Pacing Your Yoga
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
It amazes me how many people avoid yoga because they see pictures of people in twisted poses and think they could never do that. Or people who go to one yoga class and feel intimidated because the teacher and students are practicing poses that look impossible. Why, I wonder, would anyone think they could practice an advanced yoga posture right off the bat? To me, that is as ludicrous as a non-runner feeling inferior because they can’t go out and run a marathon. Would you jump into running 26 miles without beginning by running one mile, or a quarter mile, and gradually working your way up? Yoga is no different.
When I started practicing yoga 10 years ago, mainly to cultivate the peaceful loving presence I’d seen in yogis and yoginis, I looked at my teachers’ flexible strong bodies and wished my body could be the same. But I didn’t expect it to happen over night. In fact, I don’t know that I really thought my body would ever become so flexible that I could sit in Easy Pose with my knees easily resting on the floor rather than sticking up six inches, or bring my head anywhere close to my knees in Standing Forward Bend. I started with gentle yoga classes, even as my friends were pushing themselves in vigorous flows. I knew and honored my limits since I was dealing with adrenal fatigue and was not in my 20s, or even 30s anymore. A few years later I lived at a yoga center and began practicing daily. I started pushing myself a little more by taking moderate-level classes. When a pose was too challenging, I didn’t mind simply not doing it. I dabbled with a couple vigorous classes but found they didn’t suit me.
As I continued practicing yoga daily, within the limits of my strength, flexibility, and stamina, an amazing thing happened. Not suddenly mind you, but so gradually I rarely even noticed. My adrenals became rested. My strength improved. I even gained some bicep and tricep definition in my arms—an amazing feat considering that as a child my arms were so skinny that my friends affectionately called me “chicken wings.” I was able to hold poses—practically effortlessly—for minutes at a time. One day I noticed my knees actually did rest comfortably next to the floor in Easy Pose. Just this year, my head naturally touched my knees in Standing Forward Bend. My heart rate is lower, as is my blood pressure. I find myself stressed less often, and live an easier pace of life and feel more compassion for myself and others.
But none of this happened on day one, or two, or even 100. Yoga is a path and a process. One that will lead to improved health, strength, flexibility, endurance, and yes, inner peace. But you must start where you’re at and simply show up, do what you can, and not worry about what your body isn’t ready for. Hmmm. Maybe I should start training for a marathon…
© 2009 Shambhala Mountain Center.
Lori Batcheller is Shambhala Mountain Center’s senior editor. A certified 500-hour Kripalu Yoga instructor, she teaches yoga classes in Boulder, Colorado, and workshops at Shambhala Mountain Center.
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