14/09/2016
What a wrist injury taught me about Yoga & Myself
It is funny, but I never thought that the words pain & injury were connected to the ego. Now that I know better, I will briefly share my story.
About 3 years ago I woke up to a terrible pain in my wrist, and my first thought was, “Oh no, how will I practice my handstand with this pain?” I visited several doctors, took x-rays, cortisone shots, acupuncture, twina, physical therapy and any other treatment you could possibly think of. All I was hoping to accomplish was to feel better so I can get on with my beloved yoga practice.
Little did I know that my true yoga practice was about to begin. Up until that day, I had practiced for about a decade and a half without any injuries. My practice was mainly focused on achieving deeper and more challenging poses.
I was never a natural “yogi”, and patience has never been one of my great virtues. I worked very hard in my classes and would go home to practice my headstands because I needed (quickly) to be one of those people standing on their heads in the middle of the class. Once I became proficient at one pose (no medals where given to me), I would move on to the next “desired pose.” The cycle would continue in that manner until the day… that one day in which my real practice began.
Embracing change and accepting what is, is one of the aims of yoga. I began to explore new ways of practicing and embracing the vulnerability caused by my injury. I was in the second year of my Yoga Teacher’s Training, and my wise teacher -- Roxanne Stolk -- explained to me how my hand had nothing to do with yoga. I argued with her but she kept insisting that no limb that is connected to the body had anything to do with yoga.
I began to draw some courage to focus on what poses I could do, and placed my attention and energy there. I learned that being a yogi is not about holding a perfect handstand, but more about remaining graceful and calm when facing adversity. As I learned more philosophy in my course, I learned about the value of “Ahimsa” (non violence, not only to others but to ourselves). I also learned the value of restraint and backing off. Once this new way of thinking was established, I felt that I was applying more compassion and kindness to my body.
I learned some valuable lessons. I realized how much of what you see today in yoga is about the ego. The aim of yoga is intended as an energetic & spiritual practice and not as a form of performance or acrobatics. The person who can do the perfect handstand is as much of a yogi as the person who has difficulty reaching their toes. Yoga is about the inner work. Is about connecting to our bodies through our conscious breaths and learning to listen to what is happening inside of our unique bodies.
My injury reminded me of the value of “non-attachment”. This is important not only in terms of my practice, (getting attached to one pose for example), but also in life in general. If I had been too attached to every house, every city, and every personal belonging, moving from Mexico to L.A and then to Israel would have been extremely challenging. I have learned that life’s circumstances can change very quickly, and sometimes I just have to let go…. And now, as I continue to grow in my own practice and on my teaching path; here are some things that I need to keep my focus on:
1) Encourage others to tune into their bodies and explore which poses feel right for them, while consciously doing this myself.
2) Remember to breath with awareness. The breath helps you reconnect to your body and brings you back to the present moment while reducing your chances of injury.
3) Balance is something we should all strive for… on and off the mat.
4) It is in the moment of resting that our minds and bodies can assimilate the benefits of our practice. Always remember to pause and observe what’s going on inside.
5) Letting go of ego and the quest for perfection allows you to turn your yoga practice into a moving meditation.
Have you ever experienced a physical injury that you felt has served you positively in some way? What lessons have you learned from a difficult situation that you might have encountered?
