It is how to let go
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:07:00 09/29/2008
MANILA, Philippines—We never do yoga. We practice yoga. There will be some classes when you feel tight and others where your body seems to be opening up in a number of the postures. Then there are classes where your mind is totally clear and you are as focused as can be.
There can also be days when the mind is cluttered with concerns that are ruining your balance.
Because of the dynamism of everyday life, there is no Bikram class that is ever the same even though the postures are the same. It will be your challenge to leave all your concerns outside the yoga room.
No matter how urgent the situation, be fully involved, mind and body, in your practice. All other things can wait till after class.
Let your body learn how to relax in the face of stress, breathe in the face of difficulties, and the body will follow over time.
While there appears to be an emphasis on the physical postures, without your realizing it, you are exercising your patience and working hard to do your best while learning to be more disciplined, determined and focused.
Above all, you are subtly allowing yourself to let go—whatever you need to let go of, be it negative emotion, painful memory.
So, after your first Bikram yoga class when you find yourself needing sympathy and you describe to a fellow practitioner how you felt like dying in class, don’t be surprised when they say, “Good for you! Resurrection is only 90 minutes away!”
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