Everything is Possible

I seem to get all my ideas for blog posts while I am doing physical activities.  Not surprising, as I use my very precious alone time to breathe, sweat, laugh, and yes, just like my website says: heal.  Giving myself 45-55 minutes a day (some days that doesn’t happen, but I aim for it) to get into a zone, and move my body and breathe deeply changes the course of my entire day (always for the better).

This week, I was in my favorite SoulCycle instructor’s class – the same instructor I had taken class with throughout my entire pregnancy, and the class I signed up for IN the doctor’s office when she gave me the green light to work out again at my six week check up.  A song came on which was the first song to go during my pregnancy – I just couldn’t keep up – it was a song where the Laurie (the instructor) always signaled for me to do half time.  To be honest, my first class back was the easiest I have ever done – I think it was the difference between spinning with two humans growing in my body, and spinning for just me, and also a lot of being on such a high to be moving again in such an amazing, positive setting.  But, every class after that, reality set back in, and the realization that I had to work back up from a non-cardio state was very evident (never mind the core thing ;) ).  It was HARD to get back to those fast songs, and they still pose a challenge to me.  But, this week,  for the first time since I became pregnant, during that song – the first song to elude me, I didn’t miss a pedal stroke, not one.  None of this occurred to me until the song was over, but when it was, and I realized what I had accomplished, I was ELATED.  Yes, it was a very, very small victory in a world where much larger, more weighty challenges face me every day, but it was important to recognize that “win” and have a mini inside celebration at the time.  And, it reminded me of one of the things that Laurie has said a number of times in class: “make your impossible possible”.  Because, for a time, that song seemed “impossible” for me to keep up with, but that day (I have no idea what tomorrow brings), that day, it was possible.  THAT felt amazing.  In a world where it is very easy to feel defeated, it is important to recognize all of your wins and victories, no matter what the size.  I’m pretty sure you recognize all of what you perceive to be “losses” or “failures” (I know I do), so why not do at least the same (if not more!) for your positives?

I have always said that yoga is not a competition, not with the person on the mat next to you, not with the instagram account you follow, not with yourself.  At the same time, one of the things I have always loved about yoga is that you are never done, there is always another krama or version of a pose to try, and, if all that asana stuff is in your bag there are the other seven limbs of yoga.  I love that you can be the eternal student, and always learn more and grow.  In that same vein, sometimes there are so many “bigger concepts” or “harder” “more advanced” poses that may seem “impossible” at times.  I love, love, LOVE that “impossibles” in yoga are forever becoming “possible”.  That is one of the greatest joys of being a yoga teacher: seeing the look on a student’s face when they find their way into a pose for the first time – when they realize they are stronger than they think, more flexible than they think, more capable than they think.  To aid a person in the discovery of their own strength – mental or physical – is an incredible gift.

I’ll never forget the first time I watched someone press up into a handstand.  I thought for quite some time I would never do that. Ever.  It was actually the only move I have ever seen and not thought “I will be able to do that one day”.  For some reason, the press up seemed to me impossible.  Never the less, I worked at it every day, taking the steps that I was told would lead me there.  Even though I was doing those steps, I had ZERO expectation that I would ever find myself transferring my weight into my hands and simply lifting my legs off the ground.  Maybe it was the lack of expectation, or maybe it was the work I put into it every day, but one day, I placed my hands shoulder’s distance apart on my mat, engaged my core, lifted my hips, and my feet and legs did, in fact float off the ground.  I will never forget that moment, I actually let out a “whoop”!  That was my first experience of turning something I had believed to be completely impossible to possible. It’s a wonderful thing, proving yourself wrong in this way.  I hope I continue to do this (especially now that I am starting over with quite a bit of my physical practice), and I hope you do it often!

I would love to know:  what in your life seemed impossible that is now on your possible list?! And: do you celebrate your small victories and wins? What do you do to celebrate them?  If you don’t, why not?   Please let me know in the comments below :)

Love and Light,

Heidi

xoxo