Need for Speed

Sometimes we come full circle in life. Especially when we go real fast.

The reason we get from one decision to another in life  can rarely be summed up in a paragraph or a quick bio, but, I think I can say, with confidence, that the reason I’m so into acupuncture and yoga is because of my history skateboarding and surfing: I hurt myself a whole bunch through my 20’s. Thus, I was naturally drawn to modalities well suited to healing chronic injuries. My daring and recklessness in these extreme sports has, thankfully, not carried over into my professional life. As a yoga instructor and acupuncturist, I am very conservative.

10 years ago, there’s nothing I liked more than bombing down hills on my long board at high speeds dodging cars and running red lights. 5 years ago I’d paddle out in every severe storm that hit the California coast. Now I just like a nice restorative yoga practice followed by a wholesome dinner. Maybe I’m older or maybe I’m wiser.

However, sometimes, my true youthful nature comes out like a werewolf at full moon. Living so close to Mt. Tabor, I have been studying the hills there with a discerning eye. I’ve hiked up there every week (sometimes twice a week) since moving here in November. I’ve watched some skateboarders cruise down the hill with jealousy. So, it was with great inspiration that I opened my quiver of long boards during this recent bout of extreme Portland sunshine to carve my craft on the holy dormant volcano of Portland: Mt. Tabor.

The runs down the mount feel as if the engineer who designed it did so for long boarders in mind. Smooth, fast, wide, easy, with many roads closed to traffic. Carving down the hill in the glorious sun, all my old skills came back; it was like I was 22 again. Unexpectedly, Portland has sweetened the deal. Maybe there’s no surfing in town, but with a hill like Mt. Tabor in my backyard, once again, I’ve got a need for speed.