Yoga off the Mat

I took a walk with my boyfriend today in Central park NYC, on the upper west side. We sat under a big tree near the tennis courts. My boyfriend mentioned having read a blog that he enjoyed called "yoga off the mat". Now I haven't read this blog as of yet, but the idea of it stuck in my head. I do the physical practice of yoga, take classes, and I think most people think only of the physical aspects of yoga. Then again there's much more... We went on to discuss other topics but..."Yoga off the mat..." stayed in my head. It reminded me, or if you will, refreshed my sense of awareness in the everyday, all day.
So there I was lying on this rock looking up at this big tree, and for a moment I let the mind clutter and everything go. I came out of my trance amazed at how many years, possibly hundreds, this big tree has been there, being a tree. I closed my eyes and was soothed by the sound of the leaves as the winds blew. My breathing flowed as easily as if I was sleeping. We stopped talking at one point, and were there just being. On the way home, inspired, I started a mental check list of my posture while walking. Was I walking on all four corners of my feet, with proportioned weight, or just plopping one foot in front of the other? Was I protecting my back and taking pressure off my hips and knees by paying attention to my core muscles? Was I able to breath into my back as easily as my chest?
By the time I reached Amsterdam Avenue, a very busy street at rush hour, my shoulders had tensed up to my ears. I was uncomfortable, it was hot, there were loud dirty trucks screaming by, I had to pee, I had to wait for the cross walk, and why was that MU$#@ FU%#*$ honking his horn when there's no where to go? This is where my practice of awaress and centering REALLY began. Words were coming out of my mouth in random complaint fashion with absolutely no awareness. Thankfully I felt a pain in my shoulder telling me to let go of it! I took a deep breath... I concentrated on the pattern of my breath slowing and easing as I watched the traffic passing. I soon relaxed and once again refreshed my sence of awareness - off the mat.