Chapter 19

           Here’swhat’sstrange,though.Ihaven’tseemedtobeabletodoanyYogasincegettingtoRome.ForyearsI’vehadasteadyandseriouspractice,andIevenbroughtmyYogamatwithme,alongwithmybestintentions.Butitjustisn’thappeninghere.Imean,whenamIgoingtodomyYogastretches?BeforemyItalianspeedballbreakfastofchocolatepastriesanddoublecappuccino?Orafter?ThefirstfewdaysIwashere,IwouldgamelyrolloutmyYogamateverymorning,butfoundIcouldonlylookatitandlaugh.OnceIevensaidaloudtomyself,inthecharacteroftheYogamat:"OK,littleMissPenneaiQuattroFormaggi…let’sseewhatyougottoday."Abashed,IstashedtheYogamatawayinthebottomofmysuitcase(nevertobeunrolledagain,itwouldturnout,untilIndia).ThenIwentforawalkandatesomepistachiogelato.WhichItaliansconsideraperfectlyreasonablethingtobeeatingat9:30AM,andIfranklycouldnotagreewiththemmore.

           ThecultureofRomejustdoesn’tmatchthecultureofYoga,notasfarasIcansee.Infact,I’vedecidedthatRomeandYogadon’thaveanythingincommonatall.Exceptforthewaytheybothkindofremindyouofthewordtoga.