Finally a class with Anne! Amsa actually has several wonderful talented instructors, but my schedule so far has worked out so that I keep winding up with Kimberly or Sara. I enjoy both of their styles and classes very much but people were starting to ask me questions about why I only have classes listed from 2/5ths of the instructors. Don’t worry, I am sure there will be classes with Pam and Louise very soon. Maybe if we are lucky there will even be a class in the not too distant future with Philip the semi-retired artist (the awesome fish picture at the front of Amsa’s studio is by him!) who specializes in Thai and/or partner yoga. One of the many great things about yoga is how open ended it is. Even the greatest instructor has their own focuses and limitations. Getting multiple perspectives from different teachers (at least occasionally) helps a lot to keep the mind expanding and reminds us of the possibilities and creativity inherent in the practice.
So this was a fun class with a relatively small crowd and an intimate feel. Yoga in the middle of the day can be tough to fit in with our busy lives and work obligations. I was fortunate to be able to sneak it in before heading off to teach because of my quirky schedule this semester. I was a little nervous because the open spot to set up (without having to ask people to move) was front and center. Aside from the ego and insecurity issues I have briefly mentioned earlier, I am a little superstitious. The last time I was exactly front and center I pushed myself too hard and wound up hurting myself. It was a lesson that needed to be learned (and that I am still working on) but it was really discouraging at the time to have to take a break for a while and then have to do some alterations to poses for several classes after that. Let’s see if I handled it a little better this time.
Good: High Lunge http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2488 is a pose that comes up a lot and one that I “feel like I should be able to do better”. I put that in italics because I am trying to be aware of such perceptions and pause and examine them. Begin Giant Side Note: I come from a very competitive background. I have played chess, scrabble and a card game called magic at high levels in the past. It is hard for me not to mention specific achievements with them. But why? What does it really matter what I achieved in a competition based around a game? I was thinking recently during a yoga class about what really matters to me. Honestly, everything comes back to my relationships with friends and family, my faith, and being able to help others. If something does not serve one or more of those purposes it is probably a waste of time. It sounds harsh, but it is actually kind of freeing. Yoga helps all three as I develop patience and calmness, work on introspection, and establish more stamina and empathy. It is very difficult though for me not to approach yoga as I have dealt with competitions in the past. I want to judge myself based on others around me and want to “achieve” certain poses. I have to keep stopping and resetting my perspective to avoid tying self-worth to what I can and cannot do so far. There is nothing wrong with striving and giving something your all but I have to keep asking myself why to stay centered. End Giant Side Note So we were in the pose with our hands to either side of our forward foot. I usually strain as hard as I can and get my fingertips down to the mat. Believe it or not, this is not how the pose is intended (though the yoga journal picture kinda makes it look like that). Oftentimes an instructor will notice what is going on and gently suggest (or in one memorable class, firmly insist) I place blocks under my hands so I can straighten out. This time I got the blocks myself and let the pose do its actual intended work. Despite being front middle, no one pointed and giggled at me. I am happy that I was in a mental place that let me deal appropriately with my current stage.
Bad: We did a high lunge variation http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2492 where we rose up on tippy toes and balanced for a bit. I am usually decent at balance poses but I was very wobbly. I also beat myself up more than I should for having "wind in my tree" Things change from day to day. As much as I would like it to be a steady progression where I only get better and never regress, there are tons of factors like rest and diet and mood that all come together each time we get on the mat.
Yummy: It was good to see Anne again and try a chakras themed class. Hurray variety! Hurray openness!
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