it is true – i’ve learned far more from my injuries than my ability could ever teach.

because there’s nothing like pain to bring you present and fully into the moment.

right now, it is my shoulder that has been screaming for my attention … yet it wasn’t until it finally brought me to my knees (quite literally) that i actually stopped and realized the warning.

i was somehow able to ignore the dull ache, just to keep blindly going – and it took a full on attack for me to finally stop and be forced to pay some real attention.

because our ability keeps us moving without awareness – but it takes an injury to stop us in our tracks.  our ability fools us into thinking we are invincible – but our injuries keep it real. 

what we achieve and what we are able to do is certainly something to celebrate – but it is in what we can't that we dig deep and develop patience, compassion, tenacity, and endurance, and therefore, find us far more triumphant.

anytime i speak or write like this, i say my ritual prayer … “dear god, i am not asking for any more lessons.  i’m good.  i promise.”  but i know, within this brief pain is the awareness and guidance that would take me a lifetime to acquire without.

it actually took two torn hamstrings for me to discover the practice i now call home: ashtanga .  i had heard that the primary series (yoga chikitsa, meaning therapy) was the healing series.  and my body certainly needed to be healed.

heal it did … and in the process, i received a great gift which is today, my daily yoga practice.  i’m not sure how long it would’ve taken for me to stumble upon this path without being forced off the one i was on … and perhaps there are students quicker than i, who don’t require agony to evolve …

however, i always seem to take the long road.

through my practice, i have learned to look upon any injury as an opportunity for growth.  for it is often the area we hurt that has long needed attention , correction, and opening.  (i’m not sure how many times i’ve instructed and been instructed to always keep shoulders down and back in chataranga … and yet, only now i understand).

but no different from the pain of heartbreak that teaches us both strength and compassion all at once. or the bitterness of disappointment that strips us of our expectations and reveals in its place, paths we’d otherwise, never have noticed.

so here’s to our injuries … forever keeping us present and patient, smarter and kinder, and better connected to who we are while guiding the way to who we are to become.