At the end of every class I hear from at least one person who lets me know how surprised they are that they were able to move in a way that they didn’t expect. These revelations that come from practicing yoga are always inspiring to the student who is open to the experience. Like the students that I teach, I am amazed by my own revelations and this is one reason that I have continued practicing yoga for 50+ years. It is the same as experiencing that unexpected surprise at the bottom of the cracker jack box.
When I started yoga I was 17; by the time I was 22, I was teaching classes in health clubs primarily to people my own age. It wasn’t mainstream. it was mostly aerobics at the time. Think Jane Fonda. Yoga always came with preconceived baggage.
Even now, there are times when I mysteriously avoid going to my mat to do yoga. Sneakingly, a little knee pain begins to show up, a little back discomfort turns chronic, an awkward change in my gait starts to effect my balance. Each messenger begins as a nudge but soon grows into an unwelcome annoyance that unabashedly gets my attention. Finally I can no longer ignore the whisper of my inner yoga angel and I do what any somewhat distracted yet dedicated Yogini would do. I roll out my mat, gather my blanket, strap, block and anything else that encourages and assists my asana practice. I close the door to my yoga studio and proceed with a “simple” seated forward bend.
As with all postures “simple” is relative. As far as forward bends are concerned, the word simple to describe these poses is misleading. Beginners often find forward bends frustrating because they reveal the tightness in the hamstrings, knees, calves and hips, which can limit the ability to move forward. For these reasons forward bends can be very challenging.
My recent experience of practicing a forward bend series (which involves leg and hip flexibility and a dash of spinal muscle stretching) is an example. I felt my body needed to relax and stretch and I wanted to relieve tension in my back and the back of my legs. To my surprise, at the end of my session the nagging pain in both knees was almost gone. I didn’t expect that!
Plus, the change I felt mentally was also a very welcome outcome of my practice. Forward bends offer a sedating, relaxing and calming benefit smoothing out any feelings of anxiety.
Taking your time to hold each pose supports uncovering what is going on in your body which takes gentle and patient observation. As you settle in with your breathing, directing each breath to specific areas of resistance you feel, you begin releasing tension, sources of pain and discomfort. The overall lightness experienced is all part of what I consider, the magic of yoga.
After all of the years of doing, teaching and studying yoga, I am still always inspired at the surprise that comes so often in my practice. That freshness comes with a Beginner’s Mind.
A dedicated student (beginner or advanced) approaches their practice without expectations and with a receptive mind.
Each Asana has its unique set of surprises. It is often noticeably a physical change but equally profound is the change experienced in attitude, mind and mood. I always walk away from my mat humbled, surprised and grateful for receiving something I didn’t expect. Without much effort, the gifts are great.
If you intended to only do 5 minutes and it turned into 30 minutes or more, your mood was obviously uplifted. At the end of your practice you will be thinking, “I didn’t expect that!” The best surprise that you may not have expected is that you feel happy. So why not just do it and feel better? At the end of your practice you will be thinking, “I didn’t expect that!”