Have you ever wondered what the yoga teacher means when she says your practice emulates your life?
Today I was practicing a balancing pose called standing extended-leg stretch and found myself losing my balance and wanting to give up. Sometimes I feel that way when life does not flow smoothly or go according to plan. I want to give up altogether. But, in that balance pose, I told myself, “don’t give up, you can do it.” And soon enough I was standing strong in my pose.
I have been practicing yoga for 12 years and 5 years ago I wouldn’t have been able to do the pose at all. A lot of things in life take dedication, education and patience but they eventually pay off. It is just important that when you fall down you get back up. Just like in those balancing poses, when your foot hits ground from losing your balance, find your center and then find your way back up into the pose. Life can be a series of falls and getting back up.
A familiar quote comes to mind: they say people who succeed are ones that fail many times before. This is true for my journey. But, they also say it is about the journey, not the destination. It is the here and now that really matters.
My journey has been a lot more falling than standing lately. But, I guess it really is a matter of how you look at it. I recently moved to a small town called Muskegon located in West Michigan. I was laid off from a job in Houston due to economic circumstances. Which was truly a blessing since I have a boyfriend that lives in Michigan and I really wanted to teach yoga and do something that revolved around holistic healthcare. I found a studio to teach yoga right away and then a full time job at a chiropractor clinic.
The chiropractor clinic job was a nightmare so I only lasted there 2 months. They let me go, but it was very much a mutual decision. So here I am teaching yoga and trying find a job in addition to teaching that pays me enough money to feed my dog and put gas in my car.
I am in the process of trying to find my way back up into the strength of the pose.
I am giving a shot at network marketing where I can make my own hours but have to experience a lot of no’s and let downs. I also started a yoga class outside the studio and…no one is showing up. I am new in town and the location is new, and no one really knows about this place. It is hard not to get discouraged and fall out of the beautiful standing balancing pose and want to go hide in child’s pose at times. I begin doubting myself and wondering why I even went to college. I suppose I am not alone in these experiences. I have seen many other friends struggle like this.
I know all I need is to simply keep going and see where the ebb and flow of life takes me at this point.
What do you do to “stand strong in your pose” when you falter in life circumstances?
Post by: Melanie Masterson