Chit Happens

November 15th, 2024

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines 

Time has a peculiar way of bending to music's will. I discovered this truth anew during yesterday's cramped six-hour van ride from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, where seventeen commuters were squeezed into a fifteen-passenger vehicle. While I typically feed my mind with podcasts and audiobooks during such journeys, yesterday demanded something different. My soul craved music – from Bob Dylan's poetic verses to Bob Marley's rhythmic reggae. As my private DJ session unfolded through my headphones, I reflected on music's unique power: unlike books we can speed-read or movies we can fast-forward, music commands our patience. It refuses to be rushed. After all, music is how we decorate time itself.

The nauseatingly winding road eventually led me to El Nido, Palawan's bustling tourist hub. My dorm room alone is a miniature United Nations, creating a magnetic convergence of global wanderers. These traveler hubs ignite my wanderlust – each meaningful connection plants seeds of future journeys to lands I've yet to explore.

El Nido offered an unexpected gift: the chance to return to practicing the Ashtanga primary series at Namaste Yoga Shala after a month-long hiatus – since Okinawa. The universe's generosity revealed itself immediately when reception asked, "Would you like a free massage with your yoga class?" Only a fool would decline such an offer. As I settled onto my mat to meditate before class, I was joined by women from London and Paris – a serendipitous mirror of my dorm mates' nationalities, though different individuals entirely.

As the only experienced Ashtanga practitioner in the class, my jump-throughs, arm balances, and single-leg poses drew amazed glances. Yet this moment sparked a profound realization: what once terrified me had become my sanctuary. Ashtanga, once my crucible of fear, now serves as my medicine and comfort zone. The beauty lies in yoga's infinite horizon – there's always room to grow, to push boundaries, to expand comfort zones until they encompass what once seemed impossible.

The deep tissue massage that followed brought another revelation. When asked about pressure preference, I immediately chose "hard," seeking discomfort's edge. Yet even as the masseuse worked through deep knots, I found myself smiling, completely at ease. My yoga practice hadn't just expanded my comfort zone; it had taught me to find tranquility within discomfort itself.

The day's magic deepened when I discovered djembes around the coffee table while enjoying post-massage turmeric ginger tea with Chit, the studio owner. Learning we were both drummers, we launched into a transcendent jam session. With closed eyes, I became merely a vessel for rhythm, an instrument of something far greater than myself. The privilege of such musical channeling wasn't lost on me.

Chit – whose name fittingly means "consciousness" in Sanskrit – offered wisdom when I expressed confusion about remaining in my comfort zone despite the day's physical challenges. "Don't try to understand, just feel," she said. Her words unlocked something profound: perhaps seeking discomfort isn't necessary when it isn't naturally present. By cultivating presence in moments of ease, we prepare ourselves for future challenges while honoring the present's gifts.

The day's final chapter unfolded on El Nido's beach, just thirty feet from the yoga studio. Where crowds had gathered the previous evening to watch the sunset paint the sky orange above offshore islands, I found quiet solitude. Climbing high into a tree overlooking the gently lapping waves and bobbing sailboats, I encountered two five-year-old girls playing on rope swings below.

These daughters of local workers rekindled memories of teaching elementary school students just eight months prior. Our impromptu playground session evolved into a delightful exchange – my rope-climbing demonstrations met with their cartwheels, my ashtanga poses (bakasana, sirsasana, and halasana) answered with forward rolls. Hours melted away as we chased dogs, collected shells, climbed trees, and shared laughter.

The day's greatest gift was perhaps this reminder of connection's timelessness. From sharing wisdom with Chit, four decades my senior, to playing with children a quarter my age, I felt wonderfully ageless – a Peter Pan in paradise. May my comfort zone continue expanding as the years pass, growing ever more spacious with each new experience. El Nido, thank you for these precious lessons in comfort, connection, and the beauty of simply being.

Love,

Etai