We are now in our 5th week of “shelter-in-place” lifestyle and this week has been challenging for me. That’s the way grief goes...you never know when it will hit you and cause the feeling of heaviness in your system. Here are some of my observations and application of yoga practice from this week:
I am getting out of alignment. A couple of days ago, I stubbed my left toe on my bedframe and noticed (because my chiropractor has taught me how easy it is to get out of alignment) that my sacrum was hurting. The next day, I stepped backwards with my right foot and whacked my heel into a metal bar while putting clothes into the wash. Ouch! Now, my right leg feels out of alignment in the hip socket!
But, that’s not only the way I have been getting out of alignment. I have been staying up WAY too late and sleeping in. Sounds fun, but this is causing my structure in my day to be out of whack. I haven’t eaten regularly. I don’t feel as cheery as usual and impatience is rearing its ugly head! My breath is shorter than normal. Symptoms of misalignment!
Then, today...I forgave myself for being misaligned or imbalanced and came to my practice on the mat. I knew to assess and acknowledge how I was feeling and used grief strategies, nourishment, and strong holds within postures to begin to address my condition. The first movement integrated with breath was profound! Where I felt tightness was now being made expansive through vital life force of breath. Throughout practice, I begin to see that I need to slow down and accept that this is our new way of living for now. I don’t need to push so hard to get things done, but remember who I am at my essence...a playful compassionate soul.
I set out on a walk in my neighborhood and passed by a neighbor’s house. This neighbor’s house is full of metal sculpture art of animals including a big purple dragon. In the dragon’s hands was a sign, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Ah...yess! I took a picture and laughed!
This is what the first line of Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras teach us. “Atha yoganusasanam”
I will translate the Sanskrit for you, “Now, is when yoga begins.” In that moment of laughter, I was able to accept exactly where I am. Yes, I too am “Learning to dance in the rain.”