I am almost finished at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute so thought it deserved a blog of it’s own, given that it was my primary activity for the month.
My profile before arrival:
– able to do about the first half of the primary series, with modifications
– an irregular practise
– consistently tight right hip
Flying high: As with anything new, my first week or so at the shala was really exciting. Adrenaline pumping I was learning all of the specific details of the practise and poses.
Ego Driven: As I improved, I started to view my practise almost like a conquest – maybe I could do all of the poses in the primary series. How cool would that be? I started to push my body.
No Surprise: My body started to show the effects of me forcing it – knee pain from my tight right hip. This resulted in a regression – I couldn’t do some of the poses I was able to do at home. Still ego driven, I started to think about how I could ‘fix’ this – a massage? meditation?
The ‘Aha’ Moment: A sudden thought: How would my life change is I got straight A’s on my yoga report card? What matters most is feeling good during and after practise, both mind and body. I started focussing on compassion and mindfulness in my body. My intention became to smile at myself on the mat, in the mirror, in life.
The Gift: I improved my ability to explore and experience myself through yoga and to cultivate balance. I realized that a life gets crazy, my mat can be my safe place; a place to recharge and connect with something bigger than myself as a source of strength and balance.
My profile after 1 month:
– able to do about the first half of the primary series with a smile on my face
– consistent, daily practise
– a tight right hip which is gradually opening over time
– confirmed and changed appreciation for yoga and life
As Pattabhi Jois said, “Do your practise and all is coming”. I think he was right.
this made me smile too. I love that yoga does that 🙂
Thanks for your yoga insight Dawn. I can't wait to hear more about your yoga experiences. Also looking forward to reading about the next phase of your travels.