Living Freely

I've been thinking a lot about inversions lately. One reason for this is that I've taken them out of my practice until after the baby arrives (May 26th!).  At first, I saw this as a set back.  But it's not, it's just a change, and like everything, it's temporary.  Letting go of my inversion practice wasn't easy. For one thing, they are my favorite poses to practice. I love being upside down. It makes you strong and balanced, it makes you happy because blood flow to your brain is both calming and energizing which is helpful when you feel stressed. It keeps your bones strong and increases blood flow to your lungs which helps you breathe better. We also see things from a different perspective since we're literally upside down. When we can breathe, find balance and strength, and see things from a different point of view, life becomes much easier, and much more joyful. We learn that nothing holds us back except our own thoughts or our expectations about our situation.

On our mat, when we let go of our expectations of what our practice should look like or feel like and instead simply accept what ever happens, acknowledging that each day is different, and no matter what happens on any given day, we can either resist or be open and accepting, then we free ourselves. We give ourselves permission to walk the path of peace and happiness.

We all hold ourselves to certain expectations, and that's not a bad thing. But as with everything (on and off the yoga mat), we must find balance. It's an ever unfolding dance of setting high expectations and working to meet them while being able to accept and forgive ourselves if we don't.  About 2 years ago I saw someone doing Scorpion pose and I made it my goal to learn that pose. A year later I still hadn't mastered it and I was discouraged and annoyed because surely by now with all my practice I should be able to do it! Two years later I still haven't mastered it and I won't be attempting it again for some time. Only this time, I'm not discouraged or annoyed. Instead I'm grateful to have found other things: my off-the-wall headstand and my on-the-wall handstand and forearm balance. I'm grateful to have found acceptance for what I can do each day instead of resistance towards what I cannot.

There is great strength in letting go of the expectations we set for ourselves. This doesn't mean we are lazy or unmotivated, it means we are accepting of our path. We move forward, without resistance, with whatever might come our way. It means we are present. We are honoring this moment. Eckhart Tolle says, "The greater part of human pain is unnecessary. It is self-created as long as the unobserved mind runs your life. The pain that you create now is always some form of non-acceptance, some form of unconscious resistance to what is." Each day, we must face whatever comes our way. Some days are easy. Other days there is resistance. But each day we must breathe, let go, and live fully and freely. 

"Most of us have two lives. The life we live and the unlived life within. Between the two stands resistance." Steven Pressfield