Evenings Alone

Exploring the tender space between loneliness, movement, and rest

Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself struggling in the late afternoon and evenings. By four o’clock, my energy is used up. My eyes are tired, so I don’t want to read. (Hopefully that will change with cataract surgery later this month.) I gravitate toward TV because I know being on computer screens after that time will make it difficult for me to settle into sleep. If I sit in front of the TV for very long, my energy depletes even more and I’m ready to go to bed by seven, a ridiculously early hour. If that happens, I’ll turn on an audiobook and eventually fall asleep. For those of us who live alone, this can throw us into a pit of loneliness and depression.

I had a conversation with some friends about it and asked them what they do at night. Nothing much different from my routine. One said that some days she feels like she lives to sleep. I get it.

Photo by Artem Makarov on Unsplash

So one day, I asked ChatGPT (it does have its uses), “What do old people do at night?” It offered some valid suggestions. The one I’m focusing on right now is adding some kind of gentle movement practice at that four o’clock hour. I’ve walked around the block, walked up to the top of my hill, turned on a gentle yoga practice, and gone to the pool. The upshot is that it definitely makes the rest of my evening work better, although I still may end up in bed with the chickens.

As a result of all this investigating, and the realization that I’m not the only one struggling with this, I’m going to try teaching a couple of online classes in the evenings and see what happens. They will be slow, gentle classes to prepare our bodies for getting through the end of the day, but not energizing enough to keep us awake half the night.

I would also like to try a chat with anyone who wants to show up. We’ll do a simple meditation practice and then talk about what we need as we explore this late afternoon space.

Details
All sessions via Zoom | 3:30–4:30 PM Arizona (Mountain Time)
$10 per session

Schedule

• Yoga Class: Monday, November 10

• Living Yoga Chat: Monday, November 24

• Yoga Class: Monday, December 8

• Living Yoga Chat: Monday, December 29

Come to one or join them all. Bring your tea, your mat, your open heart.
This is your invitation to slow down and return home to yourself.

If you’re interested, please reply to this post and I’ll send you a link to join the class. You can also text or email me if that’s easier.