However, I've been attending a 6am yoga class every Wednesday and I love it - I stopped going to my usual 6:30am barre class after they shortened it and changed the time and instructor and have fallen hard for my new Wednesday routine. Today there was a sub, so I was tempted as soon as my alarm went off to just sleep in...but then I thought, "what's the point, you're already up!"
Fast-forward to 6-7am...The teacher apparently also started out of bed on the wrong foot, stating she had to calm herself down upon waking from a nightmare - looks like something's in the water...? Anyway, she jumped right in and walked us through some very key stretches and alignment cues. Suddenly we were in Malasana, supported by a block, binding each leg, stretching our arms out gently. Then we were working through Chatarunga Dandasana, briefly supporting our chest with a block to cue appropriate arm (elbow to shoulder) alignment... (I appreciated the focus on alignment, since I'm such an Iyengar obsessee.)
After working our way up and down and around our mat, focusing on purposeful movements, we worked towards our peak pose...and suddenly most of the class was in this one-legged standing bind, Eka Pada Malasana.
So let me back-track...you're probably thinking, "All she is doing is talking about her yoga class...what does this even have to do with Wellness Wednesday?!"
Trust me, I'm getting there!
Just after attempting this pose, a pose I had never really thought about or even attempted, my whole attitude shifted. I forgot about how grumpy I was about not sleeping, I forgot about feeling frustrated the teacher was late to class (sorryyyyy), I forgot about my to-do list for the day, I forgot about every silly little nagging negative thought that had decided to burrow into my brain for the day.
I tuned in with myself and allowed myself to be present. I suddenly became fully aware of how proud I felt of my body, of how connected I felt to it. I silently thanked it over and over for being able to move and support me the way that it does, not only physically but emotionally - my body supports my soul.
Sure, this can seem kind of out-there, but as someone who struggles with arthritis, I'm starting to be more and more aware of the days where I don't experience pain; on those days I remember to pause and recognize this. I also try to notice the days where I do experience pain and offer my body support - I accept that I feel the inflammation and tenderness in my joints, and instead of beating myself up and letting myself get angry, I acknowledge my frustration. I then try to send love and compassion to those parts of my body; then I move on, not allowing myself the space to dwell on it.
Again, try this today. Perhaps, if you don't have any physical ailments, it's something mental or emotional that plagues you; show that thought or feeling some compassion. Don't scold it for being what it is; just allow it to be there, sans judgement, sans attachment.
...because before you know it, you're already onto the next thing and that moment has passed.
- S