When
we head out the door and make our way into a class, most of us do so
because we want to get something out of it. If we turn up and it seems
as though it’s not really making a difference, then we stop going. Our
compass is pointed toward finding just the right level of challenge.
However, having been in the fitness industry for many years and
witnessing different yoga styles (power Vinyasa, hot yoga, etc) we most
definitely meet up with challenges. But so often, I have experienced or
seen that by doing so, the concept of nurturing ourselves at the same
time flies out the window.
The harder, the better. If it really challenges us then it must be really good for us. Right?
Throughout
my life, I have always pursued challenges. When I see the word, it
looks like CHALLENGE…all in bold and luring me into taking it. The
idea of looking after myself as I undertook the challenge was often
greatly neglected. The word
I allowed it. I needed to invite nurturing into my challenges and
guess what? When I did, the challenge seemed more robust and kept in
balance. The challenge didn’t knock me off my feet due to the simple
practice of looking after myself as I pursued the next goal.
This
is the beauty of advancing along our yoga path – that we can seek to
challenge ourselves and at the same time, look after ourselves in the
process. We learn to know our edge and how it fluctuates. We begin to
give less voice to the concept that how we treat ourselves is in
reaction to being good or bad and more to the idea that we deserve to
offer ourselves compassion and love as we step into situations that push
us.
So the next time you decide to go for the gusto, check in
with yourself. Can you push to your limits without bursting through and
creating havoc and imbalance. Can you be in a strong pose or one that
butts up against what you know to be familiar and take a breath of
ease. Can you soften not only excessive muscular tension but your
attitude as well.
With practice and a decent dose of
awareness, we can both stretch to our full potential from a place of
self-love and self-care. Isn’t it time that we nurture ourselves more
deeply? Try it out and see what happens…you might just soar higher
than you ever thought imaginable!
