Palm Springs

Sometimes I forget what yoga does for me. It becomes a chore to drag the mat out. I think, “Oh, I’ll do some yoga later. Or tomorrow. Or next Saturday.” I have to force yoga upon myself, like a child eating her spinach, and then I spend the first few downward-facing dogs cursing the whole world.

You know where this story is going, right? By the end of yoga class, I’m humming “Kumbayah,” waving my peace flag and shining with sparkly love, gratitude and light like a big granola star. I swear I can even feel my cells dancing.

And that happens every single time I try to talk myself out of yoga. You’d think I would learn.

It’s the same thing that happened to me at the ashram in India. I was doing four hours of yoga a day, not drinking any alcohol, getting loads of sleep, meditating, eating a sattvic diet. I felt beyond fabulous. Then as soon as I was off ashram grounds, I had a bottle of cheap Indian wine in one hand, a bag of potato chips in the other and 10 clove cigarettes in my mouth. At the same time. And then I was all, “Why do I feel like crap? That ashram didn’t do anything for me.”

I actively buck and scream and fight the things that make me feel good. It’s tiresome and pointless.

Well, today I think I finally learned. I forced myself out of bed — away from stacks of fluffy pillows, a hunky husband and a freshly brewed pot of coffee — and headed to Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs.

Every Saturday there’s free yoga in the wellness park, a lovely gift from Power Yoga Palm Springs.

During the sweltering summer months classes begin at 8 a.m. Next week, (that’s Oct. 1, if you’re keeping track), yoga in the park will resume at its normal 10 a.m. time.

Founder Janet Vance says on her website that the class is “inspired by nature, a love of yoga and dream to make yoga accessible to all by removing barriers such as price, props and intimidating settings.” That means no mirrors, no chanting, no billowing clouds of incense. Just sweet birds, powerful trees and a desert sky hung so high and proud, you can’t help but feel invigorated.

It feels less like a workout class and more like a bunch of good friends getting together for a 90-minute shot of serotonin.

Here’s a photo I stole borrowed from Janet’s site.

Today’s class was like a complete reboot for my system. I left there as giddy as a toddler with cotton candy toys.

And it only took one teensy, positive step forward to make me feel the way I should all the time.