The Yogic Journey
The Journey
Is having a ‘Bad’ practise better than no practise at all?
When you’ve been to a class- nothing was different to usual, but something didn’t click for you in practise. You lost your balance, you weren’t breathing fully, what normally feels good just isn’t easy today. You start to unravel a little- maybe even taking a time out in Child’s pose and when everyone else is winding down for Svanasana you arrive there screeching sounds in your head, tense and frustrated.
I think it is safe to say every Yogi at some point (and several times) has this class. I have had my fair few to say the least! What is it? Why? You usually feel so peaceful and energised after Yoga. In short; you brought your unresolved issues with you to practise, and instead of being able to hone in on your breath you’ve stayed tuned in to your emotions. Now those who practise with me know I encourage you to ‘Feel all the feels,’ and today this is clearly where you need to be. The biggest encouragement I can give you in this class is….to breathe. Keep breathing. Our breath supports our emotions. Our breath has the power to change our nervous systems from ‘Fight or Flight’ to ‘Rest and Relax.’ Our breath allows us to find space for another small moment in an Asana (pose) that makes us feel uncomfortable.
What perhaps is a little more blindsiding than a frustrating practise is a pose that catches you unaware and you feel something simmering under your surface. It’s suddenly really heavy on your chest or you feel your throat get that emotional lump. It can make you retract from that place you went physically to let the emotions subside, but the places we want to go the least are often the ones that we need the most. Stay. Breathe. Whatever is releasing- sit with it. This too shall pass.
I was in a class not that long ago and I went it, level headed, calm and looking forward to it. It hit 40 minutes through and as we moved into Ushtrasana (Camel) with a few poignant words from the teacher encouraging us to let go…. and I was still crying in Svanasana. The journey is and will still be there for me too. Over a decade on down the path and there’s still hurdles I learn to deal with. It’s all part of the process.
Approaching a new posture that challenges you physically and emotionally is also a large process of evolving in your physical Yogic journey. The real challenge however comes from honouring your body and not your ego. Yes, we all want to grow, to learn, to progress but sometimes we aren’t physically capable yet. You haven’t failed. Just in the same way as using a block for adapting a pose isn’t cheating. But acknowledge your capabilities for today. Don’t be held back by your frustrations. Grow in strength of mind if nothing else for today.
The truth is we are all on a Yogic journey and as in life we learn to take the good with the bad. Every pose you fall out of you learn, you adjust, you evolve. Every frustrated moment of practise you can learn from- is your ego in control? Are you breathing? How are you feeling? There’s a lot of acceptance and surrender needed. There’s a lot of courage and challenging yourself in order for your emotions, frustrations and tears to be acknowledged. Don’t fear the ‘bad’ practises. It’s all part of the journey.
Hari Aum Tat Sat