newfound tranquility. The class was transformative, not only for its practice but for the reminder that serenity exists amidst the hustle, and I am capable of embodying peace amongst the storm.