The Morning Battle
They say that in the morning classes, although the body may be stiff, the mind, on the other hand, is sharper, more receptive, and still uncluttered.

During my two 8:30am sessions this week, however, I experienced the complete opposite. My body became a battleground and my mind staged a hostile takeover. I permitted myself to come up with excuses – the room was too packed, I didn’t like what I was wearing, I was standing right under the heater – and didn’t fully commit to most of the poses.

This was my reality for two classes. I allowed the mind to win.

/ 100 words

Ray of Light

“The body is an intelligent machine,” we are told. It modifies the poses for its own convenience. “It’s not that you mean to cheat,” the teacher clarifies. “You’re just going down a neurological path to where it feels right.”

What feels right, however, is not always the proper way of doing the poses. This is why struggling happens.

“Don’t avoid it. It’s the light that shines on that new path for your body.” I like that this yoga is never supposed to be easy. It’s in that struggle that I’m able to inch past my limits every time I practice.

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Nothing To Fear
“Reach out even further, and further, and further! Believe me.”

And with that, I just completely let go of two weeks’ worth of fear, which has been keeping me from doing an honest standing bow pulling pose.

In that thirty second one-legged balancing asana, I realized that if I did fall out, face flat on the floor, there’s just enough time for me to get right back in it. No need to waste it on self doubt or on holding myself back, afraid of what I’ll feel next.

I know that I’ll be able to do standing splits one day.

/ 100 words

day one, once more

I did yoga 21 times last month, 9 times short of doing the 30-day challenge. I love that my body is really looking for it now.

Today is the start of a new yoga month. Last month's goal was to make yoga set the pace for the day. And this month’s goal is to do it earlier, at 6.30 AM.

This cute, Chinese lady was beaming, “It feels good!” This is the woman I twice walked to the Sports Club with, telling me she really prefers the earliest class. “I get more done that way.”

Tomorrow, I will try.

/100 words