A practice grounded in strict form only feeds the inadequacy you may feel in your physical body and in your ability. Samtosha means contentment,
accepting the truth 'as it is". Not to be confused with happiness or
complacency. The is the ability to accept your circumstances and learn
how to discern that which we can change and that which we cannot.
Building upon our circumstances to become a better you. I
am learned this in quite a unique way when I broken my ankle this time last year. What started as a 21 day adventure, turned into a journey toward healing. A practice of
patience and acceptance of what is and making the best of a set of
circumstances beyond my control. I experienced profound growth in my yoga practice when my physical
practice was interrupted . How can that be
if yoga is a physical practice? What
about my handstands, my back bends, I am moving away from advancing in
these poses! I almost had my free standing handstand! My heart opening
back bend practice was so close to getting me into scorpion. I had to STOP! It was time for me to really practice living in the
moment, making peace with my current situation, accepting it for what it
is and know that this to shall pass! I may have had to take a few steps
back in some of my asanas, but I was also able to reevaluate the importance and perhaps the
intentions of my practice. A
practice grounded in strict form only feedS the inadequacy you may feel
in your physical body and in your ability. So today as you begin your
practice take a moment of gratitude. Gratitude that you are not
practicing or striving for an ideal form but rather for ideal function
for you body, today! Take
a moment to thank your body for simply showing up today and be open
to receive any and all benefits and lessons. Remember there will not
be a parade today if you reach the floor, or have the deepest split in
hanumasana. The world is not going to shatter if you should take
a child's pose in the middle of Surya Namaskar number 45 or stop for a
drink of water. Honor the limits of the body, today, accept that this
may or may not pass. At some point you will have gone as far in a pose
as your body safely will ever be able to go. There
is no shame, only honor and respect as you accept with grace and
dignity the wisdom of your body. It is when we resist, resist what is,
that we cause harm. Practice today with complete honesty as you accept
where your body is today. Now
as we move forward, take a mental note of your strengths and weaknesses
you believe to be in your practice. Instead of looking upon
your perceived limitations as a negative in your practice, how might you
grow with them? How can you adapt your form so as not to lose the
function of the asana or cause discomfort someone where else in your
body. Don't
compromise other parts of the body, be content and honor the form your
body is able to create. Be true to the function or sensation of the
asana not your neighbors form. Observe if you are able to find the full
body breath and find contentment in your expression of the asana. Take
a pause in each asana and allow the function and sensation you are
striving for to really resonate in your body, be full body aware and
content in your expression of each pose. Seek support from props and
always modify when you need to. In
closing, are these perceived weaknesses showing up today new? Have you
been ignoring them, risking injury or cheating yourself out of the true
function and full benifit of the asana? How many times do you find
that you ignore these cues refusing to accept that you need to slow
down, do less or go further.. Instead
of grieving or complaining about the things that have gone wrong, or
are not just right in your life, accept the truth and learn from it.
The payoff will be a state of calm and happiness, reguardless of what
is going on around you. Your true authentic self is joy, regardless of
what is going on around you. May you know joy, may you know peace, may you know contentment. Hums joy,
honor, contentment, ease, truth, allow, be, freedom, explore, accept,
adapt, receive, believe, know, observe, flow, ground, This was just the beginning of the birth of my FREE Yoga Practice, I don't claim it has mine to own, I just claim it as my practice and what I share when I guide a class. For me the function of the Asana is much more important then the form. Function over Form Realign to find Ease with balanced Effort in your Asanas |
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Categoriesasanabalance breath chakra injury karma, meditation patience perception practice touch yoga yoga alliance yoga, accountability |
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