I received several emails this week from students we met for the first time Sunday at the yoga workshop we taught at Surya Center for Yoga in Coppell, TX.
Many were excited because at the workshop they were able to do a full arm balance (adho mukha vrksasana) or drop back from mountain pose (tadasana) to upward bow (urdhva dhanurasana) for the first time.
I remember clearly the first time I did these poses. I was thrilled. I'm not surprised that they were ecstatic, too.
Most commented they didn't think they were strong enough to do these poses.
So what changed for these students during the 2 hours we were together?
I guarantee you none of them got stronger during our workshop! So what happened?
We worked on three things. The three A's of Anusara yoga. Attitude. Alignment. Action.
We talked about being open to the possibility of real change, that what was once thought not possible, now is. That's attitude.
We explored how lining up the major segments of the body properly makes you more stable and structurally stronger. That's alignment.
We worked on skillful actions, actions that integrate the limbs into the torso and pelvis. And actions that unlock stuck spots and make new alignments possible. That's action.
So, without getting "stronger," what was once impossible, was now possible.
If you hear yourself saying "I'm not strong enough to do that pose," I hope you'll reconsider. You might be wrong. You might be plenty strong.
You may simply have not yet aquired the skills and insights you need to accomplish a particular pose.
Don't just read about it. Get up. Experience it. Experience yoga!
Kevin Perry
www.ExperienceYoga.org
p.s., The Sanskrit word of the day from my last Daily Yoga Tip was danu. Dhanu means bow, as in bow and arrow. Have some fun today and look up akarna dhanurasana. It's a great pose with the word "bow" in the middle.
p.p.s., Today's Sanskrit word of the day is vrksa. I'll tell you what it means next time.
p.p.p.s, Sallie and I are honored to be in Downingtown, Pennsylvatia tonight with Michele Paiva, the owner of Twisted Guru yoga and pilates studio. Tomorrow we'll be teaching the Experience Sanskrit workshop. Thanks, Michele! We're looking forward to seeing some students of mine from "way back when" and meeting many of you Daily Yoga Tip readers for the first time!
Copyright 2006.
All rights reserved, Mo Yoga LLC.
Kevin Perry
Mo Yoga LLC
905 Eastland Plaza Suite B, #106
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 680-6737
