1) The recent, abrupt departure of my yoga teacher from the studio where I have been practicing for years has placed me in a strange position. I can either continue to go to Nice Studio Dedicated to Particular School of Yoga and study with other teachers there. Or, I can follow my yoga teacher as she tries to build new classes at other studio(s). Either way, I feel like I am taking sides — getting embroiled in the fight between teacher and studio — and that it will impinge on my thinking/feelings about my yoga practice. This week I went back to Nice Studio for a class and it felt weird. But, when I got a message from my yoga teacher about her new class times/locations, I also felt weird.

I just want to practice yoga already!

2) My mother wants me to join her this weekend for a visit to my grandmother (her mom) for Mother’s Day. Sounds great, I want to go — but Saturday is an event on campus hosted by my department and specifically by a committee of which I am a member. The other committee members have basically taken the lead on organizing the event and I’ve been asked to just be there to “help out.” I am confident that my presence will not make any difference in the success of the event; my “helping out” would consist of standing around and chatting with the parents of the students. But, I will feel guilty about skipping it when I haven’t done anything to contribute to the event so far. On the other hand, I will feel guilty about going to a lame campus event rather than having a nice Mother’s Day weekend with my mom and grandmom.

Work / family balence, anyone?

Update: I coaxed one of my lovely, generous colleagues to take my place at the student event so I can go to grandma’s with a clean conscience. Whew.