Jump throughs and jump backs are a big part of Ashtanga yoga and many people struggle with them. I spent at least 5 years of my practice beating myself up over why I could not do them. My shame was only intensified by the fact that I had been practicing for so long. Jump backs and jump throughs happen so frequently in the primary series that it seemed like every few minutes I was having to come face to face with my failure. I went to countless workshops and picked the teacher's brains trying to figure out the secret or technique that I felt I was obviously missing. I was sick over this.
The thing that changed me was when I read "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. I had heard yoga teachers talk about being in the present moment but It never meant anything to me until Eckhart Tolle presented it. I learned to enjoy every stage of my practice as it was at that moment. I let go of the shame and my practice became joyful again. Eckhart Tolle says that creativity comes from the formless into form. Amazingly, I can now do jump backs and jump through. Do they look like the people in the yoga videos below, maybe not, but they work for me and I am not attached to them.
I constantly hear students berating their "tight" hips or their weak arms. I still struggle with labeling and If I catch myself, I take a breath and let it go. I even hate to have to tell yoga teachers about previous injuries or aches because it brings too much energy to it but I know that for my safety, they need to know. Is there something in your practice you can let go of? Is there something that is stripping you of joy?
I present the jump back and jump through videos below because a little bit of technique is helpful but you still have to let it go. Nothing is permanent. Even your yoga practice. Nothing is constant in this world except change.
