In order to experience truth it is
important to give up expectations and accept what is. It is only when
we give up our expectation are we then able to hear and find an
alternative that may be better suited and closer to our truth.In many practices the rules are clear
and precise, and for many it is easier to know what is next, what is
expected. I prefer to practice with a sense of wonder, not knowing what
is next or proper or right as I find it changes from day to day. If
yoga is a practice of freedom, why then do we tie ourselves down to one
teaching, why not truly practice what we teach and free ourselves from
strict rules of alignment and order and scripting. We as teachers teach to accept the body
where it is today yet many then say but put your foot here your hips
there and blab la bla. This moves the practitioner away from accepting
where they are and puts them in the mindset of striving for something
else, going deeper, twisting further. We train them to want what others
have or where they are in the practice.What would happen if you gave up all
ideas of how things should look in your practice? Would this not bring
with it a sense of wonder, awe? When we name a pose even then we conjure
up preconceived ideas of how it should look as opposed to how it
feels. I have struggled with Sanskrit, trying on many occasions to
learn it, but I am beginning to think that maybe this is a gift. Maybe
instead of learning the correct name, I am going to just use some of the
Sanskrit terminology, find the utan, or intense stretch in the
hamstrings or wherever I am guiding them to have the sensation. That
way by not calling it by its name there will be no preconceived ideas of
how the pose should look but freedom to explore and find the utan.One of my teachers actually took this a
step further and he renamed some of the poses to help people give up
any idea of how things “should” be. Another one of my teachers often
told us to get rid of the should and should not in your life as well as
in your practice. This does create a new sense of wonder and freedom in
your practice. At one time I was very much an
alignment girl, which by the way is not what I was originally taught by
my teacher. I too got wrapped up in the alignment revolution, even at
one time a bit miffed as to why my teacher did not teach us alignment.
But the apple did not fall far from the tree. As I advanced in my
practice I was under the misguided perception that I can always go a
little further and a little deeper, not realizing that there was a point
that was my eternal edge. This is where the injuries began. Striving
to push beyond and be in a pose the way they show in the books or even
that my Gumby teachers could do. The ego at its finest. Once I came to understand that
structurally my body was not made to be in certain poses certain ways,
that there was nothing wrong with me, my teaching revolved to reflect
more of my original teacher. Now with a great understanding of the
importance of listening to your body, knowing your edge and realizing
that at some point you will have gone as far into a pose as you will
ever go. This has given most of our student’s great freedom as well as
increased confidence in their practice. There is the occasional student
that wants the rules, and resist the flow of change and we just wait.
Either they will tire and allow or they will move on. It is not my job
to make everyone happy nor is it anyone’s job to make me happy.Get on your mat, crank up the music,
and connect with your breath and flow. Move in rhythm to the music, to
the rhythm of the breath. Come to the mat with a sense of wonder and
awe not quite sure what is going to happen. Close your eyes, feel and
come from a place of true authentic self, explore your edge, your range
of motion.The next time you are in class, just
close your eyes, listen but give yourself permission to really explore
and get to know what is going on in your body. It is after all your
practice!! See you, on the mat! |
 |
|||||||||||||
 
Categoriesasanabalance breath chakra injury karma, meditation patience perception practice touch yoga yoga alliance yoga, accountability |
|
 |
|||||||||||
    |
|||||||||||||
