I am elated. It's been almost 7 months since I've begun my Mysore Ashtanga Yoga practice and I've noticed an immense amount of progress. My hamstrings and calves are more flexible. My core is stronger. My arms can carry me through my ten warm-up Surya Namaskaras with ease. And I have an better connection with my body. All because I've committed to something and am set on perservering through the challenges to reach my goals.
The formula is so simple, yet there are many reasons we lack the willpower to embrace it. As I saw most recently in my Ashtanga practice, it’s not until we begin seeing the benefits or having little victories, do we fathom that the combination of commitment and perseverance means reward.
Mysore Ashtanga differs from other styles of yoga in the sense that 1) the student goes at their own pace with the guidance of a teacher/guru, 2) the student performs the same sequence each time and is advanced by the teacher in accordance with his/ her progress, and 3) there is more accountability since if you keep practicing on a regular basis you see how much you're progressing and it makes you want to keep going and cross the hurdles. As I’ve stated in previous posts, I practice with Guy Donahaye at the Ashtanga Yoga Shala in East Village. I chose Mysore Ashtanga for the above distinctions and because I needed more rigor and discipline in my practice, which I wasn’t getting at other studios. While my attendance was choppy in the first few months, as my body and mind adjusted to the early mornings, and as I conditioned myself to get up early with every blissful practice, I began to go as often as my body allows, which is about 5 days a week at the moment.
With Ashtanga, it is important to drop all expectations and put trust in the teacher. At first seeing others around me doing more advanced poses and further along in their sequence than I, played with my ego. I wanted to get to where they were, fast. However, as soon as I began trusting Guy’s guidance, the ego no longer dominated. I began to look at my practice as my own and I began to be more compassionate toward my own body. I wanted to challenge myself, but I didn’t want to push too far. The process began to be joyful. I forgot about being given the next pose in the sequence and focused on the ones that I had. Eventually, a wonderful sense of ease settled in my practice and before I knew it, I had Bhuja Pidasana added to my sequence - a pose, that in my opinion, represents a real breakthrough for me! The dedication resulted in a sense of accomplishment; and that powerful feeling that I was heading somewhere.
This is what life is about. With most pursuits we will not see immediate results. And many times, if those results are immediate, they may not be long-lasting. Along the way, as we commit to something, we need to change our mindset, be true to the process and drop our expectations. Only, then can we experience breakthroughs that help lead us toward our goals. And with those little breakthroughs comes elation and the sense that you’re close to where you ultimately want to be. This drives us forward.
As lifestyle plays a powerful part in affecting how my body reacts to my yoga practice and since I'm still exploring my limitations with food - eating more vegetarian vs not - I know that the ease that I've been feeling in the studio can be fleeting in conjunction with my lifestyle choice. However, there is beauty in the process and I learn from every action I take.
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