Today I experienced transformation. I think we always experience some form of it every time we choose to step on our mat. This morning I was challenged by my mind. It said to stay put on the couch, read an entire novel, and feel sorry for myself. I chose to get off my butt and get to Dean Lerner's Saturday morning session. I am very thankful I did.
Dean's sense of humor and dedication to the method are always refreshing to me. Today he encouraged us to move beyond the rigidity that can sometimes accompany the Iyengar method. He spoke of the importance of Supta Pandangusthansana series and the positive effects it can have on our hips. When we got to anatasana, a difficult pose for most of us, he had me press into his foot with my bottom foot for stability. I felt some freedom and stability I typically do not feel in that wobbly pose. Then he says, "What happens if I walk away?" I thought to myself, "AHHHH! Don't do it! I want to keep this feeling. Please oh please!" He did anyways, and I wobbled. Dean also taught a point in a few postures of the importance of not just stretching, but to challenge the top leg and arm away from one another to create even more steadiness in the posture. Lesson learned, I lived and I learned the importance of not just being flexible, but being stable. I walked in feeling like a sea-legged zombie, walked out able to stand up and face the rest of my day.
No matter where we are at in our lives, in our bodies, in our minds, the practice of asana, breath, and simple mindfulness can change the moment. Thank you Dean for sharing your pearls of wisdom.
Dean's sense of humor and dedication to the method are always refreshing to me. Today he encouraged us to move beyond the rigidity that can sometimes accompany the Iyengar method. He spoke of the importance of Supta Pandangusthansana series and the positive effects it can have on our hips. When we got to anatasana, a difficult pose for most of us, he had me press into his foot with my bottom foot for stability. I felt some freedom and stability I typically do not feel in that wobbly pose. Then he says, "What happens if I walk away?" I thought to myself, "AHHHH! Don't do it! I want to keep this feeling. Please oh please!" He did anyways, and I wobbled. Dean also taught a point in a few postures of the importance of not just stretching, but to challenge the top leg and arm away from one another to create even more steadiness in the posture. Lesson learned, I lived and I learned the importance of not just being flexible, but being stable. I walked in feeling like a sea-legged zombie, walked out able to stand up and face the rest of my day.
No matter where we are at in our lives, in our bodies, in our minds, the practice of asana, breath, and simple mindfulness can change the moment. Thank you Dean for sharing your pearls of wisdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment