Cultural Performance

Four am my alarm sounds. A typical Tuesday begins. The soft covers leave my body as the warm air is replaced. As I gather my clothing, I shuffle upstairs to pack my bag. Slowly, I put my suit on and proceed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.Toast, yogurt and juice is nutritious and savory for four o'clock in the morning. I stare into space, stuffing every last bite in my mouth.

Tip toeing down the hall way I go to wake up my mom. Creak, goes the door as I open it to reveal my mom sound asleep. This is the hardest part about morning practice because I have to wake my mom up. I can't wait till I can drive because I won't have to bother her beauty sleep.

We walk outside to a freezing cold, due on the grass morning. The sun rises as we jet off to the pool. And this is how every Tuesday begins for me.

My Tuesday morning workouts only last for one hour, giving us swimmers just enough time to go back to bed before school starts. Morning practices don't allow us to be fully awake before practice, but as soon as our bodies hit the chlorinated water, we are ready to go.

We climb out of the water exhausted with no energy. Because our coach only leaves us ten minutes to shower and get changed, quickly we chomp down food to refuel, then it all begins.

We walk into the lowly dimmed room hearing the soft sound of Indian music. Mats are lay ed out side by side while candles lay all around. Yoga provides us swimmers with strength and relaxation. We partake in yoga for many reasons, one being that this is the only way to let go of stress. Swimmers lead a stressed life as we have to balance ten swim practices a week along with school and our social lives.

We start off with what they call in yoga sun salutations. We release tension in our muscles by opening our body up. We continue on with warming up by stretching. The last "working part is core work. Swimmers have to have strong cores because we have to hold a straight line while in the water. The entire team likes different parts about yoga, but the one thing that we on is "shavasana" .

Your probably wondering what it means. Fifteen minutes where we get to put our socks and hoodies on, grab the soft mats and relax. Stretching out or cuddling up, it doesn't matter. We all lie still listening to the music. Some fall asleep, but that is all because of the peaceful, calm and relaxing Indian music.

Our yoga teacher believes that Indian music releases the tension and stress with our soul, mind and heart because of the beats within the music. We were told by listening, we are letting go of our mind, making sure we aren't chasing after our thoughts.

I have never experienced anything more soothing or relaxing in my life. I look forward to Tuesday morning because of the yoga. That is why I thought it was amazing to watch Indian musicians live.