Here we find ourselves almost halfway through this incredible, life-changing 101-day challenge. This is quite an accomplishment and each of us are realizing the intrinsic rewards and the unavoidable tribulations!
I now pose to you a personal question? What are YOU holding on to and what is holding YOU back?
What have you unseemly become so attached to that "you just can't have a strong practice without it?"
Must you wear that certain 'costume' or there's no way you can kick your leg back in Standing Bow?
Do you feel overly hot and sweaty in the spine strengthening series if your favorite Yogitoes towel is still in the laundry?
Is it imperative that you have your silver water bottle, filled halfway with crushed ice, and three ice cubes, with a side of chilled Acai-Blueberry-Pomegranate Vitamin Water 10...or you just don't feel right?
Have you heard your mind saying...
I ALWAYS stand on the second line, right of the podium, at a 45° degree angle from my favorite teacher who delivers abbreviated Trikanasana dialog and, I'm convinced, gives us longer Savasanas. (I think I just called myself out...)
I MUST have a drink of water after _______ and _______.
OK, I'll go to class today, but I'm NOT doing Full Locust, and
that's final!!
Of course, we all have our thing. Our quirk. Our attachment. I challenge you fellow Bikram warriors...go crazy, throw caution to the wind! Wear those yoga shorts that are buried in the bottom of your drawer. Bring your last resort towel that doesn't quite cover your entire mat. Enter that gorgeous room with a smile and take the first open space you see. Resist the urge to take that habitual sip of water right before Fixed Firm (ummmm...yes, I'm talking to you).
You just may be surprised that...
YOU can make it through and so can I.
Listen to your body.
Focus on your breath.
and simply do your yoga.
9 comments:
Yesterday, I moved from my favorite spot, the front row far right corner, which is pleasantly next to a wall of windows that provides a whisper of cool air when the heater kicks off. I can only feel it when I am on the floor in savasana but it's so NAWCE!I planted myself in the front row far left corner next to the side mirror. I made the move partially so I would be in the front row for trikanasana forcing myself not to cheat out early but mostly because I was getting too comfortable where I was. It was so much friggin hotter! I felt like it was week one again(see my guest blog post for day 45 ValenTIMES) Being so close to the front mirror and the side mirror distracted me as well, my balance was screwy and I kept wanting to check out my knees from the side to make sure I wasn't hyper extending.
Today, I wore shorts for the first time and wouldn't you know I was able to see my toes in eagle! My piggies slid around so much easier without the material of my capris being in the way ^_^ Michasana
Oh yes, you called me out on the water before Fixed Firm and I can never get to the left side of the room. I am seriously attached to the right side, it's like a magnet that drags me over there. I don't mind if I'm in the front, middle or back but I must be on the right side of the room.
I accept your challenge. Tomorrow I will move to the other side of the room! Thanks for the inspiration!
I love this post! Prior to all of my studio drama, you would've called me out on the friggin carpet with all of this. Due to the changes of studios in Las Vegas I've been forced to : deal with diff flooring, diff heat, diff humidity, not always get in the front row, go to diff sides of the room, drive long distances, go to two diff studios, take a medley of teachers and basically just not ever feel comfortable at all! And I will say this: It's the best friggin' thing that has ever happened to me.....
"Throw caution to the wind!" Haha. Perfect!
My challenge in the challenge is to put my mat on every possible spot in the studio, there is still 4 spots beside eachother in the room I don't like (they are just by the shelfs with all the mats on them) and I try not to go to those spots, but the rest of the spots are fine with me. So now my challenge is, when I come in the room and I see that spot would be a good spot today and then I take the totally oposit spot.
great post! i think we all become "comfortable" in this yoga every once in a while. we think we can't kick any higher, pull any harder or can't survive without that one sip of water. but we can. and doing all these different things are what make the yoga a continual challenge and what will keep us coming back. you have to challenge yourself everyday.
I can't possibly do any pose if the towel is wrinkled under the foot or body. It starts feeling like a rift in the earth about ten seconds in *lol*
Thanks for such an encouraging post. It is so true that our attachments hold us back. Awareness is the first step of letting our attachments go...
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