how we participate
Photo credit: Ruth Grohman
Several weeks ago I found myself struggling in class. Try as I might, I couldn’t find my balance in Pīncha Mayūrāsana (forearm balance); it was hard to even kick up successfully. And this was just the start of moving to a more difficult posture, Vṛśchikāsana. Had I been practicing on my own or following a video recording, I might have moved closer to the wall and let my feet remain there or I may have given up in a moment of complete frustration. “Why can’t I do this?” But I was participating in an online class; my teacher could see me, so I persisted. I kicked and kicked and stopped to take a few breaths and kicked some more.
While it was frustrating that something I can normally do wasn’t coming on that day, at some point during all that kicking, the frustration faded. I let go of getting to Vṛśchikāsana; I even let go of balancing in Pīncha Mayūrāsana. My intention shifted to what I could do—keep working.
There are so many options for taking class these days—participating online, coming to the studio and even from a video recording. How we participate matters. Had I been practicing along to a video, I would have given up and remained frustrated. But the element of accountability (a teacher’s eyes on me) helped me get beyond the negative thoughts that were gathering; it helped me get beyond my frustration.
Learning what to do and how to do it is an important element of an Iyengar Yoga class. Also important is getting beyond our perceived limitations. While this is possible to do on one’s own, it’s not easy. Having a supportive guide is extremely helpful, so is practicing in the presence of others.
I’m just back from teaching a week-long yoga retreat in Mexico. It was wonderful to practice and teach in the warm sea air. It was refreshing to teach class without any electronic devices, just the sound of the ocean coming through the windows. Being in community, practicing with others was inspiring for all of us. While the next retreat in Mexico is almost a year away (yes, there will be another one!), there’s a local retreat in September. Registration will open soon.
This coming Friday, I’m excited to participate in Portland Audobon’s annual Birdathon. The Warbling Yogis will be seeking birds in a few local hotspots. Along the way, we’ll do a few yoga poses and simple stretches to ease the strain of our hands, shoulders, and neck. There may still be a spot open on our team if you want to join us. You can also participate by making a pledge on our behalf.