July 28, 2009
When I talk to people who have tried yoga once or twice before, they often describe the experience in reference to how well other people in the class did compared to them. Some people tell me they don’t want to try a yoga class because of the group setting. They are embarrassed by how stiff or uncoordinated they think they are compared to “everyone else in the class.”
When there is a new student or beginner in the class, I like to remind everyone that the practice of yoga is non-competitive and non-comparative. I think Deepak Chopra said it best…”Don’t compare yourself to anyone else-you are where you are and nowhere else.” To progress within the practice we must be willing to accept where we are now. Gently turn your sensitivity to your surroundings off, or at least turn down the volume so that you can pay attention to what’s happening within your own body. Measure your progress on how well you are able to tune in, rather than on how high you can lift your leg compared to your fellow yogi in three-legged downward facing dog. While the setting is within a group, make the practice your own. Instead of sacrificing your alignment and your breath, use the block in triangle pose even when no one else (including the teacher) is. Place a blanket under your knees for extra support if you feel too much pressure on the knee cap. We practice yoga to discover and experience liberation (moksha) in both body and breath. We are all on our own paths to health, healing and well-being. Walk confidently in yours, with no comparisons.
Claudine
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July 13, 2009
When I teach, I close my eyes, bow my head, and with hands together in front of my heart, say ‘Namaste’. This is a common way for most yoga classes to conclude. The gesture acknowledges that the goodness that lives within me, bows to the same Divine goodness that lives within you. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one. This humbling gesture reminds us that we are all of equal standing, and to let go of labels and definitions of ourselves and those around us. If only for that brief moment you are not the bank teller or the head CEO. Nor are you the mother or the younger sibling. Next time you are in a class send ‘Namaste’ to not just your teacher, but those in the class who practiced with you. Acknowledge their goodness and unite in that. For me, the practice would be incomplete without this simple and meaningful action that allows me to honor and give gratitude to all of you for the energy you put into your practice.
In India, the acknowledgement is typically the bow without the verbal. This week my intention is to gently bow (doesn’t have to be noticeable) whenever I find my ego walking in front of me, or when I find myself impatient or upset with someone else. I am no different, and I choose to look for goodness within and around.
Namaste! Claudine
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July 4, 2009
I recently took a class in Boston with one of my favorite teachers, Natasha Rizopoulos. The class was themed around backbends and creating greater mobility in the upper and mid back. After an hour or so, we were still going through aligning ourselves correctly in upward facing dog and going through a series of standing poses that did a number on my thighs. Natasha spent about 80% of the time on prepratory poses leading us to Urdhva Dhanurasana or upward facing bow pose. She reminded us to be patient with the body and with the process of safely and correctly aligning ourselves so as to achieve the length, space and strength required for upward facing bow and the series of camel poses she introduced. I was reminded then, resting in child’s pose, that it’s not so much about the end result as it is about the journey. While I’ve done upward facing bow many times before, the intelligence in her sequencing and the focus on the breath, helped us all to finally experience the pose with greater awareness.
In yoga and in life we can be so focused on the end result, the goal, the accomplishment, and we forget about all there is to learn within the process of achieving those goals. This week, take a step back, be patient, be aware and enjoy the journey.
Claudine
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