Yoga Increases Sensitivity

I take pride in being a very productive, efficient person. But some days - like today - I just can't seem to "do" anything. It was my Sunday to put the cookies out at church so I had to show up. Everyone seemed surreally cheerful - the music hit my ears like bombs going off - I just needed to get out of there. I asked Lois if she could put the cookies out and I fled to the quietude of my home.

Yesterday I attended a workshop on Natural Remedies for Sleep at Living Room Yoga. The presenters husband, Rusty, made a comment that the more yoga one does the more sensitive one becomes. That is sure the case with me. I joke that I have become such a delicate flower, especially for sounds. It is even difficult for me to talk on the telephone - it actually hurts my ears.

My sensitivity to sounds is only rivaled by my aversion to parties and large groups of people. Barbara, a fellow teacher, attended a party that I was supposed to attend last weekend. She said she had to force herself to go because of her own aversion to parties and that she talked with another person who said the same thing. It turned out she was very glad to get to see people like whom she had not seen in a long time but it was still hard to push herself into that situation. Another of my teachers, Laura, admits that mingling for her is akin to torture. She feels exhausted afterwards. This actually is comforting to me because at times I feel like a freak for this.

I wonder why yoga has this affect on people? Do any of you have any thoughts on this?