Of Yoga and Leaf-Blowers

Of yoga and leaf-blowers: 

several days a week my quiet life is interrupted by leaf-blowers and lawnmowers, incessant sounds that seem to last the entire length of day, quickly becoming an underlying soundtrack of great annoyance. It's a minor thing to be annoyed with really, in no way impacting the overall quality of my life, just a noise that irritates me as I first settle into my afternoon meditation and my yoga practice. However, recent studies have shown that there sound is damaging to our health, not a minor annoyance but an actual hazard. Research reveals that exposure to these sounds increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, lead to hearing loss, and a host of other health related issues. As well, these gas-powered tools are an environmental problem, spewing fumes into the air and adding stress to local wildlife, disrupting the habitat of critical pollinating species. So this isn't just my issue of yoga and leaf-blowers. 

there's a greater concern here. 

what this all points to is our need to approach life differently, calling for a deeper understanding of our impact upon the world. Cosmetic reasons of a manicured landscape can no longer be a priority, there are other issues at play and our actions should be examined for the impact that they cause. There reality is that we're interrelated to the land, health dependent to its well-being. Everything we do has a consequence of short order results as well as long-term impact. 

we are inter-twined with the land. 

that's my real issue, not just of yoga and leaf-blowers, it's not about my low level annoyance. We are damaging the world with our unexamined habits. Small things that simply aren't considered. But they should be. We're wiser now, educated as to our position and responsibility to the world. 

we're stewards of a promise.

whatever possibilities the future holds.

so yes,this truly is about yoga and leaf-blowers, it's a revelation of how we're entwined with others, with the landscape and even the smallest creatures. Our most subtle acts have an impact wider and far deeper than we may now know. We're asked simply, only, to live an examined life of wiser choices. We're asked to be kind. Yoga is really about our ability to respond. 

leaf--blowers are my reminder. 

~

Peace, Eric