Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for many years, we all have a “moment.” A moment where something shifted and our practice allowed us to see ourselves and the world around us in a different way. A moment where we fell out of a pose and laughed and it was everything. A moment that showed us we’re stronger than we realized. A moment where we finally kicked up into headstand on our own and couldn’t believe it. A moment where we could finally let it all go and just be.
That “moment” is different for everyone and this summer we want to celebrate YOUR yoga moments. We also want to acknowledge the many yoga studios all over the world that make so many incredible yoga moments possible. Want to share your yoga moment with us? Here’s how.
This week’s Yoga Moment comes from Jillian McGehee during her practice at Barefoot Studio West in Little Rock, Arkansas.
On this particular Tuesday, I was debating a run or do yoga. I had hoped for both but ran out of time. My schedule was busier than usual as I was on a clean eating/detox challenge and spending more time than ever on meal preparation.
I’m glad I opted for the mat rather than the pavement that night. From the Ground Up – a workshop-style class that focuses on arm balances and inversions – takes place at Barefoot Studio West, one of two studios in Little Rock, Ark., owned by Breezy Osborne-Wingfield. Surrounded by open fields and horses, the west studio is the perfect retreat from city hustle.
Instructor David Shropshire asked us what we wanted to work on. I agreed with the crow suggestion and also suggested hurdler’s pose. We warmed up our wrists with some rolling/bending exercises, then our core and our legs. We worked on crow about 15 times, each at our own pace. The neat thing about this class is instead of continuous flow and movement, you spend the entire time on the chosen pose or poses. After holding crow for longer than I ever have, David talked us through the steps toward hurdler’s pose.
I was fearful and embarrassed for even bringing it up, worried that I’d fall on my face. But all day I had kept a photo I had been tagged in, which said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
This pose was that one thing. I pointed my toes to help strengthen my legs and booty as much as possible, kept my shoulders closed, my elbows in chaturanga position, my core muscles tight – all while breathing! After many tries, I was suspended in the air! “Way to go, champ” is what I heard on my second try.
That night I was balanced, strong and ready. Ready to face my fear of looking funny, falling or failing. The beauty of yoga is you never fail. You do what you can in that given moment. Nothing more, nothing less. The important thing is “whatever you did, you did it,” as Breezy often says.
