(this post was written over a year ago when I was healing a broken ankle. I am currently transferring my blog from one site to another and as I reread what i wrote and share them again, I am being reminded of the beautiful lessons that can come when we are open)
Patience with self. How many times I use this as an intention in
my classes, how very seldom I am finding I practice it outside of the
class. I accepted from the onset of my injury that this was going to be
a practice of patience and acceptance. I just did not know it was
going to take so long! LOL The simplest of tasks take so much
more energy as I hobble around balanced on one leg. The right side of
my body is having to do twice as much work not to mention these arms of
mine are getting a daily work out.So today I had an Aha moment, I
know, another one. I am so focused on the end result of being healed, that I am overlooking the process of healing. Healing is
a process and if I rush or ignore my body by pushing to hard, I risk a
set back. How many times do we in our yoga practice have our eyes set
on the end result that we miss that little voice in the hamstring that
says, "too much" while pushing thru a forward fold, or that message from
the body saying back out of the pose.
It is often an injury that
forces us to step back, to be more mindful. So here I am in the midst
of an injury, plenty of time and reason to slow down. What is that
voice in my head that keeps telling me I need to get up, because
obviously the body is sending a very different message.
Yesterday I
recognized that I have a habitual tendency to plantar flex my foot, so I
set out to research this little new awareness. Often people who
present with plantar flexion typically have tight hamstrings. The
tightness in the hamstrings causes the knee to flex which then shifts
the weight forward on to the ball of the foot as opposed to rooting down
thru the heal of the foot.
Runners and sprinters get great power
in their running as they push off thru a plantar flexion of the foot to
propel them forward. I am more grounded then when I began yoga but yet I
am still inclined to push away and find I even do it at rest.
So
today as you move toward the mat, bring your awareness to your feet.
Shift the weight back into your heals as you root down grounding into
the earth. As you stand in Tadasana, feel the breath move thru you, the
inhale moves the energy from the earth up and the exhale releases down
into the earth. Feel the duality of the extension as you ground down,
the head rises up into the clouds and the feet down into the earth.
Notice
the differences between the left and the right and Maintain that
connection to the earth thru the heal of the foot. Sense if your
tendency is to lean forward onto the ball of the foot or are you able to
root down thru the heal as you find a strong solid connection. The
more connected we are to the earth, rooting down, not propping or
collapsing, you are better able to feel that rebound of energy up thru
the spine. Maintain that connection to the earth as we move thru our
standing practice today. Shift the awareness initially to your
foundation and then allow the awareness to move through the body as your
release any tension giving way to ease and stillness.
As you
prepare to leave class today did you notice if your tendency was to
shift the weight forward into the ball of the foot rather then thru the
heal. Remember that this tendency is reflective of tight
hamstrings. The origin of the word hamstring come from the word
hamstrung which means to have been held back. Where in your life are
you holding back. The hamstrings are not a muscle we want to force to
lengthen and it takes time. Knowing this, be patient with yourself as
your explore ways in which you can begin to move forward safely and
comfortable not push and run away like a sprinter at the starting gate.
Stop running and Step into a wonderful world of sensation and a sensational you!
See you on the mat!
As a side note written today, it is now time for me to explore extending thru the heal as opposed to the Barbie doll feet that I tend to use so often in my practice. I have been very tight in my hamstrings, especially in my right let. Could it be that I am only created more tension and shortening of my hamstrings by articulating thru the ball of my feet. Once again, there is no right, it all depends on what it is the body is presenting with today. so for my students and teachers, once again I will pass on this wisdom in my class and encourage you to explore what is going to give you the best result for your body in practice today.
