Yoginis have road rage too

I had just finished teaching a morning yoga class followed by a private and was feeling relaxed and joyful. Normally in the warm weather, I ride my bicycle to work but I had my car this day so I could run some errands that were out of the way. As I was almost finished backing all the way out of the parking space, I heard a honk.  Wow, didn't realize the car was approaching so fast but I was already in the middle of the road, about to shift into drive, so I quickly stepped on the gas pedal and headed down the road.  The "honker" was trying to get around me but it was a 2 lane road with a 25mph speed limit, so she couldn't get by.  Instead of backing off, the she decided to get her car as close as possible to mine and then lay on the horn for about a minute.  Hmmmm? This was starting to bother me.  I looked in the rearview mirror and did what my mom had taught me. I slowed down even more but my action only infuriated her, again laying on the horn and getting her car way too close. I held on tight, awaiting the brutal force that would occur as her car mounted mine from behind.  My blood started to boil, road rage setting in. As the light approached I prayed for it to be red so I could have a little talk with the honking bitch.  My prayers were answered.  The light turned red and she was taking a left, now we were next to each other.  We needed to have a chat. I rolled down my window and honked, yelling to her, "hello?!, hello, please roll your window down."  Nothing.  She wouldn't even look at me.  Fine!  I got out of my car and tapped on her passenger side window, "excuse me, may I have a word?".  Still no response, nada, not even a gaze or a finger, nothing!  I was not gonna' stand for this.  The light turned green and I ran in front of her car, she wasn't getting away with this, I had to teach her a lesson. I got to her driver's door and knocked on the window, she stared straight ahead.  I reached for the door handle and it opened.  Holy shit, face to face.  "Excuse me, do not ever use your car to bully me.  Do you understand? ITS JUST NOT NICE."  She still wouldn't make eye contact but she did pick up her phone and start dialing.  I walked away, leaving her car door open and wondering if I'd get picked up by the police 'cause I was sure that was who she was calling.  I didn't care.  I think we had a good chat and I drove away feeling a little like a hero. I taught her today, she might think twice before doing that to someone again.  A car is not meant to be used as a weapon.  Hmph!
What? oh the yoga student that was sitting in the car behind me watching the whole thing?  Oh him.  The man I just finished a private with? Yea, didn't realize I was being observed. Cool yoga teacher looses her shit in the middle of an intersection. It probably looked like I was gonna carjack her. Huh? Well, I think I did the right thing. Right? Maybe? I mean it was controlled rage. I didn't curse or physically assault anyone, I just said what I felt and acted like a lunatic in the process. I suppose I could have handled it a little differently.
I stopped for a fresh juice on my way home and met up with the yoga student. I didn't have a chance to explain before he spoke,"you're insane, you could have been killed, you lost your shit on that person". I reasoned that it didn't matter because I was standing up for myself and for all other people that get bullied or harassed by someone who doesn't care about anyone but themselves. I still believed I was right and justified in what I did, I didn't see any harm in it at all.  My student thought it was hilarious, couldn't stop laughing and proceeded to talk about it ad nauseam.
As the hours passed, my adrenalin dissipated and my mind changed. Did I really need to confront this woman? Did I need to act recklessly? Did I even need to act at all? And where was my breathe in all of this?
I confessed to my husband, hoping it would relieve some of my doubts.  He said he was proud of me that I hadn't cursed.  He said I was growing but still a little nutsy. He felt what I did was unnecessary. He was right, again. 
I tried to relieve my guilt by saving some worms drying up on the sidewalk and being extra friendly to everyone, but none of it helped. I hadn't acted like a yoga teacher and was ashamed. This sucked. There was no chance for a do-over but I believe things happen for a reason, we just have to look.
It wasn't difficult to find something to be learned.
First, I came to understand that sometimes the greatest, most meaningful action we can take is through non-action.  To embrace the belief that the universe will take care of things and we don't always have to get involved or manage all situations is so liberating. Confrontation can be healthy but always ask yourself why you need to confront someone, what the purpose of the confrontation is and then make a thoughtful choice. If it feels imperative and just can't wait, DEFINITELY step back, breathe, and then walk away...at least for a while. 
Secondly, this was a missed opportunity to practice empathy and compassion. We don't know why people do certain things and we need to have compassion for them, even when they act like complete douche bags. We have no idea what their day was like and what they had to deal with before we came in contact with them. Whether its in the yoga studio and a student comes in late, interrupting your practice as they unfold their mat right onto the corner of your own or its the crazy driver on the road giving you the bird or the crabby waiter acting like you are a pain in their royal butt; we can choose to act from compassion rather than calling forth our defenses and exacerbating an already shitty situation.
If it happened again, I wish I could say I'm sure I would handle it differently because I now know better. But I don't know honestly what I would do. I can't stand being bullied by anyone, especially someone in a 2 ton vehicle, its so cowardly.  Ya see? I still get all riled up just writing about what happened. I guess the only thing left to do is keep on practicing, remembering the lessons, and trust the universe... gotta hunch I may get the chance to try again someday.