I just read a blog that questioned what the hardest yoga pose is. Well, the answer depends on who is trying to do it, of course. But I wonder at that type of question in the first place. Even experienced teachers sometimes inadvertently put pressure on their students, or themselves, to bend and flex into positions that a particular body is just not ready for (and might never be). There are many benefits to yoga, but there doesn’t need to be a ‘goal’ – the journey, the combination of breath and posture together (mind and body as one) is the goal. Does that sound counterintuitive? Of course there is intent, the ‘full posture’ is where we are heading and we do want to challenge ourselves, but it really doesn’t matter whether we achieve the full asana or not. Moving with purpose is all we need to do. Reach a comfortable (engaged) pose and breathe. Deeply. And focus. If we can do that, with awareness, then we have achieved our ‘goal’, we are on or in the journey. And we then reap the many benefits, both mentally and physically, a bonus.
2 Comments
7/4/2013 08:27:28 pm
size, age and personal bendiness come into this too. while people might feel they've achieved more when they can feel that something is hard for them to do, it might be an indicator that that pose is precisely what they shouldn't be doing yet. part of this is about framing the challenges so we get that triumphant feeling without having to damage ourselves in the process. says the person with the mysterious knee injury - where it came from, how i did it, i don't know, all i know is getting up and down is painful right now - thinking about modelling this evening and what poses are going to be possible.
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VickyB
11/6/2013 09:01:18 pm
Lucy, thanks for reading, you are so right. Our body shapes are all different, our physical and mental states are different from one another (and varies individually from day to day). I may use your words "getting the triumphant feeling without damaging yourself in the process" in my beginners yoga class, if you don't mind! I hope your knee has recovered fully.
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I’m a life coach, yoga teacher, communications professional and fitness enthusiast. I’m a closet techie and science boff in my spare time. I’m also part-time slave and taxi driver to a 14 year old.
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