Well that was unexpected...

I've been having trouble sleeping lately. I hurt my back and took a week worth of steroids. I've gotten so much done but I've also been waking up in the middle of the night and staying up for a few hours. When I first wake I tell myself "don't look at your phone. don't look at your phone." And then I look at my phone. Rarely do I receive text messages after I go do bed.

There was a group message to Geni and myself from a woman named Cherry. It was rather long and I had to jog my brain.

"Hi Jamie,

This Cherry who filmed the documentary class last fall..."

The story really began several months before this. TJ, one of our substitute teachers and dedicated students is a firefighter. He was being featured in a documentary about PTSD. TJ called me one afternoon to see if it would be okay if Cherry could could bring a cameraman to my 6am to film him practicing. I was okay with it so we planned for it the next morning. TJ showed up on time and at 6am I watched Cherry drive by the studio and lock eyes with me. I had to start class and it was clear it wasn't going to happen that morning.

I forgot about it until I received a group text from Geni connecting Cherry with me about the documentary. I assume Geni must know Cherry. At this time I was learning how to "be a yes" and worry about the details later. I gave her a date and a time. Tuesday, October 25 at 1:30pm and I'll put my faith in the universe that I can find a group of people to participate.

The reason I felt unsure about it was because when I did a mock photo shoot the year before, I only had a handful of people show up. I also chose not to teach in the photo shoot because I didn't want to make myself front and center.

I put a call to action out for the "mock documentary" using our newsletter instead of social media. I guess asking people if they want to be in a documentary is appealing because I had 20 people show up! We had a full class and I saw people I hadn't seen in years. I also decided to lead the class this time. Not because I wanted to be the star but because I'm a leader and I know what I want.

We had a half hour transition between Pilates and the documentary class. Cherry wanted to interview someone from Yogamour as well and Geni wasn't there yet. I was beginning to freak out inside. I do not do well with interviews and I don't think I knew the answers. Luckily with the timing and how the cameraman chose to set up, we practiced the class first.

I was very nervous about the logistic but not about teaching. I was worried about someone walking in so I grabbed one our laminated signs we hang on the front door and wrote "filming in progress" on the back. Funny enough I used a sharpie and to this day, that sign still says that on the back.

I led my standard Gentle Yoga class. It's so funny. I used to feel so insecure about that class but I've really come to love it. It's a great pace and has a beautiful arc. I feel like it's accessible for everyBODY. I wish I would have caught the cameraman's name. Wait! I just found it. His name is Xaiver Jerome. He was a tall, slender man. He was so good at what he did that I forgot he was there. That's huge for holding the container of a Yoga class. It didn't feel like a mock class for a documentary. It felt like my normal Saturday morning Gentle Yoga.

By the time the class was over, Geni had arrived. Phew! I connected with the students who volunteered their time for the cause and thanked them. After that it was back to business.

When the documentary was released, I was stoked! I reposted all over social. I shared it as much I could. It's so moving. Where would we be without Yoga?

I haven't thought about it since then.

This morning I woke up around 1:30am. "Don't pick up the phone. Don't pick up the phone."

Hi Jamie,

This is Cherry who filmed documentary yoga class last fall. I wanted to let you all know that the film won an Emmy on Saturday evening. I have included Yogamour on all the public releases thanking everyone including you and Geni (you can see it on my FB Cherry Graziosi Productionspage). I hope you'll share the news on your website and with those who attended the documentary yoga class in October. Please feel free to give them my name and email/phone if they have questions. I can't thank you guys enough - you were great! Cherry Graziosi

What?

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be a part of an Emmy winning documentary. That's pretty cool.

What I'm most proud of isn't being part of an Emmy-winning documentary. It's the community that made it possible. The students who said yes. The people who showed up on a Tuesday afternoon. The first responders who shared their stories. The teachers who create spaces where people can heal.

Awards are wonderful.

But the real work happens day in and day out, one class at a time.

Thank you, Cherry, for telling the story. 🍒