Practicing What We Preach
So I always have some vague notion of how I want my class to begin. Some sort of meditative breath and the layering of movement on that breath, and then fully riding that breath as we begin to flow on the mat. Thats how I like to teach it, present it, offer it up to you.
Now, its just me. Home. 45 minutes to spare, maybe more, depending. I roll that mat out, stereo on, socks off, GO. Suddenly I am on this namaskar ride, 0 to 60. A good friend who is also a body worker and has had her hands on me asked me “why don’t you practice at home the way you teach it?” That is a very good question. Why don’t I? I know that I would never just burst into the studio, turn up the music and send anyone else on that ride. Its sometimes hard to take care of ourselves the way we would take care of others. Do we take our own bodies for granted and ask unrealistic things of ourselves that we would never ask or expect of others?
Tomorrow I will begin again, maybe this time in child’s pose. Maybe I will listen to my friend and my own advice and let myself open gradually, with breath and awareness. And if I don’t, well I can always try again the next day.
(photo courtesy of Teo)