A Chopra in a Yoga Class

Are you intimidated by doing yoga. I am!nnI realized today that it has been over 3 years since I took a yoga class. I blogged about my last yoga class on October 4, 2005! The original blog is below...nnUndoubtedly, yoga is good for us on so many levels. But the performance anxiety gets me all stressed out.nnSo, my intent is to start yoga again. Wish me luck - I need it.nnThat Chopra Smile - October 4, 2004nnToday, I was a Chopra in a yoga class... And the first thing I did was lie.nnLast Christmas, Gotham gave me a gift certificate for yoga classes. The certificate was valid for 6 months, and I had not redeemed it. When the guy looked at the certificate, luckily, there was no date on it -- so, I lied. I told him, with a sweet smile, that I received it for my birthday in July. Not a moment of Chopra guilt.nnAs he was putting my info in the system, he furrowed his brows and I knew the question was coming. "Any relation to Deepak?" I nodded. "Yes, he's my father." He replied, "Cool. We have his books here." I looked up, and my fathers face was smiling at me from above the counter.nn"Deepak Chopra is your father!!" A woman waiting in line next to me, squealed with delight. "Oh, my God! I love him. Can I touch you? I have never met anyone famous before." The rest of the people in line peered at me.nnI smiled awkwardly. "I'm not famous," I said. "People know my father..." The woman was right in my face now. "My name is Sarah. I loved his book - 7 Practical Laws of Love." Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, I replied.nnSarah put her mat next to mine. She started telling me about how the Law of Least Resistance had changed her life... The yoga instructor walked in, "I just heard you are Deepak's daughter," she annouced to the room. "Now, I feel all this pressure!" The other people turned, looking at each other, nodding knowingly.nnAnd, then it all went totally downhill. I completely unraveled. It was the moment of truth and the whole room witnessed it.nnI kept slipping during Downward Dog Pose. I couldnt balance during Tree Pose. Forget about even attempting, Sirsasana, the Headstand Pose. Every time I turned to the left, Sarah was ogling me, but also a bit confounded about what I was doing. I felt totally inadequate. I just could not perform.nnPeople pretended not to see my awkwardness. Sarah actually stopped looking over. The teacher seemed to have slowed down a bit, embarrassed. Finally, it was Mrtsana, the Corpse Pose, and, thank god, it was over!nnI rushed out. I did not glance at Sarah -- well, to be honest, she was not even looking at me any more. I did not want to face the teacher. I felt like everyone in the room had discovered my most intimate secret.nnBut as I ran out, the man at the register stopped me. "Hey, Ms. Chopra, could you do us a favor and sign these books?" There was a pile of my dads books on the counter. People started drifting out of the room.nnI panicked for a moment. Sarah was looking over my shoulder now. "Oh, wow. I didn't know Deepak had written a book on yoga." She actually sounded perplexed.nnI took a deep breath. I dropped my head in shame. I took another breath. And, then, something miraculous happened. With that breath, somehow, I had re-connected. Another breath. Connection. I was a Chopra. Another breath. Admit it, I suck at yoga. Another breath. That is ok.nnI smiled at the man at the register. "Sorry, I really can't sign those books. They are my father's, not mine." Another breath. I started to walk out.nnRemember who you are... A thought.nn"But, you know what," I turned back in. "I could sign my book, if you carried it..."nnSarah looked up, and the look was coming back into her eyes. The look of hope, the look that there was still something to believe in.nnI stood tall, put my hands together in Namaste, and smiled that Chopra smile at her with all of its glory!nn nnRead more from Mallika and other Intent Voice bloggers in Intent's exclusive series "30 Days to a Greener You!"nn