My Yoga Journal 12.6.06

My yoga experiences have been decidedly unyoga for me lately.

Yoga is all about acceptance, non-competitiveness, and in the case of Kripalu yoga, a non-judgemental approach to yourself, others, and the world. But I've been hard on myself lately. I keep remembering how I was so much more limber and powerful 10 years ago and I wish I was in better shape. Of course, it is my own fault...and that's where the unhealthy self-flaggelation creeps in. Not only was I ten years younger, but my practice included at least three classes per week and I had worked my way up to the moderate-level challenging classes.

One thing about my body that has always been consistent is that I just doesn't fold right at my hips. Whether it is Staff Pose (sitting upright with legs directly in front) or Open Angle Pose (sitting upright with legs spread in front), I just don't bend that way. The next step in these poses is to fold forward which is completely out of the question. And it frustrates me that I struggle. That's bad on two counts: I am beating myself up; and I am envious of others who seem to do these simple poses so effortlessly.

The bottom line is that it's all in my control. I just need to re-dedicate myself and be more forgiving of my body.