Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Perfect Pose, the Perfect Yogi: What is Perfection?
One of my students recently shared his frustration in his yoga practice and finding patience and peace even when he can't get the pose "right". In my classes, I might correct and mantra about where your foot should be, which direction to point your knee and how to place your hands, but yoga, like life, is like a journey. You might also hear me say that I don't mind if you have your own hand position for a pose, because I honor your individuality and love when you find your own power or inner strength in a pose. There are many steps in life and numerous steps in every yoga pose and we build each and every one. But can a pose be perfected?
When I found yoga, I felt like I was home. Home was the only word that came to mind. For years before, I had always said to others and to myself that I wished to find inner peace. This "home" was the path to get me there, I just knew it. A constant thinker, yoga force me to drop my mind clutter and concentrate on the pose, posture, positioning and breath to "get it right" and not fall over.
Sure, my teacher at the time was and still is as flexible as Gumby and could glide into any pose with ease and grace. I liked the challenge and was ready to rise to it and work my body so someday I could also attain that grace and beauty in a pose. As I continued to train, I learned that though my inspirational teacher was able to bend into any pose, she lacked strength and control in some poses and was actually not working all the muscles that she could have been to truly perfect the pose.
We learn about ourselves, our bodies, our minds, our emotions through yoga. In a single pose, you can know if you're having an off day, because you are physically off-balance. If you have a lot of worry on your mind or you're struggling with something from work or at home, it will creep into your yoga. That's just how it goes. We are spiritual beings living a physical experience and in yoga body, mind and spirit work together or against each other. When all three are in alignment, your yoga can be bliss. But at those times when all is chaotic and out of balance, those are the moments when you can discover things about yourself that you didn't know and find peace, forgiveness and even perfection.
"How is that possible?" you might ask. First, we have to define "perfection". The American Heritage Dictionary says it's "an instance of excellence." Even in those moments of shaky Plank Poses or falling Trees, you just might be having a moment of excellence. If you are working with your breath, letting go and being present with yourself, for better or for worse, that can be an enlightening experience. Have you ever been able to forgive yourself for a bad yoga pose? Allowing yourself to just be where you are is liberating.
Last night, I had a new student who had taken off from yoga for three years after an injury. Her physical healing had happened prior, but her emotional healing took longer. Her anger kept her from her yoga practice, something she loved. And now, she is ready and open to the benefits of yoga again. I watched her in class as she worked with her body and patiently rested when she needed to and adapted poses at my advice. It was beautiful to see her surrender and just be. She thanked me after class and I thank her for the gift she gave herself by coming and for choosing my class to come back. To me, that is perfection.
When I was pregnant the first time, I was so frustrated at how my body had less and less ability in yoga. I did not stop going to my traditional yoga classes, so I was "competing" with other teachers or actively practicing yogis. I was hurt when a teacher wouldn't point out my beautiful Fish Pose with Lotus (yes I could still do it pregnant), but would cheer on someone else nearby. I had to remind myself that yoga is not a competition, not even with oneself. Yoga is practice; it is your journey.
By the end of my first pregnancy, I could not even get through one set of Sun Salutations without being very dizzy. Standing poses were great for my pregnant body, but I couldn't hold them for as long anymore. Poses I would pride myself on with challenging variations were now impossible for me.
Teaching had its challenges as well. I could no longer show my students how to do many poses. I had to work with my new body and those obstacles and learn how to teach in a new way. This is the same for students who have had injuries, surgeries, family struggles or even just a bad day. We achieve our own perfection when we practice forgiveness, let go of the frustration and keep going.
Athletes and actors have to keep going no matter what happens. If they fumble, they can't stop and do it over. In yoga, part of the journey is learning to do the same. Millionaires and billionaires will tell you that their failures were the best lessons they had in their life and that there were many. In yoga, those times when you are challenged and struggling can be beautiful.
Pregnancy made me a better teacher, not only for my prenatal students, but for all of my students. I suddenly had to practice everything I had been preaching and teaching before. Breathe through it and stay in the moment. Be with yourself and be patient with yourself.
It is also a practice to take these treasures into day-to-day life. Of course, this is even more difficult and all part of the bigger journey of life. I'm still working on that practice myself. Am I living the "perfect" life? I have a lot to be thankful for and I've had my share of challenges that I can also be thankful for in the strength I have found within. When I step outside of myself and look in, I can see the beauty in the frustrating moments and my flaws. I do not speak in a soothing tone to everyone about everything. And even a non-violent vegetarian can get enraged.
We live in an imperfect world with many different personalities, people, struggles, obstacles and challenges. We have chosen our own paths and most of us are not living in a monastery. We are not gurus living on a hill, meditating all day and spewing words of wisdom when a person ventures up to see us. We are in the dirt, grit and grime of life and what a beautiful life it is, if you allow yourself to breathe, look out into the distance and see it for the wonder that it is.
