Day 171 Intention ~ Accept My Practice

Day 171 Intention ~ Accept My Practice

A.k.a., lose the ego. I just went to a class with a teacher that I have never gone to before for a demo class at one of the studios where I teach. As we moved through the poses, I felt super tight and my quads just felt tired. 

I noticed that as I was struggling, my mind started to wander and I started to get frustrated with my own practice. I would draw back into the breath and find a little recovery from my own mind. 

Then, just as soon as I found a little santosha,  I tried to enter bird of paradise (which I love!) and suddenly the burrito I ate for lunch earlier decided that my core was not ready to contract and lift, I fell back into that land of frustration again. 

What is going on?? Why is my ego taking over today in class?? Do I not constantly remind my students to be accepting of your practice that day??!! 

As I once again noticed my thought patterns and brought myself back into the breath, I finally felt a little bit of calm. I felt a little bit of peace within my own mind. I found a little bit of yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 73 Intention ~ Keep Trying Handstand

Day 73 Intention ~ Keep Trying Handstand

Handstand is that elusive pose for me in yoga. I go through phases of attempting it, but then drop it for awhile and come back to it. For some of us, a pigeon pose is that elusive pose or chatturanga dandasana, the low plank (that one was elusive to me for a long time too!) But, I keep coming back. I keep trying. One of these days it will stick. I will lift up. There was a time when the mere mention of handstand in yoga class would send me into a panic (and a child's pose). Nowadays, I do actually try and each time I try, I get a little bit closer. 

I know it's a mental wall and that I have the physical strength to do this pose. I try to hear myself talking to my students about losing your ideas of what a pose is or if you can or can't do it and just try. Release your mind to let the body do it's thing, but it's a struggle. Struggle is okay, so long as we keep trying. One of these days when we are ready, we will get it. 

Just like in life, some days are easier than others, but those hard days are when we learn about ourselves. We get more out of those tough lessons than when everything is just simple and easy all of the time. In my African proverbs calendar today it says, "Too many bends on a footpath do not prevent one from reaching one's destination." It's a proverb from Cameroon. So, keep trying. One day we will get where we need to be. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 21 Intention ~ To Always Keep Trying

Day 21 Intention ~ To Always Keep Trying

I am a yoga teacher, but my practice is still just that, a practice. I struggle in arm balances. I have fear going up into handstand. But, I will always keep trying. I can feel myself get stronger the more I try, whether I get up into the pose or not. There was a time when I would just go into child's pose when this situation came up or I would watch all of those around me that seem to effortlessly float up. 

In my classes, I am often telling students to enjoy the journey, the end pose is not what is important. It's how you get there, physically, emotionally and mentally. Learn through the movements. Listen to your body. 

I have gotten hung up on my wishing I could get to these poses, but as soon as I let that go, I started lifting that second leg a little higher, I could feel my core engage or my thighs scissor towards one another. Just keep trying.

When we come into these difficult situations on our mat, discover your reaction to them. Try to calm it down rather than stress out about getting up into the pose. This training of the mind can also help when we experience difficulties in our daily life off the mat. It will help to keep us calm and hopefully whomever we are dealing with calm and solutions may come rather than strife. Breathing, being accepting, and enjoying the journey are all wonderful parts of this life. Enjoy.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia