Boat on the Horizon

So many times I think I know what I want in my Yoga practice.  For example handstand was a small boat on my horizon for quite some time until I attended a Yoga intensive where I learned that my shoulders were tight. Because of this, I wasn’t fully able to move into the back bend that was necessary to experience sweetness in handstand.

There was no reason to feel bad about it. Hunching forward at the computer, lack of self-confidence, and general laziness all played a role in having tight shoulders.  With this new information I set to a daily practice of external rotation in my shoulders. Downward facing dog became the master blueprint for handstand. Two years later, I’m arriving in suspended moments of handstand. It may be two more years before I feel handstand has gently molded itself onto my body, but it is a path that is worth walking. When I get impatient and my asmita (ego) starts looking for success, I get the sense I’ve missed the point of the journey.  I am grateful that the boat on the horizon is getting closer, and one day I'll swim out to greet it. If I leave the shore to early, I'll just have to turn around and swim back.

My Mentor, Rama Nina spoke so many times about who is doing the leading in the mind. She used to say, “the one who is looking, is the one we are looking for.” I don’t care what I seek; it all seems to turn back in on itself and I  can find a relationship between everything that I do. I know Handstand is possible; therefore I practice. 

I’m excited to be a part of the western worlds delight in Asana. As I study deeper into eastern philosophy I realize that one day naturally my Asana practice will fall away and my meditation practice will more fully develop.  Until then, may my handstand become sweeter!