Freedom to Fly_Letting Go of Fear

"By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try, the world is beyond the winning."
~Lao Tzu

We can probably all agree that all of us want nothing more than peace and happiness. What many disagree on is what it is that makes us happy. In our lives we might strive for belongings, a certain job, or a relationship of some sort. On our mat, we might be happy if we can achieve a certain pose or look perfect in our vinyasa practice. But true happiness comes from letting go of desire, letting go of resisting what is Now, and embracing what we can do, what we already have, instead of forever looking for the next thing. Eka Pada Galavasana, or flying pigeon, is a pose that requires us to become aware of and face our fears. It is a lesson in addressing what holds us back and where the fear comes from. In our lives we sometimes stay in our comfort zone because we are afraid of what might happen if we venture from it. But when we let go of the past, of what we know, of what we think about ourselves, and embrace the opportunity to open our wings and fly, we open up doors to limitless possibilities.

Fear is an emotion that can stop us in our tracks. When we have a goal, whether a pose or something in our lives, failure to reach that goal can send us into darkness, feeling shame, embarrassment, depression, or thinking we're not good enough. It can prevent us from moving forward and experiencing some of our greatest successes and, in the end, true happiness. Each failure is a lesson. We had to fail in order to learn that lesson. That failure was our only way. It was our path. You are here for a purpose and your failures lead you to your purpose. They are often the door toward success. You've heard the phrase "when one door closes, another opens." And its true. Our failures, our disappointments, lead us to our truth, to our happiness. But this will only be true when we are open to receive and accept failure. When we are ready to allow our path to unfold. When you face a challenging pose on your mat, accept it and find your edge. Falling out of a pose is a great achievement because it means you've let go of fear and invited the risk of failure into your practice. Yoga is exactly that, after all, a practice. 

"Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny - he or she has something to fulfill, some message that has to be delivered, some work that has to be completed. You are not here accidentally - you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you." ~Osho

Transitions

Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path… exactly where you are meant to be right now… And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love.” ~ by Caroline Adams  

Last week, my asana practices focused on core strength and on energizing and mindfully using our core. The core is not only a physical space but an energetic one as well. It "is what supports us spiritually in our lives, and physically in our yoga practice. If our core is weak, the ups and downs of life are much harder to take. A strong core makes us more resilient." (Rachel Brahinsky, Yoga Journal). Physically, a strong core increases our digestive fire, holds us upright, and protects our low back. In our practice, it allows us to float into and out of poses, to keep our balance steady, and to conquer advanced poses like headstand, jump backs, jump throughs, handstands, and so on.

Meanwhile, our inner, spiritual connection emphasized change - both internal and external. As we move into fall, change is upon us; the leaves change colors, the weather begins to cool, and days become shorter. While this time of year is one that reminds us of change, change is not reserved for autumn. Change is constant. Nothing in this world is permanent.  Each day is a new day, each practice a new practice. We know that everything in this world is constantly changing, shifting, evolving, and transforming. Our yoga practice changes each time we step to the mat, our life situation changes day by day, if only subtly. Our challenge is to invite change - to accept it and to honor it, without labeling it as good or bad. In reality, there is no such thing as good and bad. We make things good or bad by labeling them as such. Change is just change. So if everything in this world is temporary, constantly changing, how we handle change and transition is important. Consider how you handle transitions in your practice. Do you move gracefully? Are you focusing on Now or what the pose of the person next to you looks like? Do your feet land with a thud or with no sound at all?  Are you breathing with the poses? That space between the poses is important. Sacred, even. Just as the space between the hustle and bustle of our daily lives is sacred. As we become more grounded and strong through the transitions in our practice, we can carry that strength to the transitions and changes we face in our daily lives.

When we practice, we are often seeking an end result. We want our poses to look a certain way and so we develop the habit, often, of putting our bodies into a pose with the intention of achieving some specific result or look. Your practice is not about appearance, achievement, touching your toes, or coming into a perfect headstand from Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Leg Forward Fold). Its not about the external result but rather an internal shift in awareness of your body, your alignment, and the habits you've developed over time. Pay special attention to each pose, to how you use your core, and to your alignment, and find YOUR perfect pose as it is that day. Each practice is your best practice, because it was the one you were intended to have that day. Remember, "its not about touching your toes. Its about what you learn on the way down."

Be content with your practice, and with your life, as it is, while also allowing for change. Change, after all, is the only consistent thing in this world. You are here to grow, to heal, to evolve, to practice, and to BE. Embrace whatever it is that you bring to your mat each day and whatever comes into your life at each moment.

"It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll."
~Donald Miller