I’m trying to re-find my yoga practice because as of late it’s been hiding. I’m not sure if it’s under the bed, in the closet, or if it went on a long walk around the neighborhood, but it’s been missing and it’s time to find it again. It’s time to get back to a consistent practice, it’s better for my body and mind.
Wednesday morning my motivation was once again lacking…I’m not sure why this keeps happening but regardless, I’m trying to do my best to keep balance however that needs to happen. As I kept finding myself putting off my 4 mile run, I found myself toying with the idea of yoga instead. I was lounging on my bed sulking in my own emotions when I decided that today would be the longest day of my life (and leave me physically feeling awful) if I didn’t make myself do something before I went to work. So I put my mat down, I picked out a 25 minute YogaDownload podcast and got to work.
I moved from pose to pose, focusing on my breath, my body and that present moment. That is until I got to dolphin pose. Now I can’t quite explain it but dolphin has never been easy for me even after years of practicing and seeing other poses become easier, dolphin has never been one of those.
The moment I know I’m getting into it the anxiety sets in, knowing what I’m about to face. As I get my arms into place and let my head drop, my neck always holds on making it hard to relax and let it go. And as I lift my legs up getting into the full pose, my shoulders tighten and immediately start shaking. I breathe the best I can, trying to let go of each tight spot but my mind keeps going. Every time I let this pose get the best of me.
I guess it’s like life sometimes and that hill you can’t get over. You psyche yourself out so much that instead of finding the way around, you keep climbing up and sliding back down before you can reach the other side. If only you could learn to breathe then your mind will clear itself of the fog so you can find the best way over or around that hill.
I’m tempted to avoid dolphin pose and instead spend those moments in down dog or child’s pose, or choose podcasts where dolphin isn’t part of the flow. But where would that get me? No where except left with a continued fear for a pose that I’m strong enough to do or an obstacle in life that I’m strong enough to overcome.
Is there a pose in yoga that you try to avoid or leaves you face to face with a tough reality?
Oh friend… yoga itself is killing me. I didn’t realize how bad I had let my flexibility go… I think of you every time I do it though!
Yay! Now if only we could go to a class together! 😉
I’ve never tried to do the dolphin pose before but I can totally relate to the anxiety you feel with certain yoga poses. I’m tall and lanky and it’s always been difficult for me to stretch so I find yoga very challenging. There are many moves I struggle with and I’ve even left with bad back pain after a class one time.
Now I just practice at home with easy TIU girls videos and it feels great. But I’d love to get back into yoga and push myself to get better at the poses. It really is so good for the mind and the body.
Look into YogaDownload.com sessions – they have all sorts of lengths, styles, levels and they come with PDF pose guides. LOVE it!
I’ve been doing a lot of stretching lately, but realized I’ve stopped with my true yoga and there really is a big difference! I need the slowness and focus from a class
I can totally relate! I need to get back to a consistent practice, but one that also includes attending classes at a studio from time to time. 🙂
What a wonderful post! And it is so true. I absolutely love the last quote you have. Yoga has truly taught me patience with myself and just taking things a step at a time. When I first started off, I could barely do any of the poses successfully. Had I given up then, saying ‘I can’t do this, I won’t even bother’ I would have given up on a wonderful thing. Yet I just kept trying each day and with time, I started improving more and more and could hold more and more poses. It allowed me to be more patient and understanding of myself in other areas of my life, too.
Love it! In one podcast the instructor says “this pose will help you be more cordial when someone cuts you off in traffic” – I remember it every time that happens. SUch a wonderful thing.
I really want to get back in to yoga because I know it’s good for runners. I quit because I just never really could do it. I guess I just gave up because I thought it was too hard and uncomfortable. I didn’t see the benefits like I do now. So to answer your question, for me… all of them!
Try YogaDownload sessions or some other at-home podcast because then you can practice in the comfort of your own home and help you ease into it!