frustrations from the mat
this note was sent to me via facebook the other day. i thought it worthy to share - and luckily the sender was generous enough to let me. because she voices a frustration so many of us have felt during the course of our practice.
Hi Peg,
I've felt a bit of frustration with my body over the last 2 days because I've found doing certain poses difficult if not impossible to do, when a couple of years ago I would've managed just fine. Yoga's very humbling, and I know that I should take it easy and forget about it, but I get frustrated.
I'm certain that you've had your 'challenges', as well.
Thanks so much for listening!
Rachel
oh rachel - yes. i do have my challenges. and it always amazes me how my this changes, sometimes day to day. one day, i feel perfectly balanced - and the next leaves me wobbling and unable to simply stand on one foot.
then there's those postures i once enjoyed, that now give me pause. while others i felt never accessible, all of a sudden - open up.
there was a time, this would frustrate me. silently berating myself for what i felt i should be capable of, i would leave class with a fierce determination to "master that sucker" next time. or worse, disappointed in myself for what i saw as flaws or failings.
luckily, my mat has given me plenty of experience in handling these little frustrations . . . yet the suffering i endured in earlier days has dissipated. and it has turned to fascination. seriously! instead of creating battle in my head and beating myself up, i love trying to figure out the why's and the how's and seeing how it all connects.
as i fall out of tree pose, i realize my busy morning must still have me reeling - such is life!
or how was it i simply adored my hip openers, yet for a span of a few months, they made me utterly miserable? - perhaps it had something to do with an emotional letting go i was dealing with at the time.
and then why is it my seamless "jump back" makes only sporadic appearances, and almost never when i will it or want it? so random! like it has a personality all its own.
but none of this frustrates me any longer. because my interpretation has changed. and instead of seeing it painfully through the eyes of judgement, i joyfully embrace as an inevitable part of learning and growing.
my yoga has become all about the discovery of who i am and who i am capable of being. and i find myself enthralled and enchanted more than anything! (call it a benevolent form of narcissism, i suppose!)
yes, yoga is humbling for sure. but the opposite of that would be a far bigger ego than i'm willing to endure - or have others endure, for that matter. so humbled i will gladly remain . . . and happy to have you with me!
yes, yoga is humbling for sure. but the opposite of that would be a far bigger ego than i'm willing to endure - or have others endure, for that matter. so humbled i will gladly remain . . . and happy to have you with me!
hope this helps!
in love and laughter,
Posted by peg mulqueen at 12/2/2009 7:34 AM 
Categories: yoga, life lessons, discovery
Tags: yoga frustrations in yoga
Categories: yoga, life lessons, discovery
Tags: yoga frustrations in yoga
I love the idea of being interested rather than frustrated at our progress or changes day to day. Thank you!
Reply to this