Stop posing, start moving!

Pincha Mayurasana (forearm balance) is the shape that I was obsessed with the first year of my practice. I coveted the bodies of fellow students who nailed Pincha with ease. I watched them intently during class, mirroring the way they practiced even when my body begged me not to. Not only did I want to land Pincha, but I also wanted it to be the prettiest picture-perfect Pincha anyone had ever seen. When I asked my favorite instructor for tips on nailing the pose, she suggested that I practice staying on my mat and not worrying about other people’s practice. OUCH!  

The next time I came to the mat, I committed to staying there. My eyes closed. I dropped in, tuning all of my awareness to my intention, my body, my flow. What a game-changer! I’d finally stopped posing and started moving. 

Poses are still, brief moments in time - fleeting moments. Asana, the physical practice of yoga, is dynamic, fluid, and mindful. Yoga is not about how you look. We don’t practice to entertain, impress, or compete. We practice to connect. To feel. To move. 

I still don’t have Pincha Mayurasana in my practice, and I am okay with it. I do have increased overall strength, a greater sense of joy, a calm mind, eternal gratitude, and a banging community!

Stop posing. 

Start moving. 

Let’s Yoga!

~Niecia