Through Line 2.0
Through Line
Yoga growth is rarely plotted on a straight line. Your practice, much like the stock market, goes up and down in its progression. Often you don’t see the through-line of your practice until you have collected enough data and step back. Then it becomes clearer to see how consistency creates a trend line.
Look at your physical practice for a moment. Examine your relationship to the pose Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend). Is the pose easy for you now? Was the pose always easy for you? For me, my hamstrings are tight. It took me a long to even touch the floor let alone touch the floor with straight legs. I had to learn to open the back of the knee pit, to extend the side body, and where to hinge from. As I plot this pose over time, I can see the through-line between the peaks and valleys. What can you see about your Standing Forward Bend or any pose that comes to mind?
This applies to your emotional world. Over time, a sustained, consistent practice, with effort will shape your reactivity. You will gain more control over your responses, not the emotional world itself. Emotions arise and fall and pass through you. This is normal. Your reaction to your emotions is what you are working on in Yoga. It’s not always about the physical pose, even when you’re practicing physical postures. I find many students have a natural fear of an inversion like Headstand. There is a fear of falling, a fear of injury, or a fear of being incapable of doing it. Yoga isn’t about whether you Headstand or not. It is about the process of exploring your physical capability. Whether you can build strength and coordination. It is about your emotional capacity. Whether you can overcome your fears and resistance. You can see this pattern over and over in a myriad of poses.
What we experience on the mat is often what we experience in life. We're practicing changing our response as well as reshaping our perception. I encourage you to take up a consistent practice this year. Do it to work on your physical health. Also, do it to work on your emotional health. Both reasons will help shape your reactions to your life.
Here are my top 3 suggestions to help build a consistent yoga practice:
Leave your mat and props in your favorite yoga spot
Plan in advance by marking your calendar
Mix into your home practice a class with your teacher.
