Try Something New!

Jason Crandell said that "Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are."  What he means by this is that even though your yoga mat is a familiar place and your body is a familiar vessel, every time you step onto that mat with your body is a chance to experience something new.  Will you find yourself more flexible this time?  Will one side of your body be stronger than another?  Are you aligned?  Is it hard for you to find balance today?

Our bodies are constantly speaking to us.  If we don't take the time to slow down and listen, we might miss what's being said.  If your body feels the need to make you listen, it will yell or scream at you (a sensation you might interpret as "pain" or "ouch").  Yoga affords us that chance to slow things down and breathe, and observe.  As in any good relationship, it's a good idea to stop and "listen" before you get to that point of pain or ouch.

The act of self-study has an important place in the practice of yoga.  In sanskrit, it's called Svadhyaya (S-vud-hee-ah-ya), and it is one of the 5 Niyamas - the ways in which you relate to yourself.  Whether you've only recently begun a yoga practice, or you've been a regular at a studio or class for some time, your mat provides a good space for you to relate to yourself, to study yourself, and get to know yourself a little bit better.  Each time you try a new pose, slow down and observe your body in the posture.  Listen.  Is your body speaking to you?  Is it telling you that this pose feels great - or is it telling you that this pose is approaching your "edge" of what's good.  Study how your body flows into and out of the pose, and study how it reacts.  Will a modification help your body react better, or will your body be happier if you kick it up a notch and go a little deeper?

9 years ago did I think I would ever have the strength to do a side plank?  Did I ever think I'd have the balance to do Tree pose?  Could I imagine I'd have the stamina to do 9 Sun Salutations in a row?  Not a chance! ...but by spending my time on the mat, listening to my body, I slowly, surely progressed in my practice.  I still can't do a split, and my inversions leave a lot to be desired, but there always needs to be something to work towards, always something new to try.

With a "studious" level of attention to your practice, step-by-step, you'll begin to feel comfortable with your practice, and that's when it's time to try something new...because life gets boring when you stay within the limits.  If you don't give yourself a chance to try something new, you'll never know what's possible!

JUST FOR FUN!  Don't forget to vote in the survey at the top of the blog:  "Which is your favorite brand of yoga pants?"  Only a few days left to respond, until a new question is posted!