I took up a serious yoga practice just before the pandemic hit. I had dabbled in it many years ago for a short time, but this journey has been very different. I’m seeing so many parallels between what I experience “on the mat” and life, particularly my spiritual life and growth. Many of these poses are very challenging–they require balance, strength, and flexibility but most all consistent practice and patience.
My daily practice is comprised of many different poses but there have been a few that I’ve been particularly determined to learn. Two of them are called sitting compass and standing compass. In both one leg is basically straight up in a sort of splits while the opposite arm reaches over your head to hold that opposite flying foot. (As hard as it to describe it, it’s much harder to do it.) After a few months of working at this, yesterday was the first day I felt relatively stable in the pose–relative to feeling like a contorted pretzel ready to crack at any moment that is.
What I’ve noticed often happens is that I work at these poses (and so many others), and slowly, often at what seems like a snail’s pace, things open up just a little bit. Sometimes it even seems like I move backwards for a little while. Then one day it’s just there–it just seems to happen and feels so natural that it’s hard to imagine that I couldn’t do it at one point.
I don’t know about you, but I know I often want instantaneous results and get frustrated in life when this doesn’t happen. (Which means a lot of frustration.) Of the many things I’m experiencing in this yoga practice is seeing what a consistent, often snail’s pace practice, can do. I’ve been learning a different kind of patience with myself than I’ve known before. There’s a kindness and gentleness with myself that I’m also finding is necessary.
There’s also a deeper sense of support I feel for myself–I’m becoming my own cheerleader of sorts. Various poses that were so challenging at first slowly become more natural feeling. As this happens, I see this same idea most likely applies to many (maybe not all) of the poses that I am yet to learn as well. Seeing this, I find myself “cheering” myself on to just move in the right direction…even if it’s only the tiniest step.
Princess Sassy Pants & Co.™ 
You always get me to thinking about life and things i need to do for my self to get me moving and to forget all the things that are going on and to find the inter peace with Yoga. Thank
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This is so lovely. I often worry about my snails pace. I dont think I need to though, I will consider it a blessing XX
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I remember doing yoga at the North Fourth Art Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yesterday I exercised with the OT Circus on Zoom. The OT Circus doesn’t do tricks although people might think the arts and exercise are tricky.
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Indeed! this is really the adventure of discovering how evertyhing really work and , with perseverance, patience,commitment, and meditation we can really learn so much more about our selfs…………this is just perfect Embracing this time is all it matters
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That was my experience with yoga, too when I started over 13 years ago due to the recommendation of a doctor. You will begin to see that even though you have mastered Yoga to a certain point, you will have many start overs over the years as life may challenge you mentally or physically. It will be in those moments that you appreciate the ability to start again. I am so glad you discovered this practice. It will be a continuing blessing in your life.
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Thank you for this. One of the things I love about this practice is that I see I will always be challenged–that no matter how far you go, there’s always more to learn and more room for growth. I love that as I often drop things when I don’t feel challenged.
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Good morning ! Thank you for the inspiration.
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❤
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*Jane not Jamie. Oops–so sorry!
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Oopsie. xo I’ll answer to Jamie too. I’m so used to peeps getting my name wrong. Years ago I started introducing myself, “Hi, I’m Jane, like in Tarzan.” It’s the only way I found that people would remember my name! Haha!
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Jamie–thank you so much for this post! It truly resonated with me…as many of your posts do! Just love PSP!!! xoxo
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