Yoga has been the most self-teaching tool, idea, light, way in my life. Writing this post right after my practice on my matt should compliment that belief.
How yoga became a big part of me and when I realized all the teaching yoga kept inside was little over a year ago when I had to travel to India for work. I was supposed to spend two weeks, my main goal being training other people. Until then, I used to practice what you can sort of call yoga once a week. India was overall a transformative travel that marks an important place in my life. It hugely owes this reputation to yoga.
Right before my travel and having read "Eat, Pray, Love", I was determined to find a yoga studio, or even a small retreat. Going through pages of search results in the internet, I saved couple places I put my mind to visit. I was thinking perhaps I will do yoga once or twice during my stay in India.
The first day after visiting our office and coming back to my fairy tale like hotel (actually palace), I went for a run on the treadmill. I was not too excited about the treadmill as a person who likes running outside; but oh well. On my way back from gym, I saw this post hanging on the wall. It said yoga - studio by the near the pool - at 5:30 am. Yes 5:30. Yes AM. I thought that is way too early for any kind of exercise. But it was right there. It would be very convenient. Decided to give it a shot the next morning.
Barely making myself out of the bed, I showed up 2 minutes before the class. It was right at dawn, little cool, but by no means cold, very fresh air. The studio as described was overlooking at the pool, all glass windows on the side. Not too big. Maybe for 6-7 people max. Another guy showed up right after our teacher arrived. Starting from that day, that morning, that was it. Every morning I happily made myself be ready for our practice at dawn, with birds singing at the background.
Over the two weeks I spent there, I realized how much I manage to accomplish and that I am more capable than I thought. How even in the most challenging positions I was able to keep calm like there is no struggle. I saw how my body and soul felt better. There was serenity and happiness. I literally felt like a super woman, like nothing really can get to me. Because I found the power within me.
After my India trip I kept practicing. Like almost everyday. Some days twice perhaps. I couldn't get enough of how it made me feel. Recently, however, due to so many reasons I haven't been able to practice. Not because I was done with yoga, not even close. I was busy running a half-marathon, taking advantage of beautiful Californian weather to do all outdoorsy activities. Then the moment came when I realized how much I missed yoga and I started practicing again. Thats when it hit me. All the things I could easily do, all the asanas were harder now. I wasn't as flexible. I wasn't as strong. My level deteriorated. I was disappointed in myself. This came as another teaching itself too. In different aspects:
-You can't take anything granted. What you have now might not be there forever. Acknowledge it.
-If you don't practice what you are good at you will get rusty. You can't rely on it anymore.
-Good news. It is never the end of the road. You can always work on bettering yourself and the situations you are in.
All loops back to one thing in my mind: "I bend, so I don't break". Mentally and physically.
Namaste.
