"Nothing will work unless you do." ~ Maya Angelou
I always feel that starting my yoga journey with Ashtanga was a gift. I was not told that yoga was a hobby or that it was a feel good activity that you do in your spare time. From the beginning, I was taught that yoga is not easy. That the transformation that I wanted to see came with dedication and perseverance. Yoga was to be practiced 6 days a week with time off for moon days and “women’s holiday” once a month. Like good parents, my teacher’s were loving but they were also strict. I knew that I would be sore, sick, busy and just downright overwhelmed but Ashtanga’s philosophy is “Breathe free and all is coming.” A gentle reminder that no matter what was going on in my life that I needed to breathe and get on my mat. I was taught that the rewards I reaped from my practice were directly proportional to my level of dedication. Strength,flexibility, peace, good health and enlightenment were all waiting for me as long as I worked for it.
Students walked into the Shala every day with endless reasons for why they had issues with the practice. Their arms were too short, their hips were too tight, they were too old, too inflexible, they had health issues etc. Yet they were all still given the same prescription.”Get on your mat 6 days a week, breathe deep, set your gaze(drishti), use your bandhas.” Nothing would work unless they did.
Ashtanga set the stage for my dedication. I knew what I was getting into from the beginning and I was ready for it. I never had any doubt in my mind that getting on my mat everyday would be extremely difficult but extremely rewarding. I knew that nothing would work unless I did.
When I step off my mat, It take yoga's lessons with me. I know that living my truth won’t be easy. It will take 24/7 dedication and perseverance. There will be days where I will feel that it would be easier to give in to the demands of the world. However, I have to breathe free and know that everything is on its way and that the present moment is perfect in its imperfection. I must set my gaze on my vision, root down and hold the energy of my intention at the center of my being. This is the message of Ashtanga.
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