16/07/2021
Life is full of ups and downs.
Some weeks we’re able to glide through our days in peaceful contentment; other weeks are filled with challenges and difficult situations that bring us down and cause us stress. That’s life... we can’t control what comes our way, and whilst we might sometimes feel like running away from those difficult situations, we know we have to stay, face up to them, do our best and learn from the experience - we know that we can’t always stick with what’s easy and run from what’s hard.
And so it is on the mat.
As we move through the Ashtanga series we encounter some postures that cause us fear and aversion - some we don’t even want to try because we’re afraid of falling/failing. But if we approach our practice with an open heart and mind, it builds in us the strength to break down patterns of attachment and aversion, two of the causes of suffering according to Patanjali (2:7&8) If we approach those challenging postures with trepidation, we create fear and drama in our minds before we even get on the mat, so that even as we begin to enter the posture, a part of our consciousness is resisting. But if we approach each asana with the same willingness to do our best and accept what comes, in time we find sthira stukham asanam - stability and comfort in asana.
Working with steady dedication, following the breath and trusting in the practice, we find peace and balance in those postures that maybe we once thought were out of reach; and then, off the mat, we find that quiet strength that helps us deal calmly with all the ups and downs that life brings us. Have a great day, whatever comes your way! ☀️