I told her what was happening.
I'm a person who likes to project a certain image. I like to seem cheerful, easygoing, and when someone I trust gives me a direction (i.e., "Lock the standing knee!!"), I try to do it. I tend to do it in all walks of life, and it shows up in the hot room too.
Lately, though, it hasn't been quite so easy to be obliging. The yoga teachers say, get up and do the pose. They tell us to kick harder. They tell us to stay in the room. I want desperately to oblige, but some days I just can't do it.
I finally talked to my studio owner. I told her I had a lot going on in my life right now, and that I've been carrying my anxious burden into the yoga room. It was hard, telling her that. She's a steely, tough woman herself, and she doesn't invite a lot of that touchy-feely stuff. But I'm so glad I opened up.
"I can get really, really anxious," I told her.
"I know!" she responded. I was kinda surprised. I thought I hid it well. I forgot that the hot room strips away all guises. I ended up telling her some of what I was going through, and that I was so anxious some days I didn't think Bikram yoga would be good for me. Hearing her respond kindly was enough to make me realize it was good for me.
She reassured me that it was OK if I left. Interestingly, she understood that in some situations (not just extreme physical conditions) it might even be in my best interest to leave the room, especially since it isn't a chronic thing and is tied to what tends to be going on in my life. I walked away thinking progress would happen at its own rate.
So, I opened up. And I'm glad I did. The next two classes I had were amazing. Not even tempted to leave the room, not even tempted to skip a posture. Opening up to my studio owner and saying, "Hey, I'm uncertain and unsure that this is right for me" was just the move I needed to make.
I think that underneath the hard-core boot-campy talk that some teachers tend to bring to the classroom, this is a pretty compassionate practice. And if you don't believe it, ask your teacher!
6 comments:
Opening up and facing realities in your practice is just as important as in life. In our practice, the fears of "I'm not good enough" or "I'm not going to make it thru today's class" are fine to have. And sometimes accepting that these fears exist are exactly what we need to get to the other side.
I think we all go thru periods in our practice when we fight with ourselves about one thing or another. It is all completely normal, and completely ok. And reminding yourself that it is ok to take care of YOU is often a bigger accomplishment than any posture, any breath, or any 90 minute class.
(And I am so happy to hear that the compassion was given to you by your teacher! It is so much a part of this practice!)
I'm so happy you said it out loud and got it off your chest. And look what happened...you were able to make it through a couple of classes w/out wanting to leave. And if it comes back tomorrow, leave. Baby yourself as you go through this.......
Yes yes yes YES. Hurrah for both of you.
"The only way out is through." And you opening up to your teacher? You saying, out loud, that pressing weight you've felt in class? That's your "through."
The best part? We are never *really* through---because life is really just a series of passages. We are, always, journeying, on and off our yoga mats.
I really loved this post, lady. I so miss my yoga. I cannot wait to get back into the hot room when I return from Europe!
Thanks for the comments, y'all :-) Yes, going through the process (and letting yourself complain a little!) is just the thing to do. It's an infinite journey, and isn't that wonderful?
aww that's great that you did that! my fave instructor always says she can tell, too, but sometimes she doesn't know if the person wants to be pushed or be invisible.
weight lifted off your shoulders too for being able to unload, right?
hope things work themselves out soon :)
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