Transitions & Change in Yoga & Life
As with yoga, so with life. Transitions and change are always happening…Sometimes we transition through these changes with relative ease. Sometimes we move ungracefully and with much difficulty…
As with yoga, so with life. Transitions and change are always happening. We transition from downward facing dog to warrior 1. We go from being a teenager to being an adult. We flow from mountain pose to forward fold. We move from one home to another. Sometimes we transition through these changes with relative ease. Sometimes we move ungracefully and with much difficulty. And what may be easy for me may be hard for you and vice versa. We all come with a special set of skills that make us a natural at some things and other times we have to work hard to move gracefully and live with a sense of inner peace amongst the chaos that sometimes comes with change. We’re all different but also the same: trying to live life to the best of our ability. Sometimes we do it well and other times we sort of stink at it.
Maybe we can use our yoga practice to learn how to move a little more gracefully through life’s changes. For example, I may need to transition from downward dog to a lunge position a little differently than other students in the yoga class due to a recent illness, having a different body shape or just feeling a little more stiff than usual one day. There is no shame in modifying my practice or using props like yoga blocks to fit my needs. It’s better to learn to move gracefully within my limits than force myself to move like someone else in the class. When I’m forcing, I’m not accepting. And when I’m not accepting, I’m judging harshly.
It’s the same in life. One person’s way of moving through life and all the changes that come with it will likely be a bit different from everyone else’s. I may have to modify my plan or try something that appears a little outside of the norm to fit my specific personality. There is no shame in it. There is no use in comparing my way against someone else’s way. I may long to flow through life being able to hop from one place to another and make a new friend everywhere I go. But I’m not built that way. Once I accept my limits I can flow through life a bit easier. It may be harder for me to work up the courage to speak to someone I don’t know or adjust to a new environment, but when I go at my own pace instead of forcing things, the result is usually better. Just like yoga, when I’m forcing myself to be some way other than what I am, I’m not accepting. I’m judging harshly. When we judge ourselves harshly we don’t feel good and that spills onto others. And that can really make some messes.
We all come with limitations and abilities. And I have to remind myself that as much as I may long on some days to do such and such like so and so, that so and so may long to do some other such and such just like me. So just be yourself, modify where you need to and learn to accept your limitations while also striving to be your best. YOUR best. Not so and so’s best. Don’t give up on yourself, keep learning and keep practicing. Find the gracefulness within in your limits. In your yoga practice and in life. You’ll eventually move a little closer to a sense of inner peace along the way.
Practice finding your unique gracefulness here as we look at three different ways to transition from downward facing dog to a lung position.
♡,
Kristen
