Hanging Out on the Edge

Last night, I went to the Body Temple class at my yoga studio. First of all, can we acknowledge the fact that I can say “my yoga studio” without feeling like a poser? I am a REGULAR member, people. This is crazy to me on so many levels.

For starters, I vowed I would never love yoga. I used to think I would go stir-crazy in a class that didn’t get my heart rate pumping. (<—-About that ‘heart rate pumping’ thing, I was completely OFF). I also told myself I wasn’t flexible enough. That my body just didn’t twist in the way it was supposed to.

I wasn’t intentionally trying to make excuses. I just really didn’t think yoga was for ME.

And maybe there IS some truth to that.

I’ve taken a few classes that I haven’t LOVED. Some move way too quickly for me and I feel uncomfortable and out of place. Some require little to no effort and that doesn’t seem challenging enough for me.

I think it’s about finding the right fit and, for that, I look to a teacher that can balance the physical movement with the calming of the mind. Last week, Jen took me to Body Temple for the first time and it was pretty easy to fall in love with that class because the instructor was able to balance both things beautifully.

Last night, she narrowed in on a specific focus for the class. Hanging out in the stretch. Hanging out on the edge.

We started off the class by taking a deep breath in. Pushed it a little further. Held it for a second. All the way to the edge of one end. And then we exhaled. Pushed it a little further. Held it for a second. All the way to the edge of the other end.

And, throughout the entire class, we pushed ourselves. In every pose. In every stretch. We stretched a little further each time. Holding for a few more seconds than we had initially thought possible. A little uncomfortable at first, but nothing impossible.

Meanwhile, she talked about how our “stretching” can be both emotional and spiritual. That it doesn’t always manifest in our physical body. That we can translate this practice “off the mat” and push ourselves a little further in our day-to-day lives.

But, just like on the yoga mat, we can’t do a stretch without being mindful and present. We risk injuring ourselves if we explore too quickly and/or without being skillful about it.

That’s not to say that we should never go exploring. That means that we should sit with it. Take a few seconds with it. Push to the edge. And then hang out there for a little bit.

Stay with it. Breathe with it.

Be more conscious and awake while you’re out there.

Look at the barriers that arise as opportunities and not obstacles. Because that’s what they are if you allow them to be.

I’ve heard these words. So many times. That comfort zones are expanded through discomfort. “Go out on a limb. That’s where all the fruit is.” These words aren’t new to me. I pin them on my “Words to Live By” Pinterest board to refer to when I’m feeling unmotivated or at a standstill. (JOKES. But I mean, really? Does anyone refer back to Pinterest?)

But, there was something pretty powerful about internalizing those words while LITERALLY pushing myself, taking a deep breath and then inching forward a little further.

Taking it all in. Facing it mindfully. Taking a deep breath.

Hanging out on the edge.