by Adelaid Morris
So many times I've been asked, "How did get started in Yoga?" I sometimes wonder whether my reputation has proceeded me, because I have openly admitted to many people I had literally "found" Yoga while experiencing a "crisis" in my life. I considered it "major" at the time, but now when I look back, I see there were many possible solutions to my problem, and none that required anything as drastic as "leaving home."
If only we could realize (that is, see with our "real eyes") that we are not really in charge. There is a beautiful, divinely-guided force or power leading us to our destinies. I was completely unaware of this guidance, when on that icy cold day in January, "I" decided to leave home. I thought I was in charge of me and (to put it lightly) I was discontented. I didn't intend to return, so I packed everything I thought I needed in my station wagon. Things like my sewing machine, (which I seldom used at home) and other things of dubious importance. I rather imagined my family expected me home that night, because I was known to have no sense of direction. I also tried to push aside the thought that my family might rejoice at my leaving, and so, while I was looking forward to my adventure, I was also afraid that no one would miss me -- they might even celebrate my departure. The one bright spot came from a line in my horoscope that read: "the trip you are about to take will benefit many." I felt very lonely and the thought ran through my mind that my family might benefit by my absence!
Racho La Puerta was a haven in 1955. It still is considered a "heavenly haven," at least the spa price reaches the sky! When it was my haven and temporary destination, the cost was down to earth. Any more further down to earth and it would have been submerged.
The fee was $10.00 a week for room and board - for a small room and absolutely no space for boredom! The food was served was super delicious - vegetarian - served cafeteria-style. Guests were served by members of a Mexican family who formerly owned the land the ranch occupies. I remember standing in the food line listening to the lady in front of me address the ultra handsome Mexican man who was serving food. He spoke perfect English, but the lead lady felt it was necessary to shout her own devised pig-Latin, which I guess was her idea of Spanish. I could see Hernando's eyes dancing, the put-on look of amazement as she increased her volume and speed. "Imy talkingta otoo ooyah, Senora!" Hernando could contain himself any longer. He said very politely, "If you're going to call me Senora, the least you could do is call me Senorita." The was over her head, so she went on to the next item of food. Hernando winked at me, nearly doubled over with contained laughter.
The entertainment that night was a lecture by Indra Devi. She had a lovely hacienda at the foot of the mountain, about a half mile for Rancho La Puerta. She spoke of "Yoga" - the first time I'd ever heard the word.. I was fascinated by this lovely little lady (barely 4'6" tall, weighing probably 90 pounds soaking wet), dressed in her Sari. (I did not know it was a "sari" - I'd never been around the dress mode before) Her speech was powerful. She was accompanied by a man whom she said was 82 year old. He was scrawny and apparently boneless, because as Indra told us what Yoga could do for us, Mr. Limberstring twisted and turned and tied himself into pretzel-shaped positions - some looked like knots. He went from one position to another, seemingly oblivious to the audience and appearing very pleased with himself. At one point Indra started gently gesturing to him that it was time to end his act, but she had trouble catching his eye. I wondered how she found it, but she somehow located his shoulder, tapped it, and the man finally exited. Indra Devi said to the audience, " Did you think he was doing Yoga?" All the uniformed guests said yes. "He wasn't," she said, as if she'd put something over us - which she had - "he was doing acrobatic stunts," she said. It wasn't Yoga because he didn't coordinate his breathing with his movements."
She was humorous, bright, and frequently bounced from one language to another. I believe she can speak 6 different languages fluently. I use the present tense because when I went to Buenos Aires a year ago last May, she was celebrating her 100th birthday. She is 101 now. When we were allowed to visit with her, her first question would be: "What language will we be speaking?" I was dependable - I always spoke English.
After the lecture, I talked with Jessica, the manager of the ranch. I asked her to please ask Ms. Devi if I could be allowed to be in her presence. "Please tell her I can take shorthand, type, wash, iron, scrub floors, cook -- anything - just to be in her presence." Jessica's answer to me was, "All you have to do is go to her class tomorrow morning, and afterwards, stand quietly by her side." I was thrilled. I walked across the fields bright and early the next morning to attend class. Much to my horror, she used me as a demonstration. Talk about feeling scared stiff when I wasn't a naturally limber person anyway! I had no idea what to do. I'm still wondering what the Dickens I did do. I attended her classes, and stayed after class, almost hanging on her sari, for three days. She treated me like a long lost cousin (I was lost all right). All I had to do was observe and be still. On the fourth morning, when I arrived for class, she told me she needed to go to Tiajuana for some reason, and asked me to lead the class. I shook and stammered and told I honestly didn't know one thing about Yoga. Her instruction followed, "Just teach, you're a natural."
She repeated that statement when it was time for me to go back home. I had called my mother to tell her where I was, so she wouldn't worry. She went ahead and worried anyway, and she told my family where I was. My husband called to ask me to come home. That was a happy moment. When I said good bye to Indra, once again she said, "Go home and teach, you're a natural." A "natural" what, I wondered.
By the way, I got through that class (scared shiftless) and that day a tall, very staid man in the class developed a back pain after doing a reverse posture. I ignorantly and innocently went over to him and held his knees together as he did "the arch," and his back pain went away. Dr. J. Geldett Fox and I walked back to the ranch together after class. He was the editor of the "National Health Magazine," that doctors had displayed in their writing offices. (I still have a copy of the magazine) He said he thoroughly enjoyed my teaching (imagine!) and asked if I would like to write an article for his magazine? I would be paid $50,00. The article was published; he reworded my compound sentences and used half the divided sentences to form an article that he claimed to author. Both articles were completely awful. But I was published author!
I went home and became Denver's first Yoga teacher - that was in 1955. I was considered "strange," "odd," "occult," and "alarming." Almost people expected me to bring out a snake in a basket. Religionists were afraid I was contaminating their scene. I was a renegade in a neighborhood where one was ostracized if he chose a different funeral director than his ancestors had used. Baptists and Catholics feared me. Everything in my new life seemed to hinge on Yoga. Doors opened as well. I even gave out starter samples for yogurt and acidophilus. "Yuck," was usually the reaction to the mention of yogurt. But when the people tasted their yogurt starter (samplers which I had laced with pure honey and pecans) they were hooked! Some of those "starters" are still in use today. Why on earth wasn't I enterprising enough to freeze the product and market the stuff? Oh well, I'm not using dairy products these days.
I've earned a reputation for honesty and integrity. I don't divulge confidences and I give thanks repeatedly during the day that I was divinely guided to Yoga. I thought I was running away, when in fact I was running to a beautiful new way of life. I'm 81 years old now and I will always be internally, externally, and eternally grateful for Yoga, the part it plays in my life, and for the divine guidance that led me on the Yogic path.
Sincerely,
Adeline Morris
Adeline Morris, one of our YTOC founding memeber, at 81 years young, has been teaching and practicing Yoga in the Denver area for 45 years. She was kind enough to write this article at our request.
