I feel fantastic! Today's after effects were the best so far. My energy has improved, the headaches are gone, there is definitely more kick in my step. Today's class was the 60th day in a row for a fellow classmate, Cynthia. This was her final practice in the 60 days challenge, 60 days, and I thought 30 was going to be tough.
I met her on day one and she inspired me to make that two block trek back the next day. Now, even in her absence, I will continue to be inspired. I am mostly in awe of her, because not only did she commit to 60 days of Bikram yoga, but she committed to 60 days of yoga, never having practiced yoga before! It is people like Cynthia who continue to renew my practice, and my love for yoga (which ever kind I am currently practicing.)
Aside from the AWEsomeness of Cynthia, today's class was filled with wonderful insight from our instructor, Derek. He uses the space between postures to fill the heart and mind with wisdom from his soul. As a fellow yoga instructor, some of the analogies and stories I use in a similar way throughout my teaching. It is a gift every time he shares these thoughts with us, and they are so rich because they come from a place of practice. Anyone can repeat the words, but they have so much meaning coming from a place of pure truth. I found his words resonated deeply today and for that I am very grateful. Namaste
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Gratitude
As I began my ritual hike of McAfees knob, I should have known what lay ahead. Apparently, I had yet to learn a particular lesson. This only dawned on me about a mile in, when I realised my 'new' hiking boots were beginning to give me some hot spots. These 'new' hiking boots had tried to speak to me earlier in life when I was in Maine hiking the 100 mile wilderness, the same shoes I had mailed home because they hurt my feet too much, the same shoes I had on today.
As I grappled with myself whether to continue and suck it up, or have the guts to tell myself it was ok to turn around, without going all the way to the top, my boots began to give me blisters. The hard head in me won, and my feet didn't really hurt that bad (yet), so I continued to the top.
The only problem is, when you get to the top, you have to turn around and walk all the way back. I am still questioning several hours later why I thought it was a good idea to break in my shoes on a short 7 mile hike!
Shortly on my way down the trail, I encountered a gentleman hiking up. We stopped and made small talk, instead of the simple wave or hello. He asked if it was crowded up top and if I was a day hiker. I told him of my past trail adventures and he mentioned his desire to thru hike the trail. He said he had planned to hike this summer but was hit by a car. He then proceeded to tell me that he had just learned how to walk again!
When we parted ways he gave me a new found strength to keep moving and the gratitude for the fact that I even had legs to walk with. So, despite my lessons learned about breaking in new shoes, I was also given the opportunity to experience extreme gratitude. For that, my blisters were worth it.
As I grappled with myself whether to continue and suck it up, or have the guts to tell myself it was ok to turn around, without going all the way to the top, my boots began to give me blisters. The hard head in me won, and my feet didn't really hurt that bad (yet), so I continued to the top.
The only problem is, when you get to the top, you have to turn around and walk all the way back. I am still questioning several hours later why I thought it was a good idea to break in my shoes on a short 7 mile hike!
Shortly on my way down the trail, I encountered a gentleman hiking up. We stopped and made small talk, instead of the simple wave or hello. He asked if it was crowded up top and if I was a day hiker. I told him of my past trail adventures and he mentioned his desire to thru hike the trail. He said he had planned to hike this summer but was hit by a car. He then proceeded to tell me that he had just learned how to walk again!
When we parted ways he gave me a new found strength to keep moving and the gratitude for the fact that I even had legs to walk with. So, despite my lessons learned about breaking in new shoes, I was also given the opportunity to experience extreme gratitude. For that, my blisters were worth it.
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