A lot has happened to me though from the last time I wrote to today. December was a month of excesses that found me skipping yoga classes week after week. I finished December only attending 3 classes that found me wanting to go back to a healthy routine at the start of the year. Almost every teacher talked about detoxification and how the holiday season was a time of excesses. My body happily cried in tolerable soreness a couple of days after attending my first yoga class in 2015.
In a matter of days, I got back in my routine and found my muscles slowly resurfacing. I also found my strength and realized how my strength has improved from the first time I practiced yoga 6 months ago. I am happy to report that I no longer shy away from Chaturanga Dandasana. I feel I no longer plop down like a worm when doing it. Truly though, learning is a never-ending process because I may have learned how to do Chaturanga but I am still learning how to hold it. I still can't hold the pose in a breath in the 90-degree angle. Apart from that, I am learning on becoming more aware in engaging my core in the usual poses we do. Refinement.
 |
| Chaturanga Dandasana Photo grabbed from Yoga Journal |
Yesterday I attended a FNR Transition to Vinyasa class with MM. Most of the students were regular students who are more advanced than I am. They are very inspiring. Gender, age and shape are not hindrances to what they are able to accomplish with their bodies. One of the highlights of the class was moving into Pincha Mayurasana (or Feathered Peacock; also Forearm Stand) from Dolphin. When we were all in Dolphin, the teacher went around giving instructions to some students. After a couple of minutes, he said that all those who he did not give instructions to will do a Pincha Mayurasana against the wall. I was very surprised and it was at that moment when doubt flooded in my brain and clouded my focus. I tentatively went near the wall and set up a mat and a block. I prepared for it but forgot all the instructions our teacher gave, losing the alignment of my forearms and the openness of my chest. One of my classmates gave me tips, telling me not to place my head on the block as I appeared to have forgotten what the block was for. He also told me to keep my legs straight and to bring my hips to the wall. I couldn't do it.
 |
| Pincha Mayurasana Photo grabbed from Yoga Journal |
The teacher went to my area and helped me up and saw how poor my alignment was. He asked me if I wanted to try again or just to stay in Dolphin. I chose the latter. My body might be able to hold the weight but my mind wasn't ready.
 |
| Dolphin Photo grabbed from Yoga Journal |
It was then that I realized how big a role our minds have over us. It can convince us of things that might not necessarily be true. I also realized how the mind needs convincing of what the body is already capable of. My body at that time was like a child begging for faith from a higher authority (my mind). Thinking about it now, perhaps this it what went down between my mind and my body:
Body: Come on, let's do it!
Mind: Are you sure we can do this?
Body: Yes! We are strong enough.
Mind: I'm not convinced. We haven't done this before.
Body: Trust me.
Mind: I don't know. I don't think we can.
I figured, the body and the mind at times do not agree on what an individual is capable of. In a lot of instances, my mind wins over my body. Overcome by hear and instead of being fueled by courage. Fight or flight, they say. Apparently, at that moment flight won.
The good thing though is that I recognized what held me back and I am even more determined now to overcome that which frightens me and holds me back from what I can do. I can't evade inversions if I were to continue my yoga practice. Someday, I will not be afraid anymore.
No comments:
Post a Comment