The best job in the world

By Carrie – Lynn Neales, 889 Guest Concierge

Alright, I’m just gonna say it: I have the best job in the whole wide world. Working on the front desk at 889 means working on the front lines of a beautiful community of people all focused on bettering ourselves and bettering our world through our simple practice of yoga.

Each and every day I work I am privy to seeing two very different sides of our guests. It’s a subtle difference with a deep impact on the rest of the world. Most of the time it goes unrecognized, however the subconscious mind feels the shift and projects the change into the world. I have the privilege of witnessing this shift. I have the privilege of welcoming guests into our space as they hustle in from the bustle of the outside world, hurriedly unwrap the layers of clothing and subconsciously unwrap the layers of themselves, and with a direct purpose head towards the Earth, or the Sun, or the Moon, or the Star…studios of course. Unconsciously, our guests enter into a space where transformation is given theopportunity to take place. Over the course of the following 60, 75, or 90 minutes our guests give themselves a well-deserved break from life. They give themselves a figurative bear hug and surround themselves with nurturing energy, deep breath, and peace of mind. Our guests know that above all else they are taken care of here, in this space.

As the minutes tick past and the practice deepens the mind/body connection I feel a shift in energy in our space. I feel the calm and peace wash over the front desk. I notice the sometimes heavy cloud that surrounds us in life begin to lift. This is the benefit of the practice. This is the beauty of a community. It becomes even more recognizable as the door to the studios open and the once hurriedly moving, directly focused individuals begin to saunter and sway and swoosh their way back to the front entrance. With sleepy, but alert eyes they glance at me behind the desk and answer my sometimes non-verbal question of “how was class” with a beautiful sometimes non-verbal answer of “amazing”. Sometimest’s a simple slow blink of the eyes, or a gentle nod of the head. Other times it’s a exuberant verbal response. Either way the shift has occurred.

Eventually the foyer is emptied and the world is full. The world is full now with compassion, gratitude, commitment, and peace. Our little(big) community has taken in with open arms a dedicated group of people who have surrendered to the busy-ness and business of life, and has sent this same group back out into the world transformed, inspired, and peaceful. What a beautiful thing to be a part of.

I have the best job in the whole wide world because for 9 hours a day I get to witness the shift in the world. This is the best gift a yogi could ask for and all I can hope is to pay it forward and keep the peace in my own world and beyond.

Namaste!