at the shooting range, power yoga, mindfulness in alaska

It is important to be mindful when there is the potential of death or destruction. Although I'd never really considered it before, shooting a gun is actually a very 'mindful' activity. Today Sean took me, five guns, and a bag full of ammo to the shooting range so I could shoot a gun for the second time in my life. The first time was up at my cabin, where we have a shotgun that was only used that one day. My father wanted each of us to be able to use it in the case of a bear attack. He instructed me to shoot out into a relatively open clearing, and I immediately shot a nearby tree which began smoking and he confiscated the gun. Needless to say it wasn't my most 'mindful' moment. My experience at the gun range today was altogether different. Shooting requires finite attention to have any accuracy, and even more than that the consequences of being careless require awareness and attention to the rules of the shooting range. Number 1: always think of a gun as loaded. I like this rule because it is oddly complimentary to the thoughts I've been having about how to interact with others, particularly students (I do not mean SHOOTING them). Rather, that you should always give a student the beneft of the doubt. Not knowing where they came from that morning, or what happened to them, always have your mind open to the possibility that they are 'loaded' and treat them accordingly- with respect.
The meditative feeling of shooting targets surprised me. Each time I shot there was an intense concentration down the barrel, trying to quiet my hands, balance the gun and line up with the bullseye. I maintained that rigid posture while I simultaneously tried not to flinch before I shot, not to anticipate the kickback from the gun or to close my eyes against the noise and rapport. While I don't know if i'm a shooting range convert, I am glad I tried this, both for my increased knowledge and skill (in case of zombie attack or hunting) and because it offered me a surprising glimpse of what many of the shooting range junkies must feel- meditation via firearm.
My other most memorable mindful experience of the week was also somewhat paradoxical: Power Yoga. My sister has always disliked 'normal' yoga, which she deems yoga overly focused on sitting and stretching. Being a rather intense and physically fit person, she prefers something active, and has trouble getting her strong body to loosten up into yogic knots. Thus, she brought me along to her power-yoga class, a 75 minute relaxation-workout, which began with some light meditation in the sitting position, progressed into aggressively athletic pilates-yoga fusion, and then slowed back down into a child's pose and breath awareness. Although I was a little skeptical of the new-age-trans music playing in the background I have to admit that I loved the class. Although I wasn't sore the next day my muscles felt good- toned and used. Even more, my back was crinkling and cracking not because I had strained it, but because the muscles were actually looser- more relaxed- allowing my spine some unexpected freedom. It was a crunch to make it to yoga in time and I arrived at 6:45pm with only two pieces of toast for dinner. By the end I was smiling and in a wonderful mood- I haven't felt so good after a workout in awhile. I remember thinking to myself "I want to do this for a living"
One of my favorite parts of coming home for spring break has been the realization that there IS a mindfulness movement in Alaska, and especially in Anchorage. There are multiple meditation groups- a free meditation session monday nights, and a $5 cover on wednesday. There are lots of yoga and dance classes, countless outdoorsy activities (teleskiing is just skimming the surface of the possible), food-growing and local craft cooperatives- even Taiji and QiGong. Growing up I knew that Alaska had many "yuppie" activities like yoga or lots of hippie fair-trade stores. I never really explored any of these opportunities for myself though, and I'm learning that being an Alaskan in my 20s is way different from my high school experience. Most of my close friends here now aren't from high school, and my interests and hobbies have changed as well. Although I am worried about the financial insecurities that come with graduating from Bowdoin, I am suddenly invigorated with what new experiences and discoveries Alaska's community holds for me. I would like mindfulness to be a practice that informs, guides and balances the rest of my life, and apparently Alaska is a space that can help nurture that desire.