on the mat | always learning

I am enjoying my new role at our little shala as assistant to R&E. It's a role I take very seriously and am blessed to have such a fabulous teacher take me under her wing. The more I learn about our practice, the more I learn that I have so much more to learn! We are always first and foremost students in this practice. Sharing what we know however we can is just a small little step.

Namaste.

on the mat | letting go of ego

Practicing this ashtanga yoga is a funny thing. On the one hand, doing the same poses every day is a good measure of progress over time. On the other hand, those same poses that were once easy can be difficult and vice versa and that can do a number on your mind. 

So, for me, part of the practice is letting go of what you can and can't do (not meaning that the physical effort to practice isn't put in) and taking each practice for what it is. Some days things come easier, some days not so much. And it's all good. 

How well a person does a pose does not reflect how "good" a yogi she is. Being present in the moment, breathing, and letting go is what it is about.

Namaste.

on the mat | learning to be a teacher but always a student

My teacher asked me if I was interested in learning to teach a couple months ago. And of course I said yes! Loving this practice means I love to learn and practice it but would love the share that as well. We are starting slow...I am observing her teach after I practice on Sunday mornings. Today I actually helped her adjust a few students (one of them being my husband). And I practice adjusting her on our self practice days.

After practice on Sunday she goes over things she wants me to learn. And it's been so interesting - not only seeing how other people practice and their strengths and weaknesses but also using that knowledge to deepen my own practice.

One conference in India I remember Sharath saying that people always want to be teachers but never students. This girl will always be a student but hopefully can pass a bit of knowledge along in the process.

Namaste.

on the mat | shanti

Yoga has been so good this year. Feeling strong and flexible. Injuries fading away. This practice can heal what hurts you, both inside and out. 

Sometimes I find it funny that something that can be so taxing on your mind and body bring such fulfillment to your soul. Peace, indeed.

Namaste.

a good start

Being able to start my day on my mat makes me happy. When practice flows well, I am even more happy. But even on days when I'm not feeling my best, I would rather have practiced than not. 

I read somewhere that the world would be a happier place if we all practiced yoga and I seriously believe that.

on the mat | be kind

This quote was from my Yogi tea last night and got me to thinking. I have always been a rather impatient person and my number one pet peeve is tardiness. But learning patience seems to be a big part of yoga asana (pose) practice. You won't be able to do so-and-so pose without being able to do the pose before it proficiently and the pose before that, etc. etc. If you try to hurry yourself along and force your body into a movement it's not ready for, you end up hurting yourself.

So what does patience have to do with compassion and kindness? I, like most people, tend to take things personally (someone being late means they don't value my time) when, in reality, it's all about the other person (they were late because they got stuck in traffic/forgot their phone/ran over a squirrel/{insert any number of reasons that have nothing to do with me}). So one personal goal I have for my 42nd year is to take a deep breath, put myself in the other person's shoes, and try understanding instead of assuming. Keeping my fingers crossed on this one!