LISTEN to your inner teacher!
Years ago, 22 to be exact, I was in my early stages as a yoga practitioner. It was six weeks after I gave birth to my youngest daughter, and my doctor cleared me to return to my normal routine. I was practicing a very challenging style of yoga, and the author of the book I was following promised his practice could cure just about anything.
To this day, I believe that yoga can aid you in all aspects of life. What I have learned is that yoga is NOT “one size fits all”.
After spending the afternoon working in my yard, I was feeling frail, and my lower back was complaining. I turned to my mat and began the challenging practice I believed would save me. To my dismay, the pain in my back grew by the time I had completed the hour and fifteen-minute regime.
It would be too long and painful years before my life returned to normal.
The summer solstice has just passed, and I am in full-out gardening mode. I work hard and dearly love every minute of it. But when I wake in the morning, my body tells on me. My back feels stiff, my hands and fingers are sore, and the arches of my feet ache. No worries. Again I turn to my mat, but now I bring my blocks and blankets and spend my time in poses that soothe and relax. Winter will return soon enough, so I’ll ‘step up’ my practice then. I know I’m working hard enough in the yard to keep me strong, and so I use my asana time for healing and restoration. I think deep down, all those years ago, I sensed that what I was doing wasn’t healthy. But at that time, my belief in myself wasn’t healthy, either. What a gift to finally realize my own inner wisdom is remarkable and reliable! And I know everyone has that remarkable inner wisdom. They simply need to be willing to listen.
Whether you are 12 or 112, you can trust your insides. There’s gold in there, my friend! If you feel the urge to stop doing something, just listen. It may be a whisper, but if you ignore that small voice, eventually, you will hear screaming.
The whispers are much more pleasant!