Beginner's Mind

It was a strange day in the yoga studio today.  My practice before class felt like I was practicing with someone else's body.  Everything was still accessible, there was no pain, but it just felt very unfamiliar.  This was more than "winter body", and maybe it has to do with some anesthesia still in my body from a procedure earlier in the week, but either way...strange.  Some poses that are normally difficult felt easy, and some that are normally quite nice felt very intense.  But again...no pain. 

The Mysore class reported similar experiences - some folks were a bit tentative, others practicing alternative sequences...all was well in the end.  Today was a day to practice with a beginner's mind...come to the mat and see what happens...let go of expectations, but keep the curiosity.

I look forward to my next practice...will I have my body back? 

Let's Be Honest

I sometimes talk in classes about truthfulness in practice.  Truthfulness is the second of the Yamas on the Eight Limbed Path of Yoga, and with most of the limbs, we start with these practices on the mat, with the intention of taking them with us through the rest of our lives as well.

Mostly I refer to being honest and realistic about what is possible for each individual on a given day, and avoiding pushing too hard.  For instance, if an early morning practice reveals that hamstrings are tighter at that time of day than the would be at another time of day, honor that, and let go of expectations, and see what happens.  Often I find that over the course of the practice things pretty much even out, and those hamstrings will loosen up and cooperate nicely.  Meanwhile, I'll not have pushed it and ended up with soreness.

And then there is the other side of the coin...am I challenging myself enough?  Am I stepping up to face the difficult pieces of the practice, or am I sidestepping these issues, making excuses (not today, I did a hard practice yesterday so I'll take it easy today), or simply saying "no I can't"?

Some of you may know that I have been tentatively exploring Ashtanga's third series of postures.  I've started and stopped a couple of times now, and am thinking of picking it up again...slowly.  I know I am ready...can feel the practice calling me.

It started a few years ago with an whisper...a wondering if my teacher would suggest trying it when I saw him next.  He did, and I started learning it.  It kicked my ass.  At the time, Intermediate had become fairly "easy", and I was ready for a new challenge.  But when I started getting into the Third Series, I realized I would be going back to those days when Intermediate was not so easy.  I was reminded of how tapped out I felt, and questioned whether I was up for it, making excuses like "maybe I'm too old", "maybe I don't have the time for that kind of thing anymore", etc.

So I stopped...and explored alternative practices...and went back to Primary and Intermediate with the intention of building up more strength.  This was Matthew's suggestion, and I'm grateful for it.  I did need more strength, and I felt stronger, and more ready for Third.  So I tried it again...and stopped.  This time I came up with other excuses "My family needs  me", "it's messing with my backbends", "I'll work on handstands first" etc.

So I stopped again.  But that little whisper has gotten louder in the last few months. My friend Suzy has done it, and she is surviving nicely!  David G's recent video blog on the subject of Third Series has reminded me to be prepared, and  attending Eddie Stern's Led Intermediate was a great confirmation that I've got it in me...or at least enough to start to move forward.  I can feel that there is more waiting for me in Third Series - I just have to pay it forward a bit...work a little harder...push a little more, be more honest about what is holding me back (or not really!), and go for it!  I'm excited to be going to spend a week with David G in Philly in April, and hope to dive in again.  Wish me luck...again!!

Girl Power

Just got home from practicing with some of my favorite people.  It wasn't east to get there...running late (as usual!), circumventing traffic jams (thank god for GPS!), and got a little lost cause I totally spaced the exit I needed!  Plus, today's new moon was offering me the perfect excuse to bow out. 

But practicing with these ladies is like medicine for me. 

There is not a lot of chatting, so it's not so much a social thing, but I feel so totally supported and inspired by each of these ladies.  My practice speeds by almost effortlessly, in what seems like 10 minutes, but when I check the clock, has been the usual hour or so.  An hour or so that would have gone much slower in my own studio, with only my own energy pulling me along.

I only hope my presence is as helpful to each of them, as theirs is to me.  Suzanne, Kathy, and Dara - you are rock stars!!

Namaste

Stacy