Adjustments in yoga...I just don't make 'em...or, at least, not in the standard way. Instead of suggesting an adjustment to a client or moving my client's body in a way I think it should go, I lay a hand on the part that I want him/her to be aware of. I ask what they're feeling and then I suggest -- if it feels right -- making a micro move in a way that changes the sensation.
I try to live like this as well. Rather than force an adjustment based on some sort of story in my head (I should do this or this should be this way or that way) or based on what others are doing, I make a micro move towards a feeling. Somehow I had forgotten this in the past 6 or so months. I found myself forcing things and it didn't feel right. It felt dull, numb. I was missing the edge of sensation that you feel when you're going deep into a yoga pose, or, in this case, life. I was playing it somewhat safe, not going all that deep. It was long past due for a micro move.
Way back when I first started practicing yoga, I thought there would be this time when I would know it all, be able to master each posture and basically run through my practice on autopilot. It was like thinking that you could fill your gas tank up once and then be good to go forever. Not only is that ridiculous, but it seems rather boring. What's the fun in that? I quickly learned that my yoga practice would change not just day to day but minute to minute. There would be no mastering or autopilot...thank heavens.
I've found life to be the same. I'm sure back when I was a teen, I imagined that I'd have it all figured out by now, know exactly what I was doing and be completely sure of where I'm going. Ah, youth. I have no clue. I don't know what I'm doing and I have no idea where I'm going. Thank heavens. I wouldn't want to know. I like the surprise of the unfolding, the joy of the unscriptedness of it all. What I do know is that I want to live by the feeling -- the sensation that calls for a mirco-adjustment on one direction or another.
It can be hard to tap into the feeling or sensation when your distracted and your mind is tossing out hundreds of thoughts a minute. It takes space and quiet to tap into the feeling so you know your next move. This can be challenging for me, as I can be the master (or is that mistress?) of distraction. One of my favorite ways to distract myself is information -- let me read another book or take another course or listen to another lecture. If I'm running on autopilot in my yoga practice and my mind is wandering, I won't hear what my body is saying. I'll tune out the sensation and my practice will suffer. Not surprisingly, it's the same in life.
Are you following your feelings and making micro moves in order to live deeper off the mat or practice deeper on it?
Namaste!
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