In the chaos of the holiday season, practice your yoga, practice your breathing and practice patience. We all have challenging relatives to "deal" with. There are expectations and let-downs. Find your own peace. Experience your own "instance of excellence." Discover your bliss this holiday season and enjoy the journey.
When I found yoga, I felt like I was home. Home was the only word that came to mind. For years before, I had always said to others and to myself that I wished to find inner peace. This "home" was the path to get me there, I just knew it. A constant thinker, yoga force me to drop my mind clutter and concentrate on the pose, posture, positioning and breath to "get it right" and not fall over.
Sure, my teacher at the time was and still is as flexible as Gumby and could glide into any pose with ease and grace. I liked the challenge and was ready to rise to it and work my body so someday I could also attain that grace and beauty in a pose. As I continued to train, I learned that though my inspirational teacher was able to bend into any pose, she lacked strength and control in some poses and was actually not working all the muscles that she could have been to truly perfect the pose.
We learn about ourselves, our bodies, our minds, our emotions through yoga. In a single pose, you can know if you're having an off day, because you are physically off-balance. If you have a lot of worry on your mind or you're struggling with something from work or at home, it will creep into your yoga. That's just how it goes. We are spiritual beings living a physical experience and in yoga body, mind and spirit work together or against each other. When all three are in alignment, your yoga can be bliss. But at those times when all is chaotic and out of balance, those are the moments when you can discover things about yourself that you didn't know and find peace, forgiveness and even perfection.
"How is that possible?" you might ask. First, we have to define "perfection". The American Heritage Dictionary says it's "an instance of excellence." Even in those moments of shaky Plank Poses or falling Trees, you just might be having a moment of excellence. If you are working with your breath, letting go and being present with yourself, for better or for worse, that can be an enlightening experience. Have you ever been able to forgive yourself for a bad yoga pose? Allowing yourself to just be where you are is liberating.
Last night, I had a new student who had taken off from yoga for three years after an injury. Her physical healing had happened prior, but her emotional healing took longer. Her anger kept her from her yoga practice, something she loved. And now, she is ready and open to the benefits of yoga again. I watched her in class as she worked with her body and patiently rested when she needed to and adapted poses at my advice. It was beautiful to see her surrender and just be. She thanked me after class and I thank her for the gift she gave herself by coming and for choosing my class to come back. To me, that is perfection.
When I was pregnant the first time, I was so frustrated at how my body had less and less ability in yoga. I did not stop going to my traditional yoga classes, so I was "competing" with other teachers or actively practicing yogis. I was hurt when a teacher wouldn't point out my beautiful Fish Pose with Lotus (yes I could still do it pregnant), but would cheer on someone else nearby. I had to remind myself that yoga is not a competition, not even with oneself. Yoga is practice; it is your journey.
By the end of my first pregnancy, I could not even get through one set of Sun Salutations without being very dizzy. Standing poses were great for my pregnant body, but I couldn't hold them for as long anymore. Poses I would pride myself on with challenging variations were now impossible for me.
Teaching had its challenges as well. I could no longer show my students how to do many poses. I had to work with my new body and those obstacles and learn how to teach in a new way. This is the same for students who have had injuries, surgeries, family struggles or even just a bad day. We achieve our own perfection when we practice forgiveness, let go of the frustration and keep going.
Athletes and actors have to keep going no matter what happens. If they fumble, they can't stop and do it over. In yoga, part of the journey is learning to do the same. Millionaires and billionaires will tell you that their failures were the best lessons they had in their life and that there were many. In yoga, those times when you are challenged and struggling can be beautiful.
Pregnancy made me a better teacher, not only for my prenatal students, but for all of my students. I suddenly had to practice everything I had been preaching and teaching before. Breathe through it and stay in the moment. Be with yourself and be patient with yourself.
It is also a practice to take these treasures into day-to-day life. Of course, this is even more difficult and all part of the bigger journey of life. I'm still working on that practice myself. Am I living the "perfect" life? I have a lot to be thankful for and I've had my share of challenges that I can also be thankful for in the strength I have found within. When I step outside of myself and look in, I can see the beauty in the frustrating moments and my flaws. I do not speak in a soothing tone to everyone about everything. And even a non-violent vegetarian can get enraged.
We live in an imperfect world with many different personalities, people, struggles, obstacles and challenges. We have chosen our own paths and most of us are not living in a monastery. We are not gurus living on a hill, meditating all day and spewing words of wisdom when a person ventures up to see us. We are in the dirt, grit and grime of life and what a beautiful life it is, if you allow yourself to breathe, look out into the distance and see it for the wonder that it is.
In the chaos of the holiday season, practice your yoga, practice your breathing and practice patience. We all have challenging relatives to "deal" with. There are expectations and let-downs. Find your own peace. Experience your own "instance of excellence." Discover your bliss this holiday season and enjoy the journey.
