Yoga and Facing Challenges
4 years ago I was a brand new yoga teacher. CC was my most loyal student at our local studio(not her real name). She was attentive, dedicated, and sweet. One day, when I cued "crow pose" (an arm balance), she seemed uncharacteristically negative about the pose. That day I promised her that we would keep trying and "one day we will get you in that pose". I didn't have enough experience to make such a promise, and I didn't even know my own limitations at the time. She seemed satisfied with my response, and we moved on. Every time I cued crow over the next 4 years, CC would attempt the pose, fall, smile, and move on with her practice without missing a beat. During a recent large class, and CC had her normal place in the back row. I cued crow, offering a few modifications, and began to assist the newer students. I heard a sound from the back row, and looked back to find CC grinning. She mouthed "I did it". How very cool to see her accomplish her goal. Just like any other week, she quickly returned to her practice.
Anyone who has been practicing yoga long enough has had some of these experiences. One of the things that I love about yoga, is it's lessons that apply to daily life. I find it so inspirational to be able to watch students working on their practices, accomplishing goals, and doing so with love and grace. How often are we reluctant to start something for fear of failure? How often do we have a bad attitude when things don't go our way? Here are a few ways to face your daily life like you do your yoga practice.
Try things that scare you, or seem just out of reach. You can do more than you know.
Face the task with a sense of humor. Nobody is perfect at everything, so don't expect yourself to be perfect either.
If you fail, move on graciously. There's always next time.
Keep with it. Dedication is the key to reaching your goals.
Believe in yourself. Starting something with the idea that you can't do it is like praying for something that you don't want to happen.
Encourage others. There is strength in numbers, so seek out other people with the same interests and/or goals.
Just yesterday I had my own accomplishment of the seemingly impossible task, the ellusive Firefly Pose. This had seemed impossible for years, and I deemed it because of my "tight hamstrings". Well, something snapped when I saw CC reach her goal. I tried Firefly with a fresh attitude. I saw possibilities rather than limitations, and you know what? My Firefly got off the ground. What is your Firefly? What are you ready to tackle on or off the mat?
Namaste - Beth