Clichés galore… January 11, 2007
Posted by yogaspell in Thoughts.6 comments
I’m sure you have heard them all. Probably used many of them. I’m talking about romantic clichés. I confess, I’m a hopeless romantic. I love lines like “you complete me” (or any variation on the other half theme) “I cannot live without you” (or any variation on needing), “You are my soul mate”, etc…. I’m also a very principled person so I have placed huge value on the commitment to the relationship.
Among many things, Yoga continues to teach me about attachment and about being in the present. Before Yoga I used to think that needing your partner, completing them, being committed to them, was the strength of my relationship with Yogamum.
It is so hard to let go. It reminds of that other great cliché “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was” Sting even wrote a song about it and there are tons of funny variations to it.
But to imagine waking up in the morning with absolutely no strings attached and to look at your partner with 100% freedom to leave with no guilt takes a little getting used to. It is somewhat impossible to do in real life. There are strings and there are consequences.
But isn’t that the biggest gift you can give someone? So I have one last cliché for you: “I’m with you today, because I choose to be.” What more could a yogi ask of his or her partner?
Back to the mat January 5, 2007
Posted by yogaspell in Ashtanga, NaYoPracMo, Yoga.1 comment so far
Today I returned to the mat for the first time in months. My wife, Yogamum, and I had a good practice. I cannot say that it was the best practice by any stretch. We only did standing poses with a few more poses added and then finishing. Yogamum was having trouble with her back; I was having a lesson in humility, realizing that how stiff I was despite all my regular exercising. The stiff-white-man moniker fit me like a glove.
But I was so happy to have returned, to breathe into the poses and feel my body stretch. I did a headstand near the wall and the inversion felt so incredibly good. I came down slowly into Urdhva Dandasana and held it for a lot longer than normal. It was a little gift in an otherwise pretty mundane practice, and it reminded me why I love the Ashtanga practice.
It’s good to be back…
Because I want to … January 4, 2007
Posted by yogaspell in Thoughts, Yoga.add a comment
Well… It is the beginning of the year, the time for New Year’s resolutions. I’m usually big on those every year. Making a list, committing to doing what is on it and having a excellent track record.
Not this year. I didn’t make a New Year’s resolution list for 2007 and I’m not going to.
These sorts of lists have been positive in many ways for me. For example, it was because of a New Year’s resolution that I joined a gym in 2004 and started working with a trainer. But too often they contribute to the all or nothing, perfectionist mentality that I have. Sure I get things done, but too often I do not enjoy the process, the journey.
This is not to say, that I’m not going to take advantage of the New Year to pursue things, just that I’d like to have a different perspective as to why I’m doing them.
I’m going to join my wife in NaYoPracMo. Not because I have any hope of actually practicing 31 days straight since I already missed several. I’m going to join her in many of the practices because I want to. So despite being the first casualty, failure, whatever of NaYoPracMo, I’m going to practice as often as I can this month. It is National Yoga Practice Month at our home so what better reason. If I miss a day, if the practice is not perfect, who cares, just get back to the mat and practice.
I’m also blogging again for much the same reason. I like to write and get things out of my mind. But too often I get wrapped up on the need to have something profound to say or to be writing frequently. I don’t know who reads this, it helps me, and if it brightens a single soul more that is purely gravy and good.
So my new goal, no lists this year, is to pursue what I love simply because I want to.
