Zen Squirrel Blog
Challenge day 4
Day 4 is L handstand against the wall. Sometimes this can feel even harder than kicking up to a wall.
Start out on your hands and knees with your feet against a wall. Push up to a shortened downdog, heels on the wall. Stay here or walk your feet up the wall and straighten your legs. Your hips will stack over your shoulders and wrists. Keep your core strong. It is normal to feel like your hips are beyond your hands when they aren't.
Love Affair with Yoga
I may never know to what extent, but one way or another, I love yoga because it has saved my life
During my recent yoga mat giveaway, I asked you to share what you love about yoga, or why you wanted to start practicing. Here are a few of your responses.
"Yoga brings me into the moment. I can let go of what has passed and free myself of concern for the future and in doing so find peace and strength."
"Yoga helped me transform from a broken, bitter sufferer to a healthy happy thriver..."
"Yoga helps me be calm and in touch with my authentic self..."
"I float to my car after wall yoga. Never have I been so relaxed and at peace. Each class takes me to a different space in my practice."
After so many of you took the time to share your heartfelt feelings about the practice, I thought it was only fair to share a bit of my story with you, so here it goes.
I started practicing yoga around the year 2000. At the time, I was a bit of a gym rat, taking classes and lifting weights for 2-3 hours several days a week. When the gym offered yoga, I decided I might as well check it out.
At first, I attended out of convenience. It was something to do between work and kickboxing. My teacher was warm and encouraging, and I love her. I felt comfortably challenged, and enjoyed the feeling I got at the end of class. After class, I stayed with the yoga buzz for about 5 minutes, then we spent the next hour learning to hit each other. Oh well, not even a little enlightened, but it was a start.
When I gave up the kickboxing for marathon training with the Team in Training, yoga came with me. I increased my mileage way too quickly, never warmed up or cooled down, but practiced yoga on my off days. I'm pretty sure yoga is the only reason I came through that 26.2 miles injury free. I began to notice that I could treat my long slow runs much like the moving meditation that I practiced in yoga class. I maintained a regular yoga practice since I first stepped on the mat.
Several years later, I was sitting in a cardiologist's office. Although my heart appeared "stone cold normal", I had tested positive for the genetic condition, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. It has killed my father, grandfather, and given my baby sister a defibrillator. Since I work in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, I knew exactly what I was up against.
Despite my knowledge, as a vegan runner in her 30's, I was not ready to hear the news. I was less thrilled with the cardiologist's activity restriction "you can do whatever you want, as long as it is at a conversational pace". Since the condition regularly kills marathon runners, the running clearly had to go. After much contemplation, I realized a few things.
- My beloved yoga practice was always with the breath. It was within the restrictions.
- Yoga gave me similar feelings to a long run.
- Yoga may have been the very thing that would keep my heart normal, and reduce the risk of disease progression.
My 2 times a week practice became quite regular. My husband and family noticed the improvements that I was experiencing, and encouraged me to continue. When my husband suggested teaching, I couldn't have been happier.
During teacher training and my ongoing study of yoga, I have made several improvements.
- I learned to forgive and have repaired broken relationships.
- I learned to love myself.
- I learned to express love to others, and feel real joy.
- I connected with myself, and experience less reactivity.
- I have become more present.
- I have discovered the joys and benefits of meditation.
- I have reduced pain, increased strength and flexibility.
I may never know to what extent, but one way or another, I love yoga because it has saved my life. Maybe literally, and maybe just because of all of the benefits that I have experienced due to my practice. I love my students, my blog, my teachers, and myself. I love yoga because it is who I am. It is a part of me that can never be taken away. I hope that through this blog and my teaching, that I can give these gifts to someone else.
If you are considering starting or attempting to maintain a regular yoga practice, I encourage you to do whatever it takes to make that happen. This Valentine's Day, begin your love affair with yoga. You'll be happy that you did.
Namaste - Beth